Just can’t hurt Horween Shell….
grantini12 months ago
Alden Tanker BootHorween Ravello Shell Cordovan
See specs
Maker
Alden Shoe Company
Model
Tanker Boot
Leather
Last
Sole
Heel
Purchased from
Sherman Brothers
More about this item
I would contend that any kind of Alden Shell footwear is probably NOT the best choice for a patina contest. No matter how trashed they are, a quick brushing or, in extreme cases, a conditioning, makes them look new again.Use & wear
Office Work
Leisure
Travel
I wore these casually and did some minor hiking in them. However I tended to go easier than perhaps I should have. Probably the most wear in one day was an 8 mile day in NYC last month.
Leather
Horween Ravello Shell Cordovan
The Ravello shell has faded to a softer reddish brown, which I think is particularly attractive. Once the awful fake acrylic shine wore off, they took on a pleasing glow that just gets better. Break in was moderate, but they are now quite comfortable. I did try to avoid brushing, to see what the effects would be and frankly, I was getting some decent patina going, however my OCD always took over and I ended up conditioning and brushing them regularly. Frankly, no matter how much you beat these up, a quick brushing makes them look new again.
Fit
Barrie Last: 9EUS Men's Brannock: 9.5E
Length Feels Right
Volume Feels Right
Ball Feels Right
Satisfied with the Fit
I’m a 9E in Barrie and, like the True Balance, they fit me perfectly and are extremely comfortable. A couple weeks ago I walked almost ten miles in one day in NYC wearing them, and then wore them on the streets that night in the rain. My feet felt great… and of course a quick brushing made the rain patina disappear.
Craftsmanship
Alden Tanker Boot
I’ve been an Alden guy for 37 years. This is where I live. They are perfect in every way.
Sole & heel
Commando SoleOver 1 year, current sole
Great soles, zero wear showing
Commando heel, zero wearWorn for over 1 year, current heel
Great heel, zero wear showing.
Final thoughts
I don’t think I would choose shell for a patina contest in the future, but man, nothing looks or wears better in the real world. Get ya some rare shell and tell the world you are here!
Written by grantini
Shop similar
Affiliate Links
More like this
A Pleasure
Alden Plain Toe Boot in Horween Color 2 Shell CordovanBy shaking.boots • April 6, 2025"I have treated these as a casual everyday boot and worn them around the house, out to run errands, and to the office. Very versatile, I felt I could easily dress them up or down...."Read the full review
Solid dress boot!
Alden Medallion Cap Toe Boot in Horween Color 8 Shell CordovanBy harshhappens • April 2, 2024"Worn these to work at the clinic, concerts and performances, apple picking, photography gigs, everywhere! They've seen lots of rain and snow as well
Worn with a lot of denim, tweed, twill, corduroy, and canvas..."Read the full review
Just because you read/saw it on the internet….
Alden Indy Boot in Horween Color 8 Shell CordovanBy FunkyMonk78 • July 26, 2024"The majority of times these have been worn to work. They are also my date night footwear...."Read the full review
My Indy 403s are the boots other boots would wear.
Alden Indy Boot in Horween Brown ChromexcelBy LordDonnington • March 17, 2026"I wear these to school everyday. I got the boots in the summer of 2025. They have been my constant companion ever since. I wear my Wolverine 1000 Mile boots on the weekend...."Read the full review
Phenomenal boots. Comfort, class, ease-of styling.
Alden Indy Boot in Horween Brown ChromexcelBy clintashlock • April 5, 2025"Casually and formally (to an extent). These are incredibly versatile for my midwestern, urban/suburban lifestyle...."Read the full review
Sentimental, But… Meh.
Alden Plain Toe Boot in Horween Color 8 Shell CordovanBy nikolanottesla • February 26, 2026"Few brands split opinion quite like Alden. On one hand, it's one of the last major East Coast classic Americana institutions in this hobby still manufacturing a product in the U.S. - and that's absolutely laudable. On the other hand, having a former CEO illegally treat the company like a personal piggy bank for his alleged sugar baby, rather than addressing reasonable concerns about declining quality, cost-cutting measures and inconsistent construction, is also laudable… but only if you count Patrick Bateman among your personal heroes [author's note: which I do - so yeah, laudable].
These boots were a Christmas gift from my sister during a visit out to see her. We picked them up together in Seattle at Brick + Mortar. I walked in intending just to get sized, as I'd never worn Aldens before, and she flat-out refused to let me leave without them. So there's a sentimental (and thankfully non-acrylic) layer attached to this pair that will always make me smirk. (As an aside: Brick + Mortar is fantastic. Great shopping experience, passionate staff, genuinely helpful. Huge fan.)
The real selling point here, for me, is the last - the Plaza is criminally underrated. I love the chiseled toe and slim profile; it dresses up easily with wool trousers in the office and pairs equally well with my usual Outlier Strongdarts on a casual day out. The austere pattern does an excellent job of showcasing the leather (which is both great and not-so-great in this case - see below). And, true to Alden's orthopedic pedigree, they were very comfortable straight out of the box. Zero break-in.
Beyond that, though, the negatives start to pop up. Horween makes, in my opinion, the best shell cordovan in the world, but the acrylic coating Alden applies over it is, bluntly, shit. It makes a premium leather feel plasticky, muting the shell's color depth and subtle variation and it's a migraine-level headache to remove. In fact, I'm fairly sure I damaged the underlying finish trying to strip it off. A few of the speed hooks were installed in such a way that they began rotating in their sockets after a few wears. The stitching where the quarters meet the vamp is a bit sloppy - not structurally concerning, but disappointing on a boot that cost nearly a thousand dollars. And whatever rubber Alden uses for its "Commando" half soles wears very, very quickly. I'm easy on my footwear and a bit of a zealot about rotating pairs between wears, and even so, these soles are showing noticeable wear and minor separation.
None of these issues are catastrophic. And I understand that value, especially as it relates to construction quality, is subjective and a function of the boot's intended use. It's pretty clear these were designed more for climbing into the elevator at Pierce & Pierce [author's note again: what's with all the Patrick Bateman references?] than for climbing Pikes Peak. But with Alden shell now pushing past the thousand-dollar mark (and annual price increases baked in) the value proposition starts to feel a bit questionable. They're fine. Sentimental, but… kinda meh.
Eventually, I'll probably sunfade the shell the way Lefke did with his pair, then send them to Unsung for a rebuild in the spirit of a shell "Roy" boot on the Plaza - same features, but upgraded materials. That would probably render them unwearable in a business setting, but I can fill that gap with something more formal while these spend their days wrapped in polyethylene sheeting and listening to Huey Lewis and the News [author's note again, again: seriously, man, seek help]...."Read the full review
Alden boondocker saints
Alden x Brogue Boondocker Boot in Tan SuedeBy Way2Jeff • April 6, 2025"Ah, suede. The leather that Seinfeld doomed to an eternity of prissing and pampering. Spray this, avoid that. Nobody believes in you, suede.
Well, I do. At least, I do now. I thought a light colored suede would be doming on easy mode. Milkshake indys, snuff bucks, tan boondockers. Alas, good suede is good leather: it takes a beating, it yearns to live, and it’s master of its domain.
So these are my Alden fauxdockers at the end of the ‘25 Dome. I grew to like this pair more and more as I wore them—they started out tight but I eventually found the right sock combo for them. They’re resilient, and didn’t show anywhere near as much wear as I expected. Beware the Ides of Suede.
I love that Brogue/Alden made this boondocker-inspired boot. Sure, it ain’t a REAL docker, but most people don’t wax their heritage boondockers anyhow. As someone else once said: I’m not hitting the beaches of Normandy, I’m just trying to look good getting coffee.
And it was the 379x last—the best Alden last you’ve never worn. Pardon the trope, but it’s huge in Japan. Tight heel, snug waist, medium vamp, moderate arch, good round toe. It’s everything you want in a boot that actually fits. Brogue are saints for making a dozen of these models every year. Long live the 379x!
Alden is still my favorite shoemaker. I think the recent knocks on them are largely BS and/or borne of ignorance. But on top of their stalwarts, this pair—and many others—show what Alden, the old cur, and a bold young stockist like Brogue can do together...."Read the full review
A pair of brown leather shoes, serially underestimated.
Alden Plain Toe Blucher in Horween Brown ChromexcelBy SierraLizard • April 4, 2025"I’ve worn these shoes primarily in sunny Southern California, where the low cut let my ankles breathe and the leather soles kept my feet comfortable. They were part of a routine that included desk job weekdays, nights at bars and events and weekend getaways to the mountains, the beach and cross-country trips...."Read the full review
And overall amazing experience with a new last and a classic profile!
Alden Indy Boot in Annonay Tan Alpine Grain CalfBy Nonbread • April 6, 2024"Mostly for Motorcycling, but also for light hiking and on job sites. First time for me with the Alden cork soles and I freaking love them...."Read the full review
Tribute to Dad
Alden Plain Toe Boot in Horween Black ChromexcelBy goodboots_badfeet • April 5, 2024"My father died right before the Thunderdome started. I thought about not participating this year. At the last minute, I changed my plans and ordered this black pair of Alden boots - a tribute to my father and his preferred color when it came to apparel. I wore them hard and took care of them well, just as he would have. There are lots of things I like about these boots and some things I don’t. Wearing them regularly was an exercise in acceptance - not unlike the grieving process. There were happy moments (these boots won the album cover contest!) and an equal number of sad days. For better or worse, these boots will always mark the time since my father passed - telling the story of the miles I’ve walked since losing him...."Read the full review
I had lots of fun wearing these and were very comfortable.
Alden Indy Boot in Horween Brown ChromexcelBy Wes • April 5, 2024"For everything..."Read the full review
Nice boot
Alden Plain Toe “Roy” Boot in Horween Brown ChromexcelBy northsouthdenimguy • July 31, 2024"I wouldn’t change anything..."Read the full review
Rugged
Alden Alden 405 in Brown CalfskinBy Rick11 • October 22, 2024"Yardwork and dog walking..."Read the full review
