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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    ALDEN

    Footwear
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    • louisboscoL
      louisbosco
      啓蒙家
      Joined:

      @grandmasterben:

      I know that alden is kinda seen as a joke quality-wise amongst various forums, do you guys think its blown out or proportion and that they at least make good dress shoes?  I'm not looking for any essays, just some general thoughts… ill be damned if cigar shell bluchers don't look nice as hell!

      interesting.. as part of the discussion, i'm just wondering if those people see it as a joke for it's quality by itself, or compared to other brands such as c&j or others?

      "Loyalty is a two way street. If i'm asking for it from you, then you're getting it from me."

      • Harvey Specter
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      • madmondayM
        madmonday
        Raw and Unwashed
        Joined:

        NP seawolf u deserve those cudos.

        on to Alden

        my issues were never with the quality or lack of quality of Alden, it was always the way they dealt with customer service. i support people i "think" i like & as such haven't bought an item from them since a friend had issues with them.  It came down to my not wanting to support a company who didn't stand with the product they produce or even worse put me through the ringer to address a concern i have with a product i spend my money on.

        with that said, i still have 2 pairs &  they are my "nice" or "dress-up" footwear . . . which means i never wear them

        head high, middle finger higher

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        • summ3rhaysS
          summ3rhays
          Joined:

          @grandmasterben My one pair of Alden are the Indy boots. I would highly recommend and I've worn mine often for 2+ yrs. Zero issues or complaints.

          IG: summ3rhays & Indigobleed

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          • tigerpacT
            tigerpac
            Joined:

            I've never heard the quality being described as a joke.  I have 3 pairs and they're among the best.  Now the customer service… that's another matter.

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            • arrowA
              arrow
              Joined:

              to my knowledge, no other US shoe maker uses steel shank for support.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.
              To me that is the key in providing the comfort.  Even the suede chukkas feel solid.

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              • GilesG
                Giles
                IHUK Crew
                Joined:

                By shoemaker, do you also mean bootmaker?

                If so, Wesco use a Non corrosive steel shank

                "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                • S
                  superfuzz
                  Joined:

                  I think there have been some issues with Alden quality control since they have blown up over the last few years or so. I've never had any quality problems. But it had been a few years since I bought a pair.

                  Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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                  • A
                    aho
                    Joined:

                    I wore my 405's through an abusive two years straight as my daily work beater pair (including two Chicago winters, salt and all) and aside from needing a complete resole, haven't had any major issues with them. In that time however, I did go through 4 pairs of their waxed laces (which really do suck), and had some bending on the speed hooks which were easily fixed when I took them in for the resole. The leather is surprisingly durable and I honestly didn't take care of the boots at all in those two years!

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                    • arrowA
                      arrow
                      Joined:

                      Thanks for the clarification Giles.  What I meant to say is, are there other Alden-like companies that uses steel shank for their dress / casual shoe line?

                      Companies like Allen Edmonds come to mind and they don't integrate steel shank in their shoe manufacturing.

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                      • D
                        denimeric
                        Joined:

                        [*

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                        • seawolfS
                          seawolf
                          Mod Squad
                          Joined:

                          Um…. I don't think that was Giles' point at all.

                          “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                          @zeebeeleather

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                          • seawolfS
                            seawolf
                            Mod Squad
                            Joined:

                            And going back through and reading it again, I'm certain that wan't was he was saying. He was saying it's bullshit that our service members are buying good quality gear (in this case my pair of Aldens) to replace the crappy stuff that we're issued.

                            “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                            @zeebeeleather

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                            • derivative666D
                              derivative666
                              Joined:

                              Exactly,  @denimeric you are misunderstanding what G is saying.

                              "honorable mention to the bearded giant aka derivative666 for being a stand up dude & not changing with the seasons since i've been around these parts" Monday

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                              • D
                                denimeric
                                Joined:

                                Every brand has had or will have some quality issues one time or another.

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                                • GilesG
                                  Giles
                                  IHUK Crew
                                  Joined:

                                  I have no idea what @denimeric said as it has been deleted, but what I was saying (or indeed wanted people to hear) is as per @seawolf 's reading of it:

                                  He was saying it's bullshit that our service members are buying good quality gear (in this case my pair of Aldens) to replace the crappy stuff that we're issued.

                                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                                  • GilesG
                                    Giles
                                    IHUK Crew
                                    Joined:

                                    @denimeric:

                                    And every brand has had or will have some quality issues one time or another.

                                    Of course they do.  And Iron Heart is no exception.  We fuck up some times and it hurts when we do, it really does (you don't want to be anywhere near me when we have let a customer down).  But what defines a brands customer service, is how they deal with the shit.  Being great when everything is going well is easy.  Dealing with shite is not so easy, and some brands are empirically shite at dealing with shite…And I have no time for shite...

                                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                                    • hajdukH
                                      hajduk
                                      啓蒙家
                                      Joined:

                                      So true…

                                      Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                                      "Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have" James Baldwin.

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                                      • D
                                        denimeric
                                        Joined:

                                        .

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                                        • D
                                          denimeric
                                          Joined:

                                          .

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                                          • seawolfS
                                            seawolf
                                            Mod Squad
                                            Joined:

                                            "Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm."

                                            -Publilius Syrus

                                            “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                                            @zeebeeleather

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