Do you ever get shoes or boots and think, ‘Boy, I can’t wait until these break in!’? Happens to me all the time.
I just got a pair of Alden 405 boots, and I’ve been wearing them all day. And I don’t feel like I have to wait for them to break in! These guys are really comfortable. The only thing is that they’re called ‘Indy Boots’, and since I’ve replaced my pork pie hats with a fedora… Oh, well.
I like the smooth soles. My (much heavier) hiking boots, my Doc Martin shoes and boots, and my Timberland shoes all have lug soles. I’m getting tired of lug soles.
The shop had a nice pair of dark brown Alden ‘Chukka’ boots. Those were comfortable too. I think I’ll get a pair of those eventually. (Once I’m no longer tired of lug soles.)
I just got these (curse my Zappos addiction!) and they are the best-fitting boots I’ve ever had. I’ve never been able to find an affordable pair of boots that fit snug around my ankle and my slim calves. They don’t chafe my skin or squish my toes…they are damn near perfect.
Those are some classy looking boots, Johnny. I have Red Wings they took several weeks to break in and they chaffed my shins. But after that, perfect. I’ve never owned, nor do I ever expect to find, better quality footwear.
They stay cool in the summer, warm in the winter, are waterproof, steel toed, can be worn with jeans or can pass as dressed up and certainly can be used for work.
I dug into my Box-O-Shoe-Polish and discovered a new tin of mink oil, an opened tin of mink oil, and a jar of REI waterproofing. I think I’ll use the mink oil on the new boots.
When I was an apprentice I noticed that many of the journeymen wore Red Wings. When I heard they paid $150-200 for a pair I asked how long they lasted. “Two years” they said. I responded, “I paid $50 for these Sears Die Hards, and they last 2 years. You, are a fool.”
One of those fools bought me a pair of Red Wings as a gift, (and to shut me up) and an 18 year love affair began.
Until 18 months ago.
I bought a $200+ pair and in 3 months the sole split side to side on the ball of my foot. The split was all the way through. I went back to the Red Wing store expecting a replacement pair. They offered me 50% discount on a new pair. I grumbled in my mind and ponied up another $200+.
Six months later the new boot tore away from the sole at the stitching. (I do the same work I’ve done these last 20 years–nothing different.) I called Red Wings and emailed them. They acted as if they didn’t care one little bit.
Love affair over.
I miss the feel of the Red Wings. They feel like an old friend 15 minutes after you lace them up. They were fantastic. But you can’t treat your customers with the indifference they treated me with. More importantly, if you are able to charge more than almost all your competitors, you better have a good reason for it. For most of those years I had no problems. But 2 successive pairs were of clearly inferior construction. I’ll not get screwed again.
I now wear $140 Timberlands. While not as wonderful as the Red Wings of several years ago, they are fine boots.
Too bad about your Red Wings. I nearly bought some about ten years ago, but never got round to it. It sounds as if they’ve cheapened their product in the quest for the Almighty Dollar.
My Timberlands are similar to these, only without the strings on the side. I’ve had them for about 15 years, and they’re still pretty good. The leather is in great shape. But the lining at the heel is worn through. I bought a pair at REI, but returned them because the tongue was crooked on one of them. I got a new pair, and the tongue was the same. Bad run, I guess. As I’ve mentioned, I’ve had some injuries. One of them caused nerve damage. The Timberlands have always been a little uncomfortable on my right great toe; but not enough for me to stop wearing them. Still, a decade and a half is a long run for a pair of shoes and I decided to try something different. Hence the Aldens. But dang, if those Timberlands didn’t last!