Hi Teik! I want to start saying you are awesome and I have been learning so much from you! I recently got a pair of these in all eyelets color 8 Shell Cordovon from the shoemart. I had the fortune of actually going into the shoemart Connecticut store, and I was told: 1. These are darker/more glossy than regular color 8 Shell Cordovon shoes, as Alden do additional polishing/waxing after they get their shell from Horween. 2. These shell shoes are slightly wider/larger, as Shell shoes are not as pliable compared to calf leather ones. 3. The more recent cordovon Indy boxes on top are hand stitched. This is part of the present more premium decorative effort by Alden only on Shell Indy shoes. Keep up the great job!!! ✌️
I wear my shell and other Indy boots with jeans and a casual type of shirt. Polo or button-down. Jeans with the shell are a darker blue. I don't baby my shell boots and wear them like my other boots. Brush slightly after each wear. The leather will lighten up over time with normal wear. I have found over the years that Alden boots are a casual or office boot. Not a rugged camping or serious outdoors product.
Hi Teik, I was craving to see this review. I hoped you loved the Arai as much as I did; phew, what a relief! I am glad to know now you do like them 😅. I was surprised about the depth of the color as well. The only thing I did was apply a little VSC, that's it. I didn't even have the time to use the Saphir cream I sent ya. I still have two pairs in size 8B/D that I’m keeping as an experiment. I have the theory that due to the suppleness of the CXL and the Reversed Tobacco Chamois, the molding of the uppers to my feet gives me a more custom feel… I might be completely wrong here, tho. The truth is, I need to go to an Store and try some 8.5 B/D, or and 8E… anyways, thanks for the mention and enjoy your boots brother!
Hey Teik. Great video! I have color 8 on some Allen Edmonds. Mine were darkening up so I sun tanned them for several days and now they look stunning and what I would expect from #8. They make a brief cameo in my latest video of cutting AE’s in half if you want to see the color. It’s at 8:05.
I wish more "color 8 " shell cordovan and "color 8 chromexcel was that dark purple grape colour that Alden always manages with their footwear but sadly it is usually a much lighter, more red colour from other brands. I've been tempted to buy a pair of Alden boots, even at the scary European prices, just for that colour.
Shell colour dances around quite a bit depending on the lighting...... The oils and waxes move around quite a bit and can affect the colour quite remarkedly, I would advise buying a deer bone, helps smoothing out the rolls and spread the waxes/oils around............... Oh yes, shell doesn't crease like leather, develops rolls instead.................. they do change colour with age, but retain a wonderful depth of colour........................
The Alden insoles are vegetable tanned leather, not leatherboard! You have incorrectly made this assertion in quite a few videos. The Shoe Mart and Alden's website both state that the insole is vegetable tanned leather. The infamous cut-in-half videos and several cobbler videos also show and explain that the insole is leather. The insole even says "Genuine Leather" on it, at least mine does. Maybe you are getting insole confused with mid-sole? They do use leatherboard for the midsole but that is effectively a non-issue. You should really clear this up moving forward so that people are not being misinformed. Great videos btw!
imo, Alden needs to do multiple things to make them more compelling. Go to direct-to-consumer, upgrade the materials in the USA made boots/shoes, and then also have a more affordable line, perhaps made in Mexico? India? Other Central American manufacturing? I think that offering a more affordable option and a then a premium option is, imo, the way to go. But hell, I could be wrong (as I am often).
It saddens me to see people still supporting Alden. When the prices go up and quality goes down, the brand should be abandoned. The only reason they keep getting away with it, and people are gullible enough to purchase shell indy's is because of the movie!
I do think their non-shell boots are overpriced. I remember when they were going for around 300 less. Shell is expensive. I have a couple pairs of White's shell MP boots Baker Boots sold. They were originally over 1200 but got them on the Final Few sales. I think Alden is mainly a dress shoe/casual wear company. US made shell is going to be more expensive than imports except for Viberg.......lol Comparing Alden to say a PNW company or other work boot company is not a fair comparison. 2 different animals. Again, the Alden other than shell boots are overpriced.
Hi Teik! I want to start saying you are awesome and I have been learning so much from you!
I recently got a pair of these in all eyelets color 8 Shell Cordovon from the shoemart. I had the fortune of actually going into the shoemart Connecticut store, and I was told:
1. These are darker/more glossy than regular color 8 Shell Cordovon shoes, as Alden do additional polishing/waxing after they get their shell from Horween.
2. These shell shoes are slightly wider/larger, as Shell shoes are not as pliable compared to calf leather ones.
3. The more recent cordovon Indy boxes on top are hand stitched. This is part of the present more premium decorative effort by Alden only on Shell Indy shoes.
Keep up the great job!!! ✌️
@@cc50378n that is such terrific information. Thank you!
Thank you! My used Alden 403s are my favorite boots. While cordovan may not fit my style as a retiree in a small, rural town, yours are magnificent!
Thank you Sir!
Wow! Those boots blend perfectly with your outfit 👌🏽
Always love to see what you outfit with the boots :)
Love my shell Indy’s! Great review. Thank you.
I wear my shell and other Indy boots with jeans and a casual type of shirt. Polo or button-down. Jeans with the shell are a darker blue. I don't baby my shell boots and wear them like my other boots. Brush slightly after each wear. The leather will lighten up over time with normal wear. I have found over the years that Alden boots are a casual or office boot. Not a rugged camping or serious outdoors product.
Hi Teik, I was craving to see this review. I hoped you loved the Arai as much as I did; phew, what a relief! I am glad to know now you do like them 😅.
I was surprised about the depth of the color as well. The only thing I did was apply a little VSC, that's it. I didn't even have the time to use the Saphir cream I sent ya.
I still have two pairs in size 8B/D that I’m keeping as an experiment. I have the theory that due to the suppleness of the CXL and the Reversed Tobacco Chamois, the molding of the uppers to my feet gives me a more custom feel… I might be completely wrong here, tho. The truth is, I need to go to an Store and try some 8.5 B/D, or and 8E… anyways, thanks for the mention and enjoy your boots brother!
They are GREAT!
Hey Teik. Great video! I have color 8 on some Allen Edmonds. Mine were darkening up so I sun tanned them for several days and now they look stunning and what I would expect from #8.
They make a brief cameo in my latest video of cutting AE’s in half if you want to see the color. It’s at 8:05.
I’ll go take a look right now, thanks!
That’s an incredible change!
@@Bootlosophy when you sun tan the shell it will actually even pull out some of the oils and give it a nicer look.
I wish more "color 8 " shell cordovan and "color 8 chromexcel was that dark purple grape colour that Alden always manages with their footwear but sadly it is usually a much lighter, more red colour from other brands.
I've been tempted to buy a pair of Alden boots, even at the scary European prices, just for that colour.
9:40 in that black jacket you look like a management consultant for the Triad
🤣🤣🤣🤣😎
Shell colour dances around quite a bit depending on the lighting...... The oils and waxes move around quite a bit and can affect the colour quite remarkedly, I would advise buying a deer bone, helps smoothing out the rolls and spread the waxes/oils around............... Oh yes, shell doesn't crease like leather, develops rolls instead.................. they do change colour with age, but retain a wonderful depth of colour........................
The Alden insoles are vegetable tanned leather, not leatherboard! You have incorrectly made this assertion in quite a few videos. The Shoe Mart and Alden's website both state that the insole is vegetable tanned leather. The infamous cut-in-half videos and several cobbler videos also show and explain that the insole is leather. The insole even says "Genuine Leather" on it, at least mine does.
Maybe you are getting insole confused with mid-sole? They do use leatherboard for the midsole but that is effectively a non-issue. You should really clear this up moving forward so that people are not being misinformed. Great videos btw!
imo, Alden needs to do multiple things to make them more compelling. Go to direct-to-consumer, upgrade the materials in the USA made boots/shoes, and then also have a more affordable line, perhaps made in Mexico? India? Other Central American manufacturing? I think that offering a more affordable option and a then a premium option is, imo, the way to go. But hell, I could be wrong (as I am often).
It saddens me to see people still supporting Alden. When the prices go up and quality goes down, the brand should be abandoned. The only reason they keep getting away with it, and people are gullible enough to purchase shell indy's is because of the movie!
their shoes look awesome and fit great
I do think their non-shell boots are overpriced. I remember when they were going for around 300 less. Shell is expensive. I have a couple pairs of White's shell MP boots Baker Boots sold. They were originally over 1200 but got them on the Final Few sales. I think Alden is mainly a dress shoe/casual wear company. US made shell is going to be more expensive than imports except for Viberg.......lol Comparing Alden to say a PNW company or other work boot company is not a fair comparison. 2 different animals. Again, the Alden other than shell boots are overpriced.
For shell boots they're on the cheaper side, by quite a bit.