Grant Stone - Official Affiliate Thread

[Drzdave58]

New arrival. Looking forward to putting some miles on these when things get back to normal. View attachment 1362130

Send them to me...I will break them in for you..?

 

[Neo1]

New arrival for me too - Dune CXL LWB. I'll try to get some pictures up later if possible.

The Good: I hesitated a little, as I had just gotten the Dune PTB and I'm much more of a dark colored shoe guy (I think I own more black than anything else still) but these (and like everything else GS produces it seems like) are like a visual masterpiece. The way different areas darken to different shades, the wing pattern really makes this pop. These two - the PTB and LWB go way beyond making up for my disappointment with the Academy/Alumnus from my other favorite brand.

The Bad: I was almost convinced that GS' QC was virtually perfect, but...finally the winning streak is broken. On the bottom of one of the shoes, in the channel area right by the tip of the toebox, the leather is cracked and uneven, with a wider groove where the stitching passes through. Absolutely not a big deal given (especially given the insanely low prices right now) but I'm surprised this kind of flaw made it through - this definitely (to me anyway) seems like more of a flaw than any of the B-grades I've gotten so far, and these were "A" grades.

The Ugly: Yeah baby, outsoles that feel stiff and hard as a rock here we go again! Used my trick to speed things up - wore them out of the box with the thickest wool hiking socks I owned and finally took them off...when I was on the verge of tears due to the heel pain. They are now feeling …. much much better. Probably will be perfect after 1-2 more full day wears. Why does everything have to hurt so bad when new, lol

 

[audog]

New arrival for me too - Dune CXL LWB. I'll try to get some pictures up later if possible.

The Good: I hesitated a little, as I had just gotten the Dune PTB and I'm much more of a dark colored shoe guy (I think I own more black than anything else still) but these (and like everything else GS produces it seems like) are like a visual masterpiece. The way different areas darken to different shades, the wing pattern really makes this pop. These two - the PTB and LWB go way beyond making up for my disappointment with the Academy/Alumnus from my other favorite brand.

The Bad: I was almost convinced that GS' QC was virtually perfect, but...finally the winning streak is broken. On the bottom of one of the shoes, in the channel area right by the tip of the toebox, the leather is cracked and uneven, with a wider groove where the stitching passes through. Absolutely not a big deal given (especially given the insanely low prices right now) but I'm surprised this kind of flaw made it through - this definitely (to me anyway) seems like more of a flaw than any of the B-grades I've gotten so far, and these were "A" grades.

The Ugly: Yeah baby, outsoles that feel stiff and hard as a rock here we go again! Used my trick to speed things up - wore them out of the box with the thickest wool hiking socks I owned and finally took them off...when I was on the verge of tears due to the heel pain. They are now feeling …. much much better. Probably will be perfect after 1-2 more full day wears. Why does everything have to hurt so bad when new, lol

It's funny, but I have never had any pain with GS when new, or after a few hundred miles for that matter. I do wear thicker socks with the boots, but doubt that is a contributor for me. Heel cup just fits so darn good on Leo last..........I'm sorry that you have to suffer through a break-in process and am glad you found the work around.

 

[madhat]

New arrival for me too - Dune CXL LWB. I'll try to get some pictures up later if possible.

The Good: I hesitated a little, as I had just gotten the Dune PTB and I'm much more of a dark colored shoe guy (I think I own more black than anything else still) but these (and like everything else GS produces it seems like) are like a visual masterpiece. The way different areas darken to different shades, the wing pattern really makes this pop. These two - the PTB and LWB go way beyond making up for my disappointment with the Academy/Alumnus from my other favorite brand.

The Bad: I was almost convinced that GS' QC was virtually perfect, but...finally the winning streak is broken. On the bottom of one of the shoes, in the channel area right by the tip of the toebox, the leather is cracked and uneven, with a wider groove where the stitching passes through. Absolutely not a big deal given (especially given the insanely low prices right now) but I'm surprised this kind of flaw made it through - this definitely (to me anyway) seems like more of a flaw than any of the B-grades I've gotten so far, and these were "A" grades.

The Ugly: Yeah baby, outsoles that feel stiff and hard as a rock here we go again! Used my trick to speed things up - wore them out of the box with the thickest wool hiking socks I owned and finally took them off...when I was on the verge of tears due to the heel pain. They are now feeling …. much much better. Probably will be perfect after 1-2 more full day wears. Why does everything have to hurt so bad when new, lol

I don't know if this would help you any, but I hand flex stiff soles before wearing. I'll give them a pretty hard flex back and forth until they start feeling "broken in"

 

[Ben B]

Here’s my first pair of Ottawas (my 8th GS in total). Perfect out of the box. The matching stitching on the pebbled finally won me over to an Ottawa.

 

[audog]

Here’s my first pair of Ottawas (my 8th GS in total). Perfect out of the box. The matching stitching on the pebbled finally won me over to an Ottawa. View attachment 1362266

Very nice, Ottawa's are a well balanced NST, in the rugged boot style.

 

[manowar]

New arrival. Looking forward to putting some miles on these when things get back to normal. View attachment 1362130

B grade? I heard they were a lighter batch.

Here’s my first pair of Ottawas (my 8th GS in total). Perfect out of the box. The matching stitching on the pebbled finally won me over to an Ottawa. View attachment 1362266

These look incredible. Wow.

@Neo1 Always a good read. Post pictures when able.

 

[up1911fan]

B grade? I heard they were a lighter batch.

These look incredible. Wow.

@Neo1 Always a good read. Post pictures when able.

No, not B grade. Although they did have a couple small dings, that would happen with wear.

 

[manowar]

No, not B grade. Although they did have a couple small dings, that would happen with wear.

The lighting makes them appear much lighter than I expected, especially compared to the above Ottawa photo. I decided against a pair in B grade (now sold out) mainly because it wasn’t my ideal size but also because they were from a lighter batch apparently.

Small dings seem to be more pronounced with pebble grain like that. Nice pair though.

 

[Rugger]

@GrantStone Plans to release more formal/business style loafers?

 

[audog]

Still lovin' these boots, just buttery soft suede

 

[Erikdayo]

Trying out these thin laces I got from guarded goods a while back. They look good. Not sure whether I prefer them over the flat laces or not.

 

[jischwar]

Trying out these thin laces I got from guarded goods a while back. They look good. Not sure whether I prefer them over the flat laces or not.

View attachment 1362517

I think they look really good!

 

[Erikdayo]

I think they look really good!

Thanks! I think the main complaint, if anything, would be the length. Perhaps I'll look for a 48" alternative. These are 54" if I remember correctly.

 

[up1911fan]

Thanks! I think the main complaint, if anything, would be the length. Perhaps I'll look for a 48" alternative. These are 54" if I remember correctly.

I like the 48's from The Hanger Project.