NBD Grant Stone Chelseas in Dark Roughout
I just got my first pair of chelsea boots ever. I already owned 7 pairs of service boots (cap toes, plain toes and even one pair of wingtips) so I wanted something a little different to compliment my collection
My three main options were to get a pair of side zipped boots, moc toes and chelseas. The idea of having a pair of boots I could just slip in or out, whenever I wanted to quickly get ready to go out made me choose the latter
Once I set my mind in getting a pair of chelseas, I had to choose what brand/model did I wanted. I separated them in 3 categories: dressy, casual and work. I was not looking for dress shoes right now, so I discarded those, and I work in an office environment so I don't need a wedge sole and casual boots can be "work boots" for me
Among the casual chelseas options, there is a big variety of prices and quality levels. Thursday has some models under $200, and although there are a couple of those that look pretty nice when new, I've seen pictures of them after a few years (or even months) of wear and I don't like how they've evolved. On the other side of the expectrum, you have brands like Briselblack from Indonesia or White's (their latest leather stacked heel models, not the one with the wedge sole which I consider a work boot) that offer models that I love in the $600 to $700 range, so a little bit out of my range right now
Then I looked at the mid range price options, $300-400 (even some under $300). I must say that I really appreciate the minimalistic chelsea patterns, wholecuts or those with the seams right under the elastic panels, so brands like Meermin and Grant Stone immediately had my attention, Parkhurst and BLKBRD too
For a matter of affordability, I was leaning towards the Meermin and BLKBRD options. Meermin being the only wholecuts that I know of in this price range, and BLKBRD for their customization options (I was thinking about a Dr Sole half sole and teal waxed Mohawk uppers). However, I couldn't stop thinking that the Grant Stone Chelsea in Dark Oak Roughout was exactly what I wanted... If it were a little cheaper 😄
And then it happened! I received one of their B Grades update emails, clicked on it to check them out, and there it was
Dark Oak Roughout Chelseas in 8EE
$260
I have to say, I own a pair of Diesels in 8D. It was just my second pair of heritage boots and I didn't even know my Brannock size then, so that's how I found out that yes, I am a size 8.5, but in E width and no D. Don't get me wrong, these fit very well and they are very comfortable, but I can only wear them with thin dress socks. So I knew that my next pair of Gran Stone boots, either on the Leo or UK last (Floyd is a completely different story because how much extra volume they have in the toe box), would be on an E (Leo) or EE (UK) width
That little width difference is a lot. Again, my Diesels in 8D are very very comfortable... But these Chelseas are on another level. Right out of the box, they feel like they are broken in already. I must say, that I can feel just a tiny bit of heel slip in my right foot (although both my feet are 8.5E, my right foot is a bit narrower than the left one), but I'm sure that as soon as the sole is fully broken in, it will dissapear
If I hold them with my hands, they feel almost as heavy as the Diesels (which are way heavier than they look), but on my feet... They feel almost as light as flip flops 😄
The upper leather is super soft, so as long as you put your finger in the pull strap, your foot will slide inside the boot very easily
Of course, I still haven't taken these with me for a long walk, but I'm looking forward to it. That's how comfortable they feel right now
About the smell, not too many boot reviews include details about this, but for me it is a big part of the experience of owning leather goods. The best smell experiences I've had with leather are with water buffalo leather (Craft & Glory from India), chromexcel (White's) and rambler (Parkhurst). These have a very nice woody smell that reminds a little to the rambler leather, although not as strong as in those
Finally, I want to say that the quality of these is amazing as usual with Grant Stone, and the fact that the only possible cause that I found for these to be qualified as B Grades is a little scratch in the toe box of the right boot, an scratch that's basically imperceptible on a roughout leather unless you get to look at them from really close, is even more amazing
Grant Stone B Grades are the best value for your money in the heritage footwear world, and is not even close