Grant Stone Shoes Review - Longwing and Derby

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I now like Grant Stone shoes more than I ever anticipated I could, despite my mixed feelings about their simple boot aesthetic.
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www.grantstone...
In this review:
Grant Stone Derby
Dark Walnut CXL
GS stud sole
360 degree split reverse welt
Fully lined internals
9.5D
Grant Stone Longwing Blucher
Dune CXL (natural)
GS leather sole
360 degree split reverse welt
Fully lined internals
10D
Proudly made by expert craftsmen in Xiamen, China

[@CheatcodeGlitch]

Super glad I found your channel, I appreciate your ability to transfer your knowledge of boots/shoes etc.

[@DMorgan77]

Thanks David, I already wanted a pair of their longwings.... Now I definitely do 👍

[@thevintagefuture6567]

You should totally get a pair! They’re very cool and so easy to wear. This is why I care so much that the brogueing all blends together, cuz it makes them add spice to the fit nicely but without being gaudy.

[@drzaius844]

Killer review and I agree with you on so many points. Grant Stone isn’t trying to be the most elegant shoe in your collection. They are like the utility infielder, competent but dependable but not your starter. I love them and think Wyatt and his crew are really crushing it with their offerings. I too have an Alden shortening with an off center medallion lol. They get a lot right but not like GS. But Alden is more elegant, definitely my go to for dress to impress occasions. I have this exact shoe, and it’s perfect for going to the bar and shooting pool and drinking beer, or going to see my daughter’s school production which I am actually heading out to now and I I’m rocking the GS longwing in natty CXL

[@thevintagefuture6567]

🍻yes! Glad you’re rockin the GS LWB! Great point about Alden being better for dressier aesthetics, despite any funky craftsmanship issues 😄 They do have an irreplaceable look in the shoe world for sure. I also love your baseball comparison. Utility infielder is exactly right. They can do anything, a great choice if you can’t own 20 different shoes from different brands.

[@HeritageCast]

Love to see you do a full custom longwing handmade. Maybe a field trip to Bakers in Eugene?

[@briansanchez1740]

Love the shelf as I feel like I'm more grounded and stable. Also I love seeing the stitch line going all the way around, idk it feels premium.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Oh man yeah, those elements really make this pattern shine. So on point, perfection.

[@chuckgoodwish3897]

Bought seven (boots and shoes) from GS in past couple of years. I have nothing to say about GS but admiration.

[@gnarl12]

Fun fact, GS uses the same factory that J crew uses for their white label models. Allen Edmonds makes.... ~250,000 pairs of shoes and boots a year. About 9-10% are seconds quality.

[@thatsAkeepernow]

welcome back!

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Thanks!

[@brunonjezic6208]

I love the combo of natural CXL and brouge, there is so much content to look at but it seems to be not overpowering, ends up being compliment to brouging

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Ah yes, points to the balance of the pattern, the fact that an immense amount of detail can come across as balanced.

[@scottlalonde2878]

Nice review, thanks. Wow, your attention to detail and symmetry is impressive. Week or so ago I got the longwings on sale in English tan and am happy with them. Oh PS I like the white or cream stitching so much nicer than brown on mine, looks amazing.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Oh wow, the tan wings are SWEET! Glad you enjoyed the review. And yes, that contrast welt stitching is so beautiful!

[@UnknownUser-rb9pd]

From my experience, usually the reason leather shoes crease is down to how the shoe fits. The chances are that for a very good manufacturer like Grant Stone, it is not the clicking but differences between the shape and size of your feet that caused one shoe to crease more. Usually the smallest foot as people purchase for the larger foot.. Even if this is not the case it is also determined by the last as well . That is, one last may fit your right foot better causing more creasing on the left foot or another last may fit your left foot better causing the right to crease more. There is a very good article about leather creasing by the Shoe Snob and according to him even the very best , most carefully selected and cut leather from the highest regarded manufacturers sometimes just creases more than normal as it is a natural material and goes through so many processes and there are so many factors that can affect it.

[@christomccarthy1369]

Great review. GS’s quality is fantastic and their shoes are a great value. That said, I find the heel volume too large which gives them a loose fit. I also think it has a wider silhouette than Aldens.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Thanks for the comment on the heel volume. And yeah, these are better for a chunky LWB, while the Aldens are a good option for a bit more low profile LWB, with still roughly the same vibe.

[@gnarl12]

A tongue pad can help with heel slip

[@1k1ngst0n]

excellent review and take on the shoes. I'm with you on how you feel about the boots. I have them and like them, but they are a bit plain.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Thanks! And yeah, they’re plain. I’m beginning to see that this is actually a strength of theirs, as it does fit certain styles and makes them versatile. But at the same time, it’s what made me not as magnetized to them.

[@saiyajedi]

For the first time I am compelled to take a serious look at an “old brown shoe”… so of course they don’t currently offer it.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

🥴😂 Super frustrating, I know. This has happened to me before too.

[@kevinleyva3003]

I’ve been eyeing these same long wings for a while. Looks like I’m pulling the trigger soon!

[@thevintagefuture6567]

You’ll enjoy them, I’m sure! Highly underrated pattern. Very technical to make, yet incredibly easy to wear with almost anything casual, all year round.

[@briansanchez1740]

Yeah I love their shoes. Well I only own their Loafers, but yeah it's such good quality. You should try their suede loafers for the summer, they are casual monsters. Love em.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

The suede loafers sound AWESOME! I’ll check it out. Sounds like they’re super comfy, like a slipper.

[@arindambasu9850]

Grant Stone rocks. Have a few of their boots nd they are just lovely. Big fan. Nice shoes there, by the way!

[@thevintagefuture6567]

They’re great! Enjoy those boots!

[@stephen562]

I love that natural look. I also like the British tan calf. I suppose this natural chromexcel is more casual than the British tan calf, is that correct? Newbie to leathers here :)

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Great question! Yes, calf is *usually* considered a dressy leather, though there are definitely exceptions. CXL is definitely a casual leather. Since the GS longwing is a style which sits perfectly between dressy and casual, you could dress either of these up or down, paired with the right clothes. Not good for a suit, but could easily do chinos with a chill sport coat, all the way down to faded denim with a tee; just depends on how you style it. I say, get what you love the look of, and you can totally make it work. Everything looks the part better once it’s worn in a bit anyways. Hope that helps! Cheers!

[@gnarl12]

The British tan calf LWBs are discontinued

[@franzb69]

you know why you like their shoes better than their boots? coz grant stone was originally a shoe company first and not a boot company. they based most of their lasts on shoe lasts and not really boot lasts but they just made those lasts work to be boot lasts. which is fine. they sell well enough and comfy enough.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Great point! This is indeed probably why haha

[@scottlalonde2878]

Great info, thank you 👍

[@likearc]

Great review as always!

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Thanks!

[@jasonk12345]

have you listened to the 'articles of interest' podcast series they did on the history of prep and ivy wear? a must listen if you havent already.

[@telemarktumalo6978]

Whose podcast? Link if you can,

[@thevintagefuture6567]

I’ll check it out today! Thanks!

[@StolenAlias]

I’ve actually just been looking for some summer shoes like these but in a suede but I don’t think shoes are for me. I like everything high top even when I (rarely) wear sneakers.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

They have some killer suede ones. But I’m not sure if they’re sold out.

[@nopenope7088]

I wish I could own a pair of Grant Stones but none of them fit me well enough! I had to get rid of 2 pairs. So tight in the toe box, yet so loose in the heel cap I slip around everywhere! I don't get it!

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Whoa that’s unfortunate and frustrating! Yeah, not every last works for every person; my favorite last is 2030, but I can’t wear it cuz it doesn’t work for my feet 😭😂

[@darrenhall7454]

It sounds like we both have similar shaped feet, so I find it very useful to hear which shoes fit you best. Do you have a boot that fits you perfectly?

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Hey! Glad it helps! My Flame Pandas are a great fit, but real hard to attain…Stock boots that fit well are: Whites MP, Grant Stone Diesel, Viberg 2040.

[@darrenhall7454]

@@thevintagefuture6567 that’s so helpful, thank you. 😁👍

[@FlorianCueni]

Thank you so much for the review, was about to pull the trigger on some alden's, will instead go for those longwings now! QUESTION: Regarding the sizing, I'm an 11E on a Brannock and a 10 in my Red Wings. What would you suggest for the Longwings? 10.5E? Thanks so much.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Yes, 1/2 down from Brannock is standard. 10.5E should fit you nicely. And of course, inquire with Grant Stone when in doubt.

[@FlorianCueni]

@@thevintagefuture6567 Thank you for the quick answer! Really appreciate it. Certainly, I'm also gonna shoot them an email.

[@orlog3343]

They do look great for the Ivy League aesthetic! I have the black oxfords, wore them once to the office and tore my feet up lol too much volume for me I guess

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Oh no, maybe just break in the black oxfords a bit? Haha

[@coyote4936]

i like the derby's alot

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Cool! Too bad they aren't offering as many derbies right now. But they will carry more again some months from now. They seem to rotate through the bluchers and derbies.

[@joeguzman3558]

They recommend you go 1/2 size smaller than your normal size, what do you think of that? Thank you for your time

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Standard advice is 1/2 down from your Brannock measurement 👍🏽

[@longzhao8778]

You mention try 9.5e, but at least you are in the states and can get free returns, but I find e to be super wide in the heel. As you mention you have skinny ankle/heel, you might feel the wide heel to be a bad fit

[@thevintagefuture6567]

This is a great point- thank you for this. That’s super helpful 🙏🏽🍻

[@gnarl12]

What is your measured size?

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Hey! My US Brannock is 10.5C arch length and 10C overall length.

[@starshoes4820]

Hi hello how are you sir

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Doing good 👍🏽

[@chriscaddick8131]

Ummm.. Try shoe trees.. Please..

[@thevintagefuture6567]

I tree my dress shoes. Don’t really care to do it for causal shoes, but maybe if I get some extra trees I will.