Are my Aldens coming apart?

[curtishart]

I just noticed I think my Aldens are starting to separate from the sole. There's some flaking along the 'seam' which I'm assuming is some kind of glue.

The picture below shows where it looks like it's separating and that little 'skin-type-thing' laying on top of the show is some of the glue-stuff to show (Yea, I'm so shoe-technical )

Anyhow, are my assumptions correct? Can a local shoe cobbler fix this or would you recommend I contact Aldens themselves for repair?

[Michaelson]

A competent cobbler can fix this, but I'd suggest sending this photo and an inquiry to Alden's first to ask what, if anything, they can do for you.

How old are your boots?

Regards! Michaelson

[curtishart]

A competent cobbler can fix this, but I'd suggest sending this photo and an inquiry to Alden's first to ask what, if anything, they can do for you.

How old are your boots?

Regards! Michaelson

I got them off eBay, however the description says it was purchased in 2008, so about 5 years.

[Michaelson]

Well, due to the age, I'm not sure they'll do anything 'free of charge', but you can never tell about Aldens.

Give it a shot. In the meantime, look for a well established cobbler in your area and make plans on taking your boots in for them to look over and tell you what they can do.

These are still very good hand made boots. Every shoe repairshop I've taken mine to have been SUPER impressed with their quality in material and craftsmanship, so you still have somethting to work with.

That said, in my opinion that material you show laying on the boot looks like something the previous owner MAY have used to seal up the seams of their boots. I don't recall ever seeing that kind of glue used in that area of the boot, but they're different from pair to pair, so who knows.

Regards! Michaelson

[TheExit148]

Depending how bad the heels are soles are, I would engage Alden, especially if you live in the States. They ship the package to you to send the boots for free, and once they resole the boots up they ship them back for free (I'm in Canada so it would cost me money to send the boots and money to have Alden ship them back). It's $159 I believe for the restoring which includes shoe trees. I just had it done on my 5 year old 405's and they look brand new.

If you don't want to go that route, like Michaelson said, find a good cobbler and they should be able to help you out.

[Ridgerunner58]

I would go the restoration route. Not that any competent shoe repair service can't do the repair but Aleden will take them apart and rebuild them inside and out using the original lasts and construction methods.

[curtishart]

Yes, I'm thinking I'm going to contact Alden about restoring them.

Many thanks for the suggestions!

[Michaelson]

Keep in mind, there's a big difference between 'repair' and 'restore'.

If you're looking for restoration, then going back to Alden's is definitely the one and only route to go.

Your original question was "Can a local shoe cobbler fix this or would you recommend I contact Aldens themselves for repair?" which is why I offered you alternatives, as that's what cobblers and shoe repair shops do.

Alden's restores.

Having a cobbler look them over first may save you a lot of money as it may be a repair they can take care of for you, but only they can tell.....but that's water under the bridge if you're willing to pay for a whole restoration....which ain't bad either.

Let us know how it goes.

Regards! Michaelson

[Tennessee Smith]

I gotta agree with Michaelson about finding a competent cobbler but unfortunately there a rare breed theses days, since most shoes are build to replace instead of repair these days. The way you will be able to tell is how your local guy responds to your shoes. If he acts like it's nothing to fix, walk away. A true craftsman will take one look at your boots and be eager to work on them because of the craftsmanship involved in them. If not walk away and pony up the funds for Alden to do the work. The last thing you want is shoddy work on those boots.

[Ridgerunner58]

My worry is always the damage in INcompetent cobbler can do.

I've taken expensive well made boots in for resoling only to get them back with erratic stitching that ruins the uppers for good. As a result I'm very wary of most repair places.

I probably wate money that way but I spare myself the angst of having my stuff ruined by a moron with a sewing machine.

[curtishart]

My worry is always the damage in INcompetent cobbler can do.

I've taken expensive well made boots in for resoling only to get them back with erratic stitching that ruins the uppers for good. As a result I'm very wary of most repair places.

I probably waste money that way but I spare myself the angst of having my stuff ruined by a moron with a sewing machine.

I'm the same way. "Take it to the source" seems to alleviate some of the anxiety I'd have.

I was like this with getting a poet. I was paranoid of giving them an incorrectly measured hat size (measured three times, got different measurements each time) only to get it back and not be a proper fit, until I found out a local hattery (Peters Bros.) made a poet and got some pretty good reviews on this board, so I went to them and had my head professionally measured. Got it back and fit perfectly!

It will be a bit before I actually get them fixed (after Halloween ) so I'm searching locally for a reputable cobbler and see what comes up. If I don't feel 100% confident I'll send it to Aldens.

[Michaelson]

We've had reports of Alden's screwing up rebuilds too, so there's no 'perfect fix', I'm afraid.

Anyway, either way you go you'll be fine.

Regards! M