Is Quality of Alden Shoes Decreasing? - Alden Indy 403 On Feet Included!

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0:00 Intro
0:56 Why are they a hot topic?
2:11 Leatherboard
3:17 Midsole Chipping?
4:09 Comfortable outsole
4:46 Upper leather
5:48 Alden Indy Sizing
7:25 Summary
7:42 Comparison
10:16 Onfeet Video

[@Kudusole]

Thanks for the comments guys! I realised that Rose Anvil cut a different model with calf skin leather Indy 405. It seems like for Horween Chromexel model, mine is 403, at least the upper leather seems better compare to the calfskin leather. Still let me know what do you guys think :)?

[@Will67267]

I have zero complains from my Indy 403. Been wearing them for the past 4 years and it's the most comfortable shoes I ever had. regarding the cheap leather board, It does not really bother me. I wear them 3 to 4 times a week, from work to trips abroad, vacations etc. It's pretty reliable. In terms of price, it's expensive but I think it's worth it and would buy it again. In fact I just bought the 405 in brown calf leather.I just love them.

[@ccdriver100]

I have a pair of 403 I bought 17 years ago. They are still in perfect shape although I don't wear them much anymore but have been used on many European trips .

[@NDB469]

I love my Alden’s! I saw the rose anvil videos but I still think they’re great! I bought mine about 5 years ago at around $560 or so. I actually started with the 405’s and later picked up 403’s. I like the 403 better.

[@MarcP5267]

I rarely have seen loose grain on Alden’s

[@scottlalonde2878]

Nice vid, good info thanks🙂👍

[@mrandmrscorona8658]

Appreciate the close up on your midsole… thanks! Considering selling some of my Red Wings to buy me a pair of Alden Indy S

[@Kudusole]

I definitely think it's a must have

[@6jbeck]

On the different leathers, Rose Anvil cut up the ones made with Horween's Austin leather (though there are different thicknesses of Chromexcel you can buy).

[@francislucas5211]

Rose Anvil reviewed the 405 Calfskin leather, not the 403 Chromexcel that you are talking about. Very different leathers altogether.

[@MarcP5267]

While I agree they maybe overpriced the Indy’s on the Trubalance last are the most comfortable boots in my collection. Like wearing sneakers.

[@dave0z96]

I got a pair of 403 CXL and I like them a lot but I know what they are a casual boot not a rugged boot . They are now over priced and Harrison Ford must have been a furniture carpenter because if he was building houses or real work they would probably last 3 months or less . I did concrete foundation work for 5 years and these will not hold up to doing real work or rugged conditions like a pair of Redwing 606 for instance . I think the Alden Indy is a very good casual boot and you can do things like light hiking and motorcycle riding and stuff like that but your not going to ride dirt bikes or hike the Appalachian trail or anything like that .

[@briansanchez1740]

So the one he cut apart was the 405, the 403 is the CXL version.

[@stephen562]

There is more to price than materials. They are iconic, and most people say they are their most comfortable boot. Surely these aspects are built into the price as desirable features. Sure, one could get a 13 layer veg tanned boot, but is it comfortable, practical, beautiful?

[@Murtagh653]

they are iconic, but they should not be priced higher just because indiana jones wore them, it is unethical, but so are most things these days. the fact is that you can get a copy of indy boots from the same company that made the jacket for raiders of the lost ark, for a fraction of the price of the aldens, because they are made in China and because they are not greedy, unlike alden. they also price their indiana jones jackets extremely reasonably, especially considering that they are made in England. boots should be priced on craftmanship and materials alone. higher quality materials = more money, better craftmanship = more money, made in a country with higher wages = more money

[@seppukusushi2848]

@@Murtagh653 The shoes aren't priced higher because Indiana Jones wore them. Alden charges the same for most of their shoes. Rose Anvil doesn't know anything about dress shoes. Leather board is used by many dress shoe companies because the objective isn't ruggedness. Alden is a dress shoe company, not a costume company for man children who want to do cosplay. As far as Wested Leather goes: Lambskin leather jackets are basically shit mall jackets. They're garbage. They're not goatskin or cowhide or horsehide, and the fit looks formless, blousy, and their Indy boots are also garbage, but that's FINE if you're just buying them to play dress up. If you want to talk quality leather jackets, then we're talking about Aero Leather of Scotland, Buzz Rickson, The Real McCoys, Goodwear Leather company, etc. Those jackets range from $800 to $1200. As far as the "China greed" argument, it's the complete opposite. The people who went to China are the ones who are greedy. China uses slave labor, and they also don't trade their currency on the open market, which is why the price of their goods is lower. You sound like a kid who just doesn't know anything about quality made goods, and you're Big Mad about it. Just be happy in your cosplay costume.

[@Shellvedge]

Chrome gel is a tannage, not a hide. So there are 100% different types of chromexcel from horween and not all are equal

[@Kudusole]

Thank you for the clarification!

[@brunonjezic6208]

Roseanvil's pair was 405 in pigmented calf skin. It is Horoween leather same as your CXL 403 are. He hates pigmented leather that was in in 30s and this days looked down appon. Interesting fact acout calf i got from one interview is that american calf doesent exist in US any more due to the way how the catle is feed. They end up as jung cows because of the fast growth rather than having the calf fase. That is apparently reason why 405 are called calf abd they look as cow hide on the micro footage

[@Johnlee-iz6ut]

At this point, the driving factor of these boots is the Indy boot name and Alden brand. Sheer Quality is no longer comparable as seen from the main competition like Grant Stone and the PNW boot companies. You could make an argument for aesthetics, but that is completely subjective.

[@hectorb3960]

Love the look, hear only great things about the comfort and who doesn’t love Indiana Jones (besides Nazis) - but I just can’t bring myself to spend that much on one pair of shoes.

[@aptrendz1815]

I love my Alden’s. I after seeing rose-anvil videos, compared to nicks on the same price point not the utility side, some of the Alden’s are pricier than nicks. It is stupidly over priced. The labor and materials used in Nicks boot is incomparable to Alden’s yet Alden’s price point are the same with nicks. That’s hard to account.

[@milkshakeplease4696]

it's not just about thickness and quality of materials, it's about aesthetics and some people really like the indy aesthetic

[@milkshakeplease4696]

I could never be down with Nicks with their like 4 SPI on their stitch down. just looks too unrefined

[@edrader]

yet they must be selling because they are still in business

[@franky3fingers337]

The original Indy’s are the 405’s. As someone mentioned before they are a cowhide with a very corrected top grain for product consistency. It’s almost like a veneer on the top of the leather. Also the Indy’s use a very cheap mass produced welt that’s is shipped in huge rolls. Also the insole is leather-board and not a veg tanned insole.

[@milkshakeplease4696]

that is not true. the insole is not leather board. it is a veg tanned insole but from the split side.

[@Murtagh653]

@@milkshakeplease4696 you are correct, but the split side is not much better than leather board, the side that is not used in the 405's is the one that has all the desirable qualities.

[@seppukusushi2848]

@@Murtagh653 put your cosplay back on and sit, kid.

[@drregmonster4371]

Rose Anvil's lifestyle and use of boots differ than a lot of the people who buy Aldens. He's someone who lives like in Salt Lake City. Plus, it looks like he has a business relationship with Nicks, which colors his opinions. Personally, I've looked at the Nicks boots catalog, and none look really nice in my mind. Lastly, Alden delivers a great product made in the USA. You can't say that about Grant Stone whose boots are made in China. Alden and a lot of boot companies like Nicks and Whites support American labor. That's important to a lot of people.

[@damonin]

leatherboard isnt bad a lot of high end brands use it, its softer and easier to break in. rose anvil is just being a little noob.

[@mattscott4382]

It seems like you've gotta be willing to pay an extra $200 for the name.

[@Murtagh653]

more like $400, and you're not just paying for the name, but the fact that indiana jones wore them.

[@seppukusushi2848]

@@Murtagh653 Put your Wested Leather crap back on and sit down, kid.

[@Murtagh653]

@@seppukusushi2848 enjoy your overpriced crap lol

[@peterkim5135]

Love aldens.

[@exvan3571]

Devil's advocate: Let's spit vitriol at a ruggedized *dress shoe* and expect it to be built like a White's smokejumper. Then, let's do some collabs with a PNW maker to make a competitor to said shoe we disparaged.

[@patrickmiao1698]

Way too expensive for what you get. I would be willing to get it at $400 at most, personally I think it is worth no more than $350 and only because it is a indy boot. I'd rather pick up a Grant Stone (already own three pairs) such as the Diesel in wax flesh or ottawas in dune color for my money. They are better constructed boots, comfortable and use better materials overall.

[@PumpUptheJam81]

My grant stones are superior in craftsmanship. But nothing is more comfortable than Alden’s, which is what matters to me most, personally.

[@bonifaciomagdiwang1697]

Alden boots is over priced. every 2 years they increased the price its ridiculous.

[@seppukusushi2848]

They're a dress shoe company, not a heritage boot company. You don't know what you're talking about. You probably think a $3000 suit is outrageous too, eh? Maybe you think an $800 to $1000 leather jacket is absurd.

[@bonifaciomagdiwang1697]

@@seppukusushi2848yes still over price