Club Obi Wan

I ordered a pair this last Monday and they just came in. Yea ha.
Here's the question and yes I did go to a place that sells Aldens but just not the Indy #405 boot. I mentioned to the young gentelman what my goal was and that I need my feet sized so I could order them.

The fit: first of all the length (size 9) is perfect.
The size that I was told that I needed was a size9 EEE, heres the thing they feel a little loose in the width.
Kinda like my foot can move side to side, not a lot but enough to make ask ??? do I need size 9 EE (or should I start wearing to pairs of socks)(LOL)
The company I ordered them from isn't to far 2 hrs max. They did have to order them thats why I didn't want to make the trip twice. If my fellow gear heads think I'm nuts and shouldn't worry then so be it, but they did say there would be no problem in exchanging them.
Heres there web site for any one in this area looking to
order a pair. There in Portland Maine. www.davidwood.com
ther phone # 1-800-403-6653 the man who was so helpful was Rick.

Please let me here from those whove order there and let me know how snug should they.

They are awsome to finaly see them on my feet, they go good with my adventure next January to the Bahama's
Thanks in advance Croft

Conrats on getting them Croft! Question: how comfortable are they to walk in? Do they slide around when you walk? Be sure to walk on carpet. Alden will not take them back in they have been on bare flooring.

Peace,
Cliffhanger

The heel will slide up some, not a lot.
The loosness I mentioned

heres the thing they feel a little loose in the width.

well I don't feel this when I walk.

Your thoughts cliffhanger ?
Croft

Hmm...

Mine are a little loose in the heel as well, but it doesn't "slide up". However, when mine are tied tight enough, the fit and feel is fine.

About the only thing I can add is that if you feel they don't fit just right, I wouldn't hesitate to send them back for a 9EE. The only thing about these shoes (or any orthapedic shoes) is that the wrong size can mess up your feet, so getting the correct sizing is super important.

Perhaps someone else will chime in with their two cents. Michaelson, ya out there? 8-[

Peace,
Cliffhanger

Howdy...yep, I'm here...barely. (grins) Well, this is something you really need to talk over with the folks you bought them from. My first impulse is to recommend you try wearing them to see if they're right, as if you're not slopping around in them, they're right. As has been said, there is a little heel looseness in all of them. Your foot should be supported, but not constrained. What holds me from making that suggestion more strongly is that they may refuse to accept the return if you've worn them any particular time. If that happened, you're stuck with them regardless.

I'd recommend you giving them a call and ask for their shoe fitter (not just the clerk who's holding down the fort at the time). Tell them what you're experiencing, then see what they recommend. You may be just fine, as mine has a little laterial give too, but no problems at all, and mine were perscribed for me.

Regards. Michaelson

As a matter of fact I did give him a call, he said that there shouldn't be a problem with fit, he said just about what every one has said about there being some movement.
He did mention that if I wanted I could go get some Dr. Scholes shoe inserts or I'm think'n get me some gelin, are you gelin, ya I'm gelin like a felon.......... oopps! were was I , oh yea the fit of my new Indy boots. I'm going to tommorrow to get some of those gellin things and see how they feel after that. I won't were them out side on any adventures untill I know they feel good.

When you say mess up your feet what exactly are we talking about here?

Croft

What kind of socks are you wearing with your Alden's? When I purchases mine from Fritz he recommended wearing heavier socks as opposed to dress socks. While I normally wear a D in shoe width, Fritz fitted me with EE's because, as he put it, the way a foot spreads when walking.

The 405's have the trubalance system in it that is based on a steel shank. If sized incorrectly, you could cause strain on the muscles and ligiments in areas of your foot that are not properly supported by ill fitted shoes. Oh, if you're putting in inserts, do NOT put in any with an arch support. The 405 has an excellent arch support...to much will cause strain to your foot by causing the arch to be overextended with each step. Regards. Michaelson

Just every day white tube socks, ya know the kind you wear when working in a lumber yard or maybe out in the feild. Deffinetly not dress socks, I rarley wear dress socks and when I do
I wear my "dress shoes".
Croft

White Tube socks? But ... but ... but those aren't screen accurate!

Sure they are. He wore black AND white socks, and we've seen photos posted showing both..... but let's not start THAT again, you scoundrel!!! Regards. Michaelson

Who? Me? (hey, at least I haven't started a thread about briefs or boxers # )

Well, not YET.... (boxers, by the way) Regards. Michaelson

That's got to be one of your briefest answers

Regards. Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:The 405's have the trubalance system in it that is based on a steel shank. If sized incorrectly, you could cause strain on the muscles and ligiments in areas of your foot that are not properly supported by ill fitted shoes. Oh, if you're putting in inserts, do NOT put in any with an arch support. The 405 has an excellent arch support...to much will cause strain to your foot by causing the arch to be overextended with each step. Regards. Michaelson

Correctamungo! I need good arch support and I don't need to put anything in my Aldens except my feet. (Although the cats did put a toy mouse in one the other day!)

bink

Why that was an informative and straight foward response. So, who are you and what have you done with BinkmeisterRick?

Oh, it was bink....re-read that first word again. Regards. Michaelson

I stand corrected. We can all rest easy knowing that Bink is free to wander the halls of COW ... hmm ... well, actually, we can't rest easy because of the fact that Bink IS free to wander the halls of COW

Hmmmm... what's in THIS room? (opening doors at random... various screams emmitted from within...)

bink the informative

Ignore the man behind the curtain. That's just Pyro beating on the server again.... 8-[ Regards. Michaelson

Oh, so now you're saying it was all Pyro's fault?!

At any rate, I love my Aldens, and even with thinner socks on today, the fit is still perfect. No unnecessary slop going one. In my shoes, that it.

bink the getting sicker and maybe coming down with a cold

Nope. He's just making sure it submits to a greater power than the idol...but then that's a shop secret. 8-[

Ok, no negative thinking there, bink....think 'everyday, in everyway, I'm feeling better and (cough, cough, sniff) better.'

Regards. Michaelson

Well, it's just that my throat is so painfully dry that it's uncomfortable to swallow anything. In fact, I was up most of the night drinking water and tea to keep myelf lubed. There IS a bright side, however... After I get my current project off my plate this morning, I told everyone I'm going home!

Gentleman Jack in tea, lemon, and honey. Go to bed. See you next week. Regards. Michaelson

Sounds good to me! I've already got the tea, lemon, and honey waiting for me at home, I just need to add the last ingredient!

bink

OK I've gone and put the Dr. Schols inserts in (non-arch support type) and they feel much more snugger than before, no movment at all.

I'd just like to know what I'm in for here, will me feet hurt because of the weight (I usally wear screen acurate sneakers)(LOL) or feel sore for the fist week or so till I get used to them. I believe I've read about this in the past.
Let me know your thoughts on this and maybe just maybe we can get this thread back on target. I do get a laugh out of some of you, the way you banter back in forth, very funny.
Croft

I personally didn't experience any discomfort whatsoever with my new Aldens, but then I had the luck of having min ebe as close to a perfect fit as you can get. Actually, I find that my feet hurt less after a day of Aldens than they do after a day of any other kind of shoe, including sneakers, especially if I've been walking all day. Unfortunately I went through the heels on mine uberquickly so am now suffering through Alden withdrawal while I have the heels replaced

Take care of your Aldens and they'll take care of your feet

Well, you'll just have a couple days of new shoe tightness, but that will form fit your foot quite nicely. The weight, though, takes some getting used to...especially since you're a 'sneaker' man. I've worn mine for years, and on occasion they STILL wear me down if I wear them for a full day. You're a lot younger, though, so I imagine you'll not have to much problem building up your legs to getting used to it. Expect about a week or so of getting up to speed (that's, of course, wearing them everyday), and you'll be good to go. Regards. Michaelson

It took maybe two weeks of really breaking in my Aldens before they felt abosolutely perfect. The most painful part for me was breaking in the ankle, since I don't usually wear an ankle boot. But once that loosened up and the rest of the shoe started to "breathe," they've been nothing but heaven to me. I don't recall hearing of anyone putting extra inserts in their Aldens, so I can't really tell you if it will be a good or bad thing over time.

If you're used to a lighter weight shoe, then it may take you a little bit to get used to the Aldens, but again, I used to (key words USED TO) wear Doc Martens and I find the weight of the Aldens don't differ much to me. Also, since you have a huge steel shank in your Aldens, the soles won't bend like a sneaker does so that may take some getting used to if you squat down for any reason.

My feeling is that you should try to break in your Aldens without the extra inserts in them. Just make sure you've got them laced up nice and snug. A tiny bit of movement inside your shoe really shouldn't pose any problems, but if you find that they move too much for you after having laced them up tightly, then perhaps you should contact the folks who sold you your Aldens. Good luck!

bink

I also had to get used to driving with the extra weight. I've been accused of having a "lead foot"...when driving with Aldens I reply that "actually, I have a 'steel foot'".

For long trips, I usually go with my sneakers however. (Danged state troopers won't believe my story!)

Peace,
Cliffhanger

Well I've been wearing them acouple of hours now with some walking and just plain standing around. And I deffinetly can feel the backs of my calf muscles get a little sore, reminds me of when I started to wera a heavier work boot (in the past) like I used to wear when I was in construction.
Rember now that I have been primarly a sneaker kinda guy with occasional army boot (for when I go shooting).
So I'll keep everyone aprised as to feel and fit as time goes buy either in this post or a new one.

And when I get a chance I'll put togther a few pic's of me and my gear, because I know you guys and gals thrive on it.
Croft

Croft, I hope they work out for you.

My Aldens took several months to really break in to the point of 'absolute comfort' - very odd-feeling at first, none too comfortable - but give them a little time and they will become your feet's best friends. Mine are.

I think they will, I had some concerns about the fit but after putting in the inserts they feel comfortable to wear, when I'm walking around thats when the soreness comes along. But I will try to wear them as much as possible to help break them in.

Whens the best time to hit them with the Pecards. I have the regular leather dressing. Or is ther another type I should order.
(I also have the jell)
Croft

I'd hit them now, at least with one coat, and I have always used the regular dressing. Mine were the pumpkin colored Aldens, but have darkened up nicely over time.

Peace,
Cliffhanger

When you say hit them cliffhanger, which dressing do you refer to

I'd hit them now, at least with one coat

Mine are nice rich brown color kinda red but more of dark brown. When you say pumpkin colored Aldens, do you mean to kinda orangeish?
Croft

I agree with cliffhanger - give them a good coat of standard pecards (the stuff you have), leave it to work it's magic for a day or two, then buff off the excess with a lint-free cloth. Should help to soften them up for you too!

Yeah, what Al said...

The standard will do fine. I have had my Aldens for over a year now, and I have only gotten down to about half of the Pecard's tub.

Yes, they arrived as the pumpkin-colored variant, now they are a nice red brick. By the way, I would also invest in a tub of Melatonin, in the brick color. I got some from the classifieds...it was some of Indiana John's Melatonin. This helps to darken them and protect as well.

Peace,
Cliffhanger

Actually, I'm about to pollish them with Meltonians shoe cream for the first time! I can't imagine wearing any other shoe, so since I'm going to a wedding tomorrow, I figure I better snazz them up a bit!

bink

binkmeisterRick wrote: I can't imagine wearing any other shoe, so since I'm going to a wedding tomorrow, I figure I better snazz them up a bit!

bink

Ditto on the wedding, bink!

Peace,
Cliff

What would be funny is if we were going to the same wedding!!! But somehow, I think it's probably not the case. Besides, TWO gearheads would most CERTAINLY outshine the bride! ...Although I wouldn't really use the word "shine" per sae...

bink

LOL Bink - I often wear mine to the Board Room with my black suit. I've been accosted by the fashion police for that faux pas several times already.

'Black suit and brown shoes? Tsk tsk...'

Just take out the whip, that'll shut 'em up a bit. bink

HA! The problem for me is talking my bride into wearing Aldens with my tux. Somehow, I think she is going to win this one . Oh well, I got to wear them as a groomsmen for my bud's wedding in May. Looked very nice with the tan suits!

Peace,
Cliffhanger

My pal is getting hitched next month and he's wearing a full stormtrooper suit.

He tried to talk his bride into dressing as Princess Leia, but no dice.

Yes, it should be an event to remember....the gags have already started flying around:

'This isn't the bride I'm looking for...move along, move along...'

Indiana Croft wrote:OK I've gone and put the Dr. Schols inserts in (non-arch support type) and they feel much more snugger than before, no movment at all.

I put some Dr. Schols oder-eaters in mine ... the oder ate them.

Cliffhanger, are you IN a wedding tomorrow or is it YOURS? At any rate, I got to wear what I wanted at my wedding. Me, along with all my groomsmen, wore kilts! (Since I already owned mine, I was wearing the family tatrtan.)

Back to the Aldens, I just finished pollishing and buffing my 405s and they look great! (Even though they look good a little scuffed up, too!) I wasn't able to find the Meltonian shoe cream in Brick, but they told me that the Red Mahogany was the closest match. I'd wait for them to get the order of Brick in, but with the wedding tomorrow, I went with the second color. Honestly, they look just as good and I couldn't tell the difference when I finished applying it to my boots.

bink

binkmeisterRick wrote:Cliffhanger, are you IN a wedding tomorrow or is it YOURS? At any rate, I got to wear what I wanted at my wedding. Me, along with all my groomsmen, wore kilts! (Since I already owned mine, I was wearing the family tatrtan.)

Nope, mine is October the 16th, this year. However, I do like tuxedos. I initially thought of a white jacket as in Minn Jones' ToD tux, but I decided black was the way to go.

Kilts? Awesome...my buddy was this close to wearing his family's tartan. I would love that, but my family background is very British and my fiance is Irish Catholic.

Peace,
Cliffhanger

Does any one know were I can find me a tub of this Melatonin in the color: brick. Cliffhanger and "the Binkmeister" mention having this, but I'm unsure of how to locate this product.
Croft

Croft, all the local shoe repair shops, or coblers, in my area stock this stuff - I'm in the UK of course, but have you tried there yet?