Allen Edmonds Vs. Alden

Choose!

  • Alden

    Votes: 5 41.7%

  • Allen-Edmonds

    Votes: 7 58.3%
  • Total voters
    12
I voted for AE. I think both generally make ugly shoes. AE has more less ugly ones. Alden is, as far as I know, higher quality. But that's all second hand information. And what's the point of having higher quality (when that difference in quality isn't going to make much difference in either function or form) if we don't like what we wear?

Sorry Senor Rustler.
 
Looked it up. Seems interesting. There was a review in HuffPost that skewered it for all the poor treatment of women
 
JimmyRustler said:
Well it's about Muslims so I wouldn't expect good treatment of women or homosexuals.
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Quite true. But our politically correct society wishes to ban depiction of such things in media. Kind of a return to the Wonderful World of Disney golden years.
 
JimmyRustler said:
That Oli fellow ranting against AEs seems like a complete cunt. I know AE style isn't for everyone but he has just been blatantly lying in that thread.
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Dear jimmy, the worldwide shoe community is like a zoo, nothing else. I admit, that oli is not the first who comes to my mind when I have a particular shoe issue, anyway.

In my book AE makes nicer shoes than Alden and their shell treatment is far superior to Alden. yadda yadda Horween. The boots sector is an open race with Alden slightly ahead, imo. Both of these companies basically lack of last refinements plus the massive heel blocks, which are "despised" in the finer territories of shoemaking. all in all, one can do worse ...
 
Can you deny that Aldens are time capsules of shoes made 50-60 years ago? They are not perfect recreations, they are the exact damn same shoes made on the exact same equipment.
 
So that's a yes. For the nostalgic, the purist, the authenticity fiend, they are a goldmine.
I'm not entirely in that camp, but I see the appeal. It's an American (and Japanese) thing, mostly.
 
walker said:
not at all. its the opposite.
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Oops. So you're saying no, you cannot deny the absolute stagnation of Alden design and manufacture. Agreed.
A modern Alden shoe, if it can be called that, is identical in every way to the one made during the Cold War.
 
I own both Alden and AE. I would say newer AEs are nowhere comparable to Alden besides the price. But Aldens have reached a price point that is unattainable by plebs like myself. Some of AE's traditional models such as Park Avenue, Strands, Mcallisters are good shoes when on sale, particularly Brooks Brothers equivalent.

However its a toss up when older AEs are compared with Aldens IMO.
 
Pauly Chase said:
I would say newer AEs are nowhere comparable to Alden ...
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please explain, thank you.

ps: probably we can start from here ...

alden pride.webp
 
Russell Street said:
A modern Alden shoe, if it can be called that, is identical in every way to the one made during the Cold War.
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agreed. my main issue is the quality. I'm interested in traditional shoemaking more than you might imagine. I cannot say that Alden suffices to the standards I'm used to ... no offense.
 
My statement was base from personal experience. I assume the above is Alden PTB?

My only two pairs of Alden are beefroll penny loafers and Indys, both bought a few years ago before prices skyrocketed. They have aged nicely with proper care.

Most of my AEs are older models and all have held up well. The only pair that I bought this year was a pair of Neumoks. While they have held up well, the some of the stitching have come loose despite infrequent wear. Also the heals are wearing down a lot faster than I expected.

FWIW, at current price line, I would buy anything else but Alden.
 
Pauly Chase said:
FWIW, at current price line, I would buy anything else but Alden.
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got it. let's not let the cat bite in her tail. there's place for all kind of shoes ... I'm more attached to the general approach and if people just beat the drums or if they are really interested in the topic. all is good.
 
Have never had Alden's. Had one pair of AE, which I eventually sent to Walker for examination & experimentation.
 
thruth said:
Have never had Alden's. Had one pair of AE, which I eventually sent to Walker for examination & experimentation.
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based on this, I would rate AE shoes a few steps ahead of Alden. boots might be a closer call, though.
 
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