Alden 405 - Care & Curiosity

About the Alden 405

The iconic "Indy Boot" is the Alden 405, nicknamed so because Harrison Ford loved them so much that he insisted on wearing them while portraying Indiana Jones.  So what exactly makes up an Indy Boot--and how should you care for it?

The Alden Model 405 Indy Boot is made with full-grain cowhide leather.  Originally built as a work boot, the 405 has gained a fashion-forward popularity as well.  

It was originally designed as one of Alden's Foot Balance System shoes, which have added support thanks to their long inside counters and special support "Thomas" heels.  All of the Alden "Indy boots" have recently been added to the Alden New England fine dress shoes Category. Some of the pictures on our site still show "Alden Foot Balance System" embossed on the heel pad, but recent models will have the standard Alden New England logo embossed on the heel pad. 

How To Care For Your Alden 405 Boots

1.  Insert Shoe Trees. 
2. Clean by wiping uppers with a damp cloth or damp sponge that has been squeezed of excess water.
3. Rub with dry cloth, and let stand until dry--this usually takes around 2 minutes.
4. Apply the Alden's Fine Boot Cream in Neutral with a clean dry cloth, or horsehair dauber. This helps to  nourish the leather. Allow 2 or more minutes to dry. Brush off with horsehair brush. 
5. Apply Brown Alden Paste Wax liberally using a horsehair dauber or brush. Other paste wax brands may be okay too, but the Alden paste wax product works well. Let stand 3 minutes.
6. Brush and shine with a Horsehair brush. Plastic or synthetic brushes are ineffective for shining.
7. Finish with a soft, clean cloth, or Colonil's Goat hair finishing brush.

* Keep in mind that this routine will be different for other "Indy Boots" since different models may feature different leathers such as Shell Cordovan and Chromexcel, which require different products and care. Do not use this method on Suede.
 

Other "Indy Boots"

At TheShoeMart, we carry many variations of the traditional Alden 405.  From the black 401 with white stitching to the rugged Kudu Indy, there's an Indy boot for everyone! See some of our selection below. 

Alden Lasts

Alden's lasts are well-known for their exceptional fit and support.  However, some customers, especially those new to Alden Shoes, may find the differing sizes and widths of the lasts a bit confusing.  We'd like to clear them up a bit for you.

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A side-by-side comparison of all of the Alden Lasts. (Click to enlarge)

Depending on the last they are formed with, Alden shoes have either pointed, soft square, or round toe boxes. The pointed toe boxes, like the ones on the Aberdeen last, are of course the most narrow. The Barrie, Modified, and Trubalance lasts have rounder Toe Boxes and are wider.  The Plaza last has a soft, square toe box and is a bit tighter in the mid-foot area.

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Above-all, we recommend contacting our customer service team in order to determine your best fit. You can contact them by phone Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM EST at 800-850-7463 or shoot us an email at shoemart@theshoemart.com. If you live close enough to our Norwalk, CT store, feel free to come in for a visit. Our expert sales team would love to take the time to help you find the perfect Alden Shoe. 

For videos explaining the various lasts in greater depth and tips on how to try on shoes you order online so that you do not crease or damage them and are able to return them, please visit our YouTube Channel.

A Brief Introduction

Welcome to The Shoe Mart! If you are viewing this blog, there is a good chance that you enjoy Alden shoes as much as we do. 

We have had a relationship with Alden of New England for over 40 years, and we stand firmly by the quality of their products. At The Shoe Mart we not only sell shoes, but we love them, too. Along with this love comes a large knowledge base. If you pop into our Norwalk, CT store or call one of our customer service reps at 800-850-7463, we will be not only well-equipped, but also happy to help you find the right shoe for you.

Outside of the service we provide in our Brick and Mortar store, we also try to spread this love and connect with our customers through social media. If you follow us on Instagram, we often post photos of our products that are taken in-house and play a game to see if our followers can guess which Alden Special Edition Shoe is featured in a close-up photograph. We also enjoy connecting to our customers and Alden fans in general, answering questions and asking which make ups our customers enjoy best. 

We also enjoy pinning Alden shoes to boards (on Pinterest, not IRL), frequenting the #AldenArmy hashtag, and asking you to Show Us Your Indys! We have our own YouTube channel with helpful videos about the different Alden lasts and the proper way to try on Alden shoes. 

We hope that we can connect to you, through our store or through social media, so that you can share our passion for Alden.