[laufer]

I just acquired these from The Shoe Mart. However they make a lot of squeaky noise. The noise comes from vamp area and it is very annoying. Is this something that will disappear in time or should I return these. They are seconds or Alden irregulars by the way.

 

[Tuxman88]

I had a similar squeak problem with a pair of leather boots, but it eventually went away the more the boots got broken in. When the leather is fresh and not broken in it can tend to squeak. Some of this can alleviated by applying a leather conditioner to the shoes to soften the leather. Softer leather will not squeak as much. Wearing the shoes will eventually soften the leather as well.

Squeaking can take some time to go away, so either be patient, or buy a new pair of shoes.

 

[kelliw]

It's because your buying cheap shoes. You get what you pay for.
Buy Edward Green, John Lobb or George Cleverley and you won't have this problem.

 

[Scoundrel]

It sounds like a problem with the shank. They will need to be taken to a shoe repairer for correction. Please report back when you have made some progress.

 

[Hobson]

I'm not sure what Alden's policy is regarding irregulars, but under regular circumstances you could send new shoes back to Alden and they would repair such an issue free of charge.

 

[David Bresch]

Shoe squeaking is one of the best examples of the limitations of the clothing fora, because communicating what you mean is virtually impossible.

Broadly speaking, there is a sort of squeaking that comes from new shoes that have been highly polished and this is normal. I find the sound attractive even.

There is a more ominous squeaking that comes from the interior of the shoe: that it is the shank is pure speculation but from experience I can tell you that there appear to be very few people willing to repair the problem, and I would definitely return the shoes if you can. I find hard to believe that the problem is associated with cheap shoes, since I imagine that it only occurs in welted shoes, which are more expensive than glued. For example, neither sneakers nor espadrilles appear to be able to squeak.

 

[laufer]

Thank you all for input. The noise is really annoying. I have other Alden shoes and they do not suffer from any noise. I will be sending these back. I really like the color of these shoes but noise is just overbearing.

 

[cdavant]

I've had several squeaky shoes. Putting a foam insert in seems to help a bit and the noise gradually goes away entirely. I suspect it comes from the shank rubbing and a bit of wearing in is all that's required. If the shoes were a great deal, I wear them a few days and suddenly they won't squeak anymore.

 

[phyrpowr]

Years ago I got a pair of Loake Bros. shoes, cheap, which squeaked. The cobbler peeled the vamp(?) area apart (where it laces) put in some talcum powder, problem solved, $25 in 1988 or so. Still have them.

 

[McKay]

Have you ruled out the possibility that the squeaking is ocurring between the sole and the floor? I work in a building with a tiled floor on and just about every pair of shoes I own -- from my Rockports to my Allen Edmonds -- squeaks when I walk across it.

 

[laufer]

McKay,

I did rule that out. Squeaking comes from the tongue of the shoes, where the tongue hits laces.

 

[David Bresch]

Ah talcum powder, one of the old wives' tales I fell for while trying to repair my squeaky Carminas! Then there was the old chestnut "It will go with time (it didn't)." And "any shoemaker can repair it (they can't)". Return the shoes. Seriously, floor surface? Do you think we are stupid? We don't notice that the shoes ONLY squeak on certain floorings?

 

[laufer]

Yeah these are going back. That is too bad because I like the color.

 

[McKay]

Seriously, floor surface? Do you think we are stupid? We don't notice that the shoes ONLY squeak on certain floorings?

Steady on. No harm in asking, was there?