Is Grant Stone making the best natural chromexcel PTB?

[@VincentGeorgeOnSF]

1000 subs 🎉 Good point re: how GS is not just an Alden knockoff. I like what they’re doing and the QC is solid overall.

[@rockymtnstyle]

Good stuff, bro! And congrats on 1k subs!

[@fessendenful]

Hell yes I am jealous. Great purchase. These are super versatile workhorses that will only get better. Happy New Year indeed!

[@fessendenful]

I'm curious if you r a fan of Jim Green boots from S Africa?

[@fessendenful]

They build a solid boot, offer great value and quality and finally, they have some great CUSTOM leather options that I bet you would like. Including Olive CXL.

[@chalkboardshoes]

@@fessendenful I am not familiar with them, but thanks for making me aware of them!

[@fessendenful]

@@chalkboardshoes kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6eqc32Nf6yefLs

[@mickosullivan2962]

Great review ! I Love Love Love my AE boots and shoes in Horween CXL , keep up the most awesome work !

[@gregrodriguez3169]

Such a great and thorough review! I have this pair in brown CXL and agree with your assessments on heel volume and overall stiffness. Not deal breakers by any means, but dependent on foot shape and personal fit preferences. I’m slightly under a 10 Brannock and got a size 9D, and my most comfortable fit is with dress socks. I’d be interested in trying a 9.5D with thicker socks, and think that a 9.5D would be my correct boot size in this last, because that taller shaft would lock in my heel, as you so perfectly described. I’ve worn my pair almost 30 times, mainly to the office. I had toe taps installed; otherwise for me, that front part of the leather sole would wear out before the flat part of the sole under the ball of my feet.

[@ryanpiyo98]

No loose grain on either pair of natty cxl ptb. Bigger creases is simply grain break. Those Alden ones are generally still pretty small creases. Loose grain is for obvious delamination of the grain layers in the leather, causing big ugly creasing and patterning on the leather.

[@chalkboardshoes]

I see. I wasn't sure if it was loose grain, but some people have told me it is.

[@ryanpiyo98]

@chalkboardshoes there's a wave of misinformation about it. Any sign of non perfect micro creasing and "loose grain" gets thrown into the conversation. In most cases, it's just natural grain break, which can include harsher more prominent creasing. People must think that Badalassi Minerva leather has a tonne of "loose grain" because those crease quite hard. If you hit the jackpot on those, they end up rolling like on shell or with some micro creasing like on a horsebutt. But if you don't, it develops pretty deep and large creases. Just the characteristics of the leather. If it's proper loose grain, there's a good chance you will get that shoe returned or exchanged without much resistance. Love your well thought out and concise videos btw!

[@chalkboardshoes]

@@ryanpiyo98 I appreciate the compliments and thank you for watching my videos!

[@davidcallan7844]

The fact that Grant Stone PTB is a whole cut is rarely mentioned, I have two pairs one in French Black Calf on leather soles and one in Badalassi Saddle Tan on Vibram Cavity Wedge. Not a better PTB for the price. I may have to get their long wing blucher.

[@chalkboardshoes]

Yeah, it doesn't look like there's many whole cuts being offered right now. Alden does have some, but they are in other leather options. AE has a few, but not much.

[@liljuanito123]

Does it matter what type of steel it is for the shank? There's different series and also if it's been heat treated. Just wondering.

[@chalkboardshoes]

I do not know, that is a good question. Someone should look into that.