Club Obi Wan

Well, guys, I got my Aldens yesterday!!! And I only waited two weeks from the time I ordered them!!! Wow. these are DEFINITELY well-made shoes. They are the newer darker brown, as opposed to the pumpkin colour. I started breaking them in before leaving the shoe store. I think the ankle will take more breaking in for me so I don't blister the back of my ankle, but the foot feels wonderful.

I could tell an immediate difference the second the salesman slipped them on my feet. There is no question that Aldens provide superior support. These shoes are certainly worth the investment for me. One thing I can't stess the importance of enough, especially if you've never owned a pair: GET PROFESSIONALLY FITTED FOR A PAIR BEFORE ORDERING!!! My pair fit perfectly from the beginning. If I had ordered a pair without having the fine folks at the orthopaedic shoe store measure my feet for them, I think I probably would have ordered a size too big and been unhappy with them.

The store also has the ability to stitch in the tongue so it doesn't slide around, so for four or five bucks I think I'm going to take them back in and let them do that. The salesguy also told me that he was a little surprised that they came as soon as they did this time of year because Alden apparently closes shop for two weeks for summer vacation. When mine were ordered, the store just left a message on Alden's machine with the information and never heard back from them. Alden must have just returned, seen my order and said, "We've got to have these shipped out to bink immediately!"

It goes without saying that I'll post pics, but it'll be a couple days before I can get to to.

One question, though. I have the Pecard Gell which I use for my Wested authentic goatskin Raiders as well as the free sample of boot oil Pecard sent with my order. Should I use one over the other or can I/should I use both? Also, how should I apply the oil if I use it? Suggestions? I want to take care of my shoes!

A BIG thanks to all you folks who answered my previous questions and gave me feedback on getting a pair of Aldens. I can tell my feet are going to thank me! You guys are the best!

bink

Congrats, your gonna love those boots even more when they break in a bit, which shouldn't take very long.
As far as what to use, I'd sparingly use the Pecards cream, as opposed to the boot oil. A little goes a long way.
The boot oil works great on serioulsy dried out leather, from what I've read, but may be too intense on your new Aldens.

Congratulations, Bink! Walk tall in your new shoes, enjoy them and keep'em conditioned for a long life!

(That is, the life of them shoes. In order to affect your own life, totally other conditioners are required - Pecards, being a non-edible substance, is right out.)

/SJ

What!? You can't eat the stuff? & Ooops... It looks so tasty in the container.

Congratulations, Binky! Worth the wait, right?

Pics, please! One of each boot or both in the same would do.

Regards,
Swindiana

Bink,

I think on your new Aldens, I would stay away from the boot oil. It really darkens anything it touches. The best way to put it on I think is to put a small amount on a clean rag and swipe it across the shoe. It takes very little and as I said the shoe is instantly darker. I think it fades as time goes by (especially fast if you are in Casablanca) but you probably don't want to darken your new shoes. I am sure it does a wonderful job, but for what you want, one of the other Pecard's products may be a better choice. I used it on a pair of boots that I use on a daily basis, around the first of the year. I think they are now just about back to their original color. They are Gore-Tex and are waterproof anyway, but I used the Pecard's boot oil mainly to protect the leather.

You could use the neutural color or the brown weatherproof Pecard's shoe dressing. It shouldn't affect the color of your shoes at all.

Congratulations on your new purchase. I am sure you are a happy little Binkster. At least until you begin actively pursuing your next big gear purchase. Don't we all know how that works.

Bufflehead Jones wrote:I am sure you are a happy little Binkster. At least until you begin actively pursuing your next big gear purchase. Don't we all know how that works.

Indeed...

Congratulations, Bink! I can't wait for my pair of Aldens, especially if they're going to be a good color brown! Can't wait for pictures either!!!!

In Christ,
Shane

Bufflehead Jones wrote:Bink,

I think it fades as time goes by (especially fast if you are in Casablanca)

I think you got it backwards Duckie, the fundamental things (Pecards) get applied, as time goes by.

Bink, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship. Wear those Aldens all over the place. If you don't, you're gonna regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.

In Christ,
Shane

Edit: Wow... 200 posts. So quickly? "Archaeologist" Hah! I'm still a newbie.

Thanks, everybody! I've been wearing my Aldens as much as my feet can take. I'm hoping by the end of a week that they'll be broken in well enough that I can start wearing them for a whole day. (I almost blistered the back of my ankles today and I STILL didn't want to take them off! Again, this shouldn't be a problem once they're broken in. )

I'm going to take the advice to heart and stear clear of using the boot oil. I've got the Pecard Leather Cream (Gell) which I'll apply tonight. I'll even try to take some pics before hand so folks can see the colour of the newer Aldens.

Yes, folks, I am one happy binkster! WOOHOO!!!!

...now... what should I save up for next?

bink

Okay, here are some pics. Click on the link and look at the follwing few images. I plan to replace these with pics in daylight, but it's a start.

http://public.fotki.com/binkmeisterRick ... dens1.html

bink

Man, those look great. Are they shipping with the shorter laces? Or, did they fix that problem?

Hey Bink, the new Aldens look great. All they need now is some
adventures and a little dirt to get them looking even better.

Regards,
Indybill

Ya' done good.

Thanks, guys! I don't know how long the laces previously were or even how to tell if the ones on my pair are any shorter. I can tell you that they are long laces, though, which suits me fine because I hate having ankle boots with laces too short to get a good tie out of them.

And trust me, they will be along on many adventures! In fact, I'll be going to Cancun in February and guess what I'm taking? My wife tells me that I have to have pics of me in my gear standing next to an ancient ruin! Hmmmm.... I think I can do that.

bink

My wife says that a picture of me in my gear is a picture of my gear on an ancient ruin.

So maybe I can just have my picture taken next to you instead?

bink

binkmeisterRick wrote:My wife tells me that I have to have pics of me in my gear standing next to an ancient ruin! Hmmmm.... I think I can do that.

Hey, it's a rough job but somebody has to do it!

Regards,
Indybill

I had one made on the QM last summit. See if you can find the one with me standing next to Indiana Jess.....(sorry, I'll back off now ) Regards. Michaelson

Off Topic, but who bashed your Fed?

Indiana Jackson wrote:Off Topic, but who bashed your Fed?

Are you talking about my Fed, Jackson? If so, I bashed it myself. First time I bashed an open crown, too, so if I can do it, anyone can do it! Thanks for the compliment! Well, I assume it was a compliment! bink

It was a compliment. Looks good!

The hat, as well as the Aldens look great Bink

Geoff

Fedora jr. wrote:The hat, as well as the Aldens look great Bink

Geoff

Yeah, they do... who bashed your Aldens?

In Christ,
Shane

I'm working on that as we speak! bink

binkmeisterRick wrote:I'm working on that as we speak! bink

Or, you could have Fedoraman do it. I did that with mine and they turned out great.

Regards,
Swindy

Yeah, but I don't think I could part with them for that long. Plus, I want them to conform to MY feet! bink

Today, my Aldens had their first true adventure experience:

KICKBALL!!!!!

There was an ice cream social at work this afternoon and they played kickball, to boot! (Quite literally!) Needless to say my Aldens are broken in well enough that I could play kickball in them. And maybe it's the steel shank, but MAN are they good kickin' boots!

Everybody, get outside and enjoy life.

bink