Indiana Jones boot alternative

[DarkHelmet]

I am completing my IJ costume for Halloween and found this alternative to the Alden boot.

They're not real cheap, but it's better than shelling out $250+, plus these have a better non-slip sole:

http://www.bamason.com/product.asp?...&family_id=4994&cat_id=82&type=3&pf_id=000950

They are almost identical in design to Aldens.

 

[Jedifyfe]

I think these are closer...

J Crew Boots

Real Aldens...

 

[DarkHelmet]

There are a lot of alternatives as Indygear.com's forums will prove, but the BAMason brand are a lot cheaper than the J. Crew.J Crew boots are listed at about $198.00. Heck, if I am going to pay that much, I'd rather just throw in another $50.00 and get a pair of Aldens.

 

[Rabittooth]

Man.. I bought a pair of J Crew Deckers a few years ago for $40 !!!
The price went up that much??

-Rabittooth

 

[greatgarlando]

I use the J. Crew Deckers also Check Ebay for best prices and after the fall season J. Crew will drop the price of their boots also.

 

[WinstonWolf359]

Carolina makes a boot that is very comfortable and looks the part. Looking on eBay usually turns up something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Carolina-mens-6...ryZ63850QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

 

[rickrickrick]

There are a lot of alternatives as Indygear.com's forums will prove, but the BAMason brand are a lot cheaper than the J. Crew.J Crew boots are listed at about $198.00. Heck, if I am going to pay that much, I'd rather just throw in another $50.00 and get a pair of Aldens.

Aldens are not $250 - they're $300.

And the J. Crew boots now have a very ugly lug heel - see attached.

Rick

 

[Gigatron]

Aldens are not $250 - they're $300.

And the J. Crew boots now have a very ugly lug heel - see attached.

Rick

I think these are the Jcrew rugged.

I got a couple of pairs of the deckers, just like Rabitt (though I didn't beat the crap out of mine :lol) and the heel is just like the original Aldens'.

I got a few pairs way back when, when Jcrew dumped the price to $40. I have a pair that I use for Indy and pair for "business casual". I get a lot of compliments on those shoes.

-Fred

 

[rickrickrick]

Then the J Crew decker boots you bought are no longer available, as these were the only boots on their site. The Carolina work boots pictured above are also not available new.

Bummer. :cry

Rick

 

[THEMAN]

I just snagged a pair of the J Crew version Jedifyfe posted on ebay... Pretty happy with way less than half retail and less than a third of the Aldens for something that close. I just need to swap out the laces and they'll be pretty nice I think.

 

[moffeaton]

Just get Aldens... I got mine in 2003 and they are the most comfortable and rugged shoes I own - I will have these resoled, and hopefully they will last a lifetime!! Best $300 I ever spent on footwear. If you spend $100 a year on shoes as they wear out (which is easy to do with cheaper shoes) the Aldens are already more then paid for.

 

[DarkHelmet]

Just get Aldens... I got mine in 2003 and they are the most comfortable and rugged shoes I own - I will have these resoled, and hopefully they will last a lifetime!! Best $300 I ever spent on footwear. If you spend $100 a year on shoes as they wear out (which is easy to do with cheaper shoes) the Aldens are already more then paid for.

There is no way I can pay $300 for a pair of shoes. I have $50.00 boots I've owned for several years that are still going strong......

One day I will own a pair of Alden's, but not soon.

 

[Jedifyfe]

I don't know anyone that would wear these boots everyday. I think the Indy boot alternatives are completely fine. I DO have $300 to spend but don't care to get the "exact" boots as in the movie since I am going to scuff the hell out of these. Same reason I WON'T pay $500 for a David Morgan whip when I can get a similar whip for $125!

 

[THEMAN]

I'm with Helmet and fyfe on this one... It'd be different if I was actually searching for relics for a living. But this is stuff that won't even get it's full use walking around the suburbs.

 

[THEMAN]

Dang, the J.Crews came in today already... that was some fast ebay service there. Couldn't be happier with the boots, especially for the price...and the sizing worked out perfectly. I'll be stomping them around with sme yardwork to break them in.

 

[Funky]

Pics?

 

[Jedifyfe]

Dang, the J.Crews came in today already... that was some fast ebay service there. Couldn't be happier with the boots, especially for the price...and the sizing worked out perfectly. I'll be stomping them around with sme yardwork to break them in.

Yeah pics! That's cool that you got them. I am thinking of getting these also. Let me know how they look!

 

[THEMAN]

I will snap some pics tomorrow with some proper khakis on...

 

[Solo4114]

I have a pair of Aldens and they're not the "exact" boot, mostly because of the changes in leather coloring that Alden has used over the years. I got one of the "orange" batches, unfortunately, but managed to recolor them using Meltonian brick shoe polish. They're still a little more red than the deep brown I'd prefer, but I don't think I could get 'em brown even if I used a really dark brown polish.

The Aldens are comfortable and rugged, yes, but they're expensive too. For what it's worth, aside from my Wested, most of my costume is "close enough" or less expensive very accurate alternatives. I have a whip that I got last year from....I have no idea anymore, but it's a great quality whip. It's not a Mark Allen or a David Morgan, but I don't need or want one of those. Likewise, I wear an Akubra Federation rather than a Herbert Johnson or an AB. That's because the Akubra is good enough for my needs and the right price.

If you can afford the Aldens and will wear them more than for the costume, they're a good investment. If you're pretty much gonna wear them just for the costume, save your money and go with a "close enough" boot.

 

[HellGhost]

Ironic you say that. I do wear these boots everyday...And in saying you would " buy these if you were searching for relics for a living" not so much. They have a leather sole so they don't grip real well in dirt and such, but that is the kind they had in that time period. Indy Magnoli remade these boots with amuch better sole, though when I get my aldens resoled I might try a diffrent material.