Shoes that look better with age...

[rodeo bill]

Here's some suede oxfords from GJ Cleverley in the Royal Arcade in London- I've got a couple of pairs of formalish shoes from them, and the quality's great. I don't wear these all that often, but I've had them about a year.

[rodeo bill]

here are some more from Cleverley, but I've never worn them... the shop was refitted last year and they sold these off to me cheap(ish). Completely bespoke- every stitch is done by hand with a needle and thread- I think they're amazing! made in the 70s apparently, with bespoke trees that are hinged at the ankle:cool:

[tigerformula]

What alternatives are there to the Alden Indy? They are the prefect boot with a less than perfect price.

[jstavrin]

Red Wings are slightly less expensive. Different look though.

[Christmas In A Submarine.]

those suede oxfords look dang comfy.

[coleslawyum]

^^^RB, outta rep for you, but your shoes are very nicely worn in. Good to see more suede on this thread.

Those riding boots are pretty amazing but in need of a good resole. Looks like the leather needs a bit conditioning.

[Doug C]

What alternatives are there to the Alden Indy? They are the prefect boot with a less than perfect price.

How about $75 for the same LOOKING boot? It's not going to be as good as the Alden but maybe not a bad starter boot for the budget minded. It's the one from Todd's Costumes, here's the link my friend..

http://www.toddscostumes.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?search=action&category=3575

.

[coleslawyum]

Sure, if you're going for the look of the 405. But I rather just save up and buy less shoes for the Alden's. Besides, they are leather lined now. I know that Alden's leather and finishing is top notch, so I rather go with something that is worth the money.

Here's a few pic to change your mind. Had these for 3 years.

[edmond]

is that a double midsole i see? okuyama san said its getting harder and harder these days to get supplies of cats paw half soles.. damn im sending out my aldens for cats paws too in a week !

[coleslawyum]

^^No sir, that's a single. Its the welt + single layer mid-sole + cat paw's half sole. The supplies are running low, but I'm just waiting for vibram to re-issue them. Besides, a lot of the deadstock cat paw's are too brittle for actual use, and the rubber quality sucks donkey balls.

I'm actually collecting a few spare pairs myself, but I rather just use a vibram cause they last waaay longer.

[edmond]

your right! but man ctas paws are something else vibram will reissue them? really?

[fardin]

coleslawyum i have said that before but these are really the nicest 405s around. i love the combo with the cat paws. and i love the shape of the heel. killer!

[Denim Phenom]

Oh shit, Cats Paws aren't worth the hype?! You mean Bill made everyone go gaga for a poor quality product. Dang.

::sarcasm::

[Alex3000]

wait so if i read this right vibram is re issuing cats paws ie making more?

[Atzec]

some pics of my rw 8138. had them for a bit over a year, but didn´t wear them in summertime.

[rjuice1]

I'm looking to purchase a pair of alden boots with a leather sole I would want to wear them all the time, I hear you can't wear them in the rain or snow . My ? is what did men do when leather was the only thing used for soles?

[map111158]

If youre looking for a pair you want to wear all the time, why not go for one of the many Indy boots versions with a more durable and grippy sole? If you have to get the leather soles you can always wear rubber protectors when it rains or make sure you dry them correctly after. Have you ever worn leather soled shoes? They are pretty slippery in wet or icy conditions.

[morse9443]

Here's my 877's after being cut off and resoled + 1-2 months of hard labor.

[marineabilly]

Just a follow up on these boots. After about a year and a half of moderate wear (too many Engineers to develope any descent wear). The horsehide leather doesn't make the wear process any easier. I like to wear my Engineers with the top straps unbuckled just to be different:

[U MAD]

Here's my 877's after being cut off and resoled + 1-2 months of hard labor.

wow that cut off is brutal! looks dope.

[Happy Hooligan]

I like the extra length on the buco bottom strap... What's that line down the middle of each boot?

[mad_dye]

Didn't know Danner made engineer boots...

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/greedkobe/678592/682251/833441/

[marineabilly]

I like the extra length on the buco bottom strap... What's that line down the middle of each boot?

There's something real classic about an extra long instep strap. The lines down vamp are sometimes called "toe tracks" "toe seam" (there may be others out there as well). These are indentations left behind, back in the day, while being constructed around certain boot lasts which give the boot it's toe shape. The tracks on my particular pair, for some reason, are substandard from The Real McCoys' earlier Buco Models.

[edmond]

wait how come your buco has a natural colored midsole?

[JohnnyLaw]

Red Wing black cherry GTs after 2 years of wear:

They're really comfortable now and they're holding up pretty well.

[Dchill]

That black cherry color is killer, I like'em Johnny Law.

[marineabilly]

wait how come your buco has a natural colored midsole?

Ha! I was expecting someone to ask that question. I took the dye off with sandpaper. I wasn't diggin' the all black boot, so I thought I'd give it a go. I think it turned out okay. As you know, the current Buco's are all black where as the earlier models have natural edges and a better toe track. I may give it a brown dye job to make the natrual color more even, but not sure yet.

[Happy Hooligan]

the thrift fairies were good to me yesterday as I picked up two pairs of beautiful V-Cleat Florsheim Long Wings... in Black and Cordovan!

Unfortunately they didn't know my size and gave me two pairs of 10 E while I needed an 11...

[cheapmuthafukr]

really? would you wanna trade on of those for a pair of shell oxfords in a 10.5?

[SLAB]

really nice pair of Bucos, +rep for sandpapering the edges

at first sight I didnt like the Buzz Rickson tanker boots, posted a couple of pages back, but the more i look at them, the more they look appealing. might be a good alternative for a pair of engineer boots...