The 5 Best Alden Boots, From a Guy With 30 Pairs

[@kpag3030]

I love Aldens too. I have a few. I am disappointed in the jacked up pricing and QC issues of the last 10 years or so, but nevertheless, they are still great boots and shoes and I just personally really like the look and styling of them and the Barrie last shoes as well with the indy boot design are my go to’s.

[@PocketsandOutlaw]

Better to have QC issues rather than manufacturing being shipped off to Asia and the brand completely ruined

[@JeffJacquesmd]

I have three Alden boots and love them. Comfortable, well fitting, never wind up with any foot pain and great for year round wear, except for the hottest days of Summer.

[@bflathead]

Excellent. I love that it looks like many of his boots are worn and not sitting in a closet. Great video gents 👍

[@Stridewise]

Thanks 👍

[@Crackers2549]

Well I’ve had a lot of boots and 3 months ago I broke down and bought a pair of Alden’s Indy’s in Earth Reverse Chamois and guess what, wish I had done it a long time ago… Love them and more comfortable than any of my other boots… The construction is excellent and the arch support is great…. As a matter of fact I just bought another pair because I’m enjoying them that much… JD is spot on about Alden’s…! Oh and I’m Italian too… LOL

[@omarg5123]

Great video. The "customization" is the only part that is a bit misleading. I wish Alden's offered an actual MTO option. I'm sure people would be fine with paying an extra fee for that. I know I would.

[@Stridewise]

Yeah you can customize but you need a good relationship with a store first. Alden is about a million years away from having a customize feature on their site like Idrese or Taft so if you just keep waiting!

[@HD-Tech]

Since I found Alden I've never looked back. First pair were Indy 403 then found Barrie last fit great. Now have 5 pairs. Love custom runs from Alden Madison, Moulded Shoe ect. 979 long wings, Algonquin V tip in black shell, plain cap toe blucher in color 8, plain cap toe stitch up boot in Arabica Lux with commando sole. Hoping to see a white suede Buck with the red brick sole in a Barrie last done eventually.

[@notbuttery3927]

Gentleman and a scholar! Kick ass collection. Jersey!

[@predragmedojevic6878]

Officine Creative boots and shoes are stunning, try them once and you get hooked right away. Pricy but fantastic, Officine Creative Anatomia is my favourite 🙂

[@J_Braz_]

I bought a pair of 405's after a night of hard drinking. I woke up the next day and checked my email. I noticed a email from the shoe mart thanking me for my purchase. I thought "oh f***." Tried to cancel my order but was too late. Ended up keeping them. They're the most comfortable boots I've ever had. Look better the more I wear them

[@corensam]

Fun! Love the folks at Brick & Mortar Seattle

[@jameslarue2878]

I've been revisiting good Alden reviews. This is one of my faves. I don't have an Indy, but do have the Alden plain toe. Different leather (rusticalf) which is unbelievably soft. Leather outsole with commando half soles. Barrie last. But the construction and craftsmanship seems to track. Thanks.

[@Stridewise]

Love that you love them James

[@olgi2068]

Hi JD. First, I love your Cream Lounge Sessions! Thanks for that. Now, speaking of boots - I have a pair of 405 and of shell wing tip boots that I both like a lot. However, I wondered whether you have ever tried a pair of M-43 from John Lofgren. They are to me even more comfy than Aldens.

[@JDSasso]

Thanks for appreciating The Cream Lounge ! I've never tried John Lofgren but heard good things!

[@billystpaul8907]

That's 21,000 thousand... just in Alden's....I hope Alden gave him a discount on some of them? Thanks Nick, I like how you change up your reviews..

[@j.k.cascade2057]

WOW, I only have 16 pair, this guy is way ahead of me.

[@_bats_]

The chamois leather used in boots is not from a sheep. It's a bovine leather that just has some of the same characteristics as the historic goat/sheep chamois material.

[@Stridewise]

I fcken knew it

[@_bats_]

@@Stridewise haha, yeah. I had to look into this myself back when I was thinking about getting some chamois boots (earth reverse chamois Aldens actually).

[@franky3fingers337]

Yes. I do believe Horween reverse chamois has a grain side so it’s more like a oily Roughout.

[@chinatownboy7482]

All of those boots, and he's never robbed a grave. What a poseur.

[@Stridewise]

He never said he never robbed a grave

[@dalebasista63]

JDSASSO IS THE MAN!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Crackers2549]

Nick, I have a question for you... Do you feel that the Alden Indy's are your most comfortable boots...? I have 1000 miles, Grant Stones, and Thursday Presidents, would you say they are more comfortable than those boots...? I would appreciate it because I know this is your game and trust your opinion.... GG...IN

[@chadgraber4575]

Jeez! Great collection, but there are SO many great brands and boots out there. No way I could only stick with one brand and one brand only.

[@tommyinoz2100]

The comfort is the point.

[@chadgraber4575]

@@tommyinoz2100 Right. There are dozens of boot brands out there. I guarantee he could find additional models and styles with the same level of comfort, if not more. I'm just saying it's worth pointing out Alden isn't someone's only option for "comfortable" boots.

[@Stridewise]

@@chadgraber4575 Yeah I don't know especially when you've got a history of foot pain and bad shoes, once you find a brand that works for you it makes sense to stop there. Alden's lasts are also famously very good for foot pain

[@chadgraber4575]

@@Stridewise I hear ya. I'm just indecisive, and a researcher so I have to know what all options are out there. Glad this guy was able to find something that works great for him. Keep the collector videos coming!

[@Stridewise]

@@chadgraber4575 thanks chad! I’m like you, I couldn’t stick to one either

[@jtee5957]

Isn't Alden's chamois roughout cow leather? That would mean it's neither sheep nor suede.

[@Stridewise]

Yeah chamois is MEANT to be from that weird chamois animal but lots of brands just call suede or roughout 'chamois.' Kudu is the same, there are lots of 'kudu' leathers out there that are just cow

[@yifanzheng1999]

@@Stridewise a lot of brands also call burgundy cow leather "cordovan" for some reason

[@not-a-raccoon]

I love the look of the Indy, but something needs to change in order for me to consider buying them. Either the price or the materials used. The two don't line up at all. If I'm spending 600 dollars on a boot, I'd better have half a damn cow under my feet. If they're gonna skimp on materials, the price had better reflect it.

[@markgillum5709]

Agreed, especially since there are other boots such as Grant Stone and Parkhurst that DO offer the value, craftsmanship, materials and most of all better pricing.

[@rogeliorodriguez1533]

@@markgillum5709 well good luck getting Grant Stone or Parkhurst to do a re-sole :) Alden is a brand name and a lifestyle product, but honestly they are pretty damn comfortable. It's the last...the Tru Balance last is freaking fantastic...

[@mtkoslowski]

A well shod man is generally found to be a gentleman.

[@TheRealChetManley]

You need to do a video with CJ Cook. That guy has the most insane boot collection in the world.

[@Stridewise]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGGke6aZd8lmnqc a long time ago

[@corporalpunish6089]

Anyone see the Rose Anvil strip down review? I was quite surprised.

[@peterkim5135]

Hes a boot noob whos not any close to leather expert. Dont go by his points

[@geezusLive-OF]

Zzzzzzzzzz

[@patj7007]

Wonder his thoughts on Rose Anvil video

[@stephenkeddy6849]

I’d love to hear his opinion on rose andvil’s breakdown of my beloved Indy’s

[@Stridewise]

I need like a roundtable of 5 experts from different corners of bootdom to properly respond

[@american_psycho1147]

Obviously he doesn't care. People that buy Aldens don't care about the price/quality ratio

[@strengthandbulkMadness]

Nitpicking to the highest degree for entertainment purposes.

[@johnnyregs2378]

@@strengthandbulkMadness he didn't nit pick them at all. They're just clearly made of poor quality materials for the price. And the new shell cordovan ones he bought for $900 came in a beat up, taped together box and had a huge gash on the interior lining. Alden is trash.

[@XiaNingTian]

@@johnnyregs2378 Don't be disingenuous. Those Cordovan Indy boots were not beat up. The sole, welt and uppers were perfect. There was only a gash in the liner for one boot that won't even be seen when worn.

[@lapatrie6568]

Great job! Thanks🥃

[@ghlibisk67]

About a year ago, Rose Anvil did a video shitting on the Alden Indy as poorly constructed for the money. Any comments on that?

[@Stridewise]

Yeah I addressed it a bit in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGeqeYBud5qAlck Though that came out before he'd finished his wear in an review of the cordovan Indys and that video made some irrefutable points

[@Think_Up]

2 Shoes changed my life. New Balance 574's let me walk all day without pain for the first time in my life. And Barrie Last Aldens do the same in a dress shoe. I just wish they would get rid of that leather/paper board layer in their souls.

[@gs5282]

405 uses wax hide leather, isn’t calf leather.

[@bobbyrobison]

Do you need Alden's to play Twister when your feet are janky?

[@kpdiallo1111]

How do you sell your old one?

[@Stridewise]

ebay and Grailed

[@jonathanvermillion7263]

Alden apparently used sub par materials

[@brandone7235]

This guy has 30 pairs, I wonder how many he's returned for QC issues...

[@urbandaniel100]

After watching rose anvil breaking this shoe down. I d rather just stick with Allen edmond or Carmina or Crockett and jones

[@73split]

That’s funny. Allen Edmonds and Crocket and Jones use the same construction materials. Leatherboard is a very common component in shoe builds. But those two brands don’t have the true-balance last design which is why Alden Indy Boots are so loved. I have no idea about Carmina, I’m sure they are good shoes and boots but I have zero experience with how they fit and their last designs.

[@yifanzheng1999]

mate is your instagram account back yet

[@Stridewise]

NO they said it'll be 3 days before I have a shot

[@yifanzheng1999]

@@Stridewise goddamnit these fucking scammers, if you still have your personal account you should probably post something about it there, or ask some of your friends in this community that have a lot of followers to post sth about it on their story

[@johnnyregs2378]

After watching rose anvils first video on the indys and now his followup with the shell cordovan ones he bought to actually wear for a while that came in a beat up box and had a huge gash in the interior lining on a pair of $900 boots, I have no respect for Alden. They might be comfortable but they're made of absolutely substandard materials for the price. Indy fan boys can't deal.

[@samwalker5112]

Right? I really wanted a pair of Indy boots because apparently they’re very comfortable, look nice etc etc. but nothing can justify the price and crappy materials, so I’m looking around for something similar, but made well.

[@johnnyregs2378]

@@samwalker5112 grant stone has a similar looking moc toe with actual premium materials. Similar price as well.

[@samwalker5112]

@@johnnyregs2378 is that their Brass boot? I was looking at it just yesterday. Other problem for me is I’m in the UK, so finding Aldens of here is pretty hard, so I’d probably have to get them shipped over at great expense, and if they don’t fit it just gets even worse. But Grant Stone is definitely on the watchlist.

[@johnnyregs2378]

@@samwalker5112 yep the brass boot. I have a pair in #8 cxl. Build quality is outstanding, like approaching the level of my Vibergs.

[@samwalker5112]

@@johnnyregs2378 unfortunately they’re out of stock on their website, but I’ll definitely be checking them out, and for half the price of aldens. Cheers for the recommendation!

[@par3caddy]

Gr8 informative video, i did not know this Alden info. Now im more curious and informed about #Realshoes.. Good made in USA company with sustainable US supply chain solutions

[@fallingwickets]

too bad they dont make a chelsea/laceless boot.

[@Stridewise]

Yeah it's interesting seeing which brands take a stand against the Chelsea. It's a pretty British style to be fair , a non workbooty as well

[@StolenAlias]

Damn that’s a lot of overpaying

[@beagler4234]

He must hate Rose Anvil lol

[@frankrice1253]

2 words _ Rose Anvil 😂

[@aristotle1326]

Your ig got hacked

[@Stridewise]

I know, I'm so miserable trying to get it back. I'd have thought asking everyone to report it would at least deactivate it for a bit

[@hannibalbarca2939]

Nick, did you get your hacked instagram account back yet? Your hacker blocked me.

[@Stridewise]

Nooo. If/when I’m back I’ll go through the blocked list and get u back

[@Torresgamingchannel]

I cannot afford to watch this video.

[@fattymcslim87]

Your IG got hacked by a crypto scammer

[@Stridewise]

I know, I'm so sad. Doing everything I can, wish IG would at least deactivate my account for a bit - pls report it!

[@Slappadatface]

Terrible shoes now. Another great American product cashing in and selling out. They’re not even worth $150 let alone $700. Tongues come unstitched, moc toe is fake, quality is awful. Alden should be ashamed.

[@dr.johndoe1603]

Why would you buy a pair of used boots ???

[@nyquil762]

I buy them all of the time. Most were never worn or lightly worn and still in the box. This happens to expensive boots ($300+) all the time. I think people spend more than they are comfortable and many never wear them. Then, they look in their closet one day and presto, Ebay etc.

[@Stridewise]

Because these are products that get better with age, so it's nbd getting them cheaper second hand

[@bflathead]

Tremendous value lies within the used marketplace…

[@73split]

Easy answer. There are a lot of people with more money then sense who purchase boots they never wear. So you can essentially buy brand new boots that are considered USED! The fact people buy some very nice heavy duty work boots for fashion purposes and then put them in the closet because they can’t handle the break in process means you can buy some great boots for a dirt cheap price.

[@1979augistine]

Because there's lots of people who dont realize boots need to be worn in and are not sneaker comfortable and give up without even trying to break them in . I have got 3 or 4 pairs of different boots that where worn once or twice for under 200 dollars wesco,viberg and whites saving me 500 or 600 dollars