Grant Stone
Brass Boot
Floyd Last
US Men's Brannock: 11D
Floyd Last: 10.5D
Fits well with thin socks or just snug with thick socks. Generally prefer 10.5 E for my 11D brannock foot. But, for the B grade price the fit is acceptable.
Grant Stone
I've been wanting this pair for a while. I really love the look of the dark kudu. I love a boot with a chunky toe and didn't have a Brass boot yet. It's very sturdy boot that will hold up to Alaskan winters. The roomy Floyd last allows for thick socks for those cold days. The lug sole does very well on hikes and trudging through snow. The leather is tough and scratches just blend right in. But, I wasn't really sure if I wanted to enter the thunderdome again, I wasn't planning on buying another pair of boots at the time. I saw this pair on Grant Stone's B grade page a couple months before the start of the dome, and I just thought it was a sign. I thought, this may not be the most competetive leather, but it's a pair that I am really excited to wear and I want to see how it ages. There really weren't a lot of pictures of this leather properly broken in. So I was excited to contribute that to the Patina app, at the end of the day that repository of patina is the best part of this competition for me personally.
I have a few other pairs of Grant Stone footwear. Josh at GS has given me sizing advice in the past, but it's still been trial and error as I learned to properly use a brannock, and how I prefer my footwear to fit. My preferred size is actually 10.5E, but 10.5D fits just fine and the Floyd last has some extra volume. They were B grades and I just couldn't pass up the deal.
Grant Stone's ordering process is easy and they ship faster than any other shop I know. Their customer service is always fantastic.
I've worn them on a work trip to Cold Bay, AK. I did physical labor in them, I hiked in them. Then I got promoted and worked an office job in them. I did my first rotation of the graveyard shift in these boots. I helped my wife when she got her car stuck on a snow burm wearing these boots. I've asked a lot of these boots and they shrugged it all off.
This is a tough leather that really doesn't require much care. There was no break in, it was comfortable from the get go. Since wearing them I've conditioned them twice, and once I applied some leather grease to help keep out some moisture. I brush them a bit every time I put them on, and when I condition them give them a really good brushing. As for color change, the waxes have moved around quite a bit. I'll let the photos speak for themselves.
The Floyd last is everything you expect from Grant Stone. Supportive, comfortable, and stylish. I like the extra toe room compared to the Leo. Plenty of room for thick socks.
Although these were B grades the finishing is immaculate. I still don't know why they were B grades. Again everything you can expect from Grant Stone.
The sole is very grippy and works well in a variety of environments.
I love Grant Stone boots. This pair has really just been a joy to wear. Absolutely they are the best value in footwear right now.