UPDATE: The all-knowing Ticho Blanco was incorrect when he said Grant Stone's moc is machine stitched, it's also hand stitched! Also LOTS of related videos for this one: * My trip to CF Stead, the most beloved suede tannery stridewise.com/cf-stead-suede/ * A visit to Alden's NYC store: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHiTZ5hqeKxogpI * Grant Stone vs Oak Street loafers kzbin.infoAXQAyH3W-wg * The 5 Rarest Alden Boots You'll Never Find stridewise.com/rare-alden-boots/ * My interview with Grant Stone's founder: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYHEq56epct1Z68
@edbee85084 ай бұрын
Really enjoying all these loafer videos
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
it took me way too long to realize i should talk more about loafers in summer, boots in winter.
@jonlouis25824 ай бұрын
Very interesting. It's pretty clear that I'm going to be needing some loafers for work. Thanks.
@Blueguci4 ай бұрын
TLB Mallorca have a nice selection of loafers and you can customise them,different lasts each last has four different widths and a good selection of leathers and styles, definitely worth looking at
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
that's funny I was really close to getting some split toe derbies from TLB, I was looking everywhere for some brown suede ones and landed on them because of the chunkier last - but then I found some from Paraboot and realized I had to investigate Paraboot, especially as someone with a French degree haha. But I'm definitely going to get something from TLB I've decided. Esp since I've BEEN to mallorca to film footwear factories th4ere
@Blueguci4 ай бұрын
@@Stridewise I own one pair of TLB and they are a reverse split toe Darby the model is the Owen which they don’t do anymore I had them custom made for a wide width and I chose the tan hatch grain leather, very well made shoes
@KateMallon-jw3ig4 ай бұрын
Curious to hear your feedback on Crockett & Jones loafers quality/value between Grant Stone and Alden?
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
Yes I've been thinking a lot about Crockett & Jones esp since Justin highlighted their influence in this recent video kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoGwmmeVpdNkY5I I'm always torn as to WHICH c&j product I should get but it's possible that the loafers need the highlighting
@Lgirtfhdzxfft4 ай бұрын
Ticho reminds me the movie “ No country for old men” 😂
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
as Anton Chigurh? Ticho is not that cool, come on
@banbaji4 ай бұрын
Nick looking like 9% bodyfat these days
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
hahaha i didn't think 100% of my 'you lost weight!' comments would come from my youtube comments
@InGrindWeCrust20104 ай бұрын
He's turning down modeling jobs in NYC to bring us the truth about boots. We should be so lucky!
4 ай бұрын
As much as I wanted to make GS' loafers work, to Ticho's point, the orthopedic DNA Alden has results in superior comfort and to me that's the #1 quality for I look for in footwear. Plus, they offer narrow widths (I am C). If I am travelling, and know I'll be doing a lot of walking, I typically pack Alden loafers and Indys. I moved on my GS sky reverse kudu and storm kudu loafers and now own four pairs of Alden LHS. To me, Alden makes the most comfortable footwear and that makes them worth the price. FYI - TSM has new (factory seconds) Alden loafers for around the $400 price range.
@stephenrountree32144 ай бұрын
I currently own 3 pairs of Alden LHS. All 3 unlined. I’ve owned about a dozen other Alden’s in lined and unlined. I tried grant stone loafers. I couldn’t really handle the stiffness of the lined traveler. Stylistically, I vastly prefer Alden styling to grant stone, but that’s a preference thing.
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
Great feedback on the leather lining, which seems to be the deciding factor when it comes to the actual build quality. Some like the extra structure of the lining, some like the breathability/flexibility of unlined!
@Dominicreviews4 ай бұрын
@stephenrountree3214 How did you size? I only one a pair of Alden's on the barrie last and I wear them with boot socks and I have good room. I was thinking to go a full size down from my Brannock for loafers as of course there aren't any laces. What do you think?
@christianrenato387611 күн бұрын
Alden is the top quality? And best leather?
@Leisurelyloafing-zk1qb4 ай бұрын
I created a KZbin account just to respond to this. Setting aside the cost and construction debate, Alden’s LHS just looks way better than GS’s traveler and it all boils down to the apron stitching. I don’t understand why GS had to set theirs so far in on the toe - it looks off! With that being said, I think there are better options out there aesthetically speaking at the grant stone price point: Horatio, Velasca. Rancourt (ish - I wish they’d make a proper half strap instead of the pinch strap), sid Mashburn, etc., etc. etc.
@CJ95ZZ4 ай бұрын
Love ticho and what he does for the shoe community. Such a knowledgeable man. But maybe a script next time could help the flow of this video be a bit better. Heading the filler words “you know” literally every sentence makes it hard to hear for an informational video.
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
Yeah this was a full hour long at first! I'll do a better job of cutting those fillers next time but it can make people sound weird when their sentences are chopped up like that.
My first pair of Grant Stone was the midnight blue suede traveller. I just couldn’t spend 650 for a blue suede loafer, and I discovered GS had one for half the price. The quality was incredible. I’ve bought probably 14 more pairs of GS since then, but that said, I’ve lusted after some of Alden’s LHS loafer. They have a more refined silhouette to my eye.
@Gregoryverfied4 ай бұрын
Narrr the grant storrrn
@gnarl124 ай бұрын
Drop 3-5 GS pairs and get 1-2 Aldens
@drzaius8444 ай бұрын
@@gnarl12 I already have two pair of Aldens lol
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
yeah it's true grant stone's loafer has a wider rounder toe than you'd think, like at first glance, so I appreciate the guys who say it's not the world's most refined/dressy loafer, but I think it's the most versatile
@willmarshall46854 ай бұрын
Such an excellent point. I get so tired of people bashing Chinese made shoes,(even though theses same people purchase 95 percent of what they own from overseas manufacturers,) and then bitch about American made prices. Pick your lane.
@drkpg14 ай бұрын
« you know… » 😂
@darrenhall74544 ай бұрын
Tough decision, US at a premium or top quality but Chinese made. Very similar choices here in the UK. Northampton or China or Spain. Which is why I mostly buy used Northampton shoes. It seems to work out well for me, so far.
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
Spain seems like a good compromise haha have you looked much at Carmina and TLB Mallorca?
@lucaslanier58664 ай бұрын
Does anyone know if Alden uses leatherboard for the heelstack in the loafer model? That was a big turn off for me regarding their boot construction.
@gnarl124 ай бұрын
Probably and it's NOT a big deal. The first resole any cobbler can make a full weight leather heel stack
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
I need to do a video on leatherboard. Some people like how it's lighter/flexibler
@gdaddy69224 ай бұрын
Flexibler?@@Stridewise
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
@@gdaddy6922 that's right, I have two master's degrees and i use made up words
@Gabaghoul00004 ай бұрын
@@Stridewise Fantabulous.
@mikekirby20854 ай бұрын
Every crappy online store website: “oh my god hire someone to fix this, the homeless guy with 9 hats could make a better website” Alden Website: ‘oh its purity and tradition, they are saying they dont care about online sales, the Romans didnt have a website’
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
hahahah I would pay for Alden to redesign their website myself, but they don't want to sell online!
@oyster_36944 ай бұрын
I love Grastone as a company! They have great products! I just prefer the patern aesthetic of the Aldens! Also, the whole buying experience at an Alden store!
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
if you have access to one, you can 't beat an instore purchase for footwear!
@oyster_36944 ай бұрын
Agreed 👍🏽 Alden Madison!!! Those fellas are the best!
@PerHansa754 ай бұрын
yes.
@sentiasatransformasi3 ай бұрын
I accidentally found n went into a store that sells carmina n alden shoes. interestingly enough, the salesgirl would lecture me abt these shoes n really wanted me to try them on even though she knew that I have not enough money to spend on such expensive loafers. but I'm hopefully on the right track to make it big n when I do, i'll definitely upgrade my loafers game n buy a bunch from that store
@kenbling9104 ай бұрын
A side question Nick, how did you size your OBS beefroll mocs compared to your brannock?
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
a WHOLE size down from brannock, and from what they recommend for the trench boot!
@kenbling9104 ай бұрын
@@Stridewise Thanks Nick. You and I have the same Brannock size (11.5D) so good to see they really do stretch out and fit nicely. I'll go the 10.5 and get the free shipping to Aus!
@awietjandra87884 ай бұрын
hi Nick, please review the RGT sashiko cruiser jacket, i know u got one of those lol
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
i do but i'm not wearing it much! i'm doing a big sashiko video with standard and strange some time soon
@ronwang864 ай бұрын
Ticho channeling Ishmael from Kingpin.
@TFM84 ай бұрын
380 isnt too far from Carmina, no? Or SoH if you want made in Europe a bit cheaper...or Meermin if you want the cheapest, they also have unstructured loafers, i wonder where these fit in.
@gesalt88354 ай бұрын
I was wondering that too meermin and Astroflex exist. I think meermin are “finished” in Europe and astroflex is completely Italian. I like my diesel boots but these loafers are the same price for less leather, love to know the justification.
@TFM84 ай бұрын
@@gesalt8835 meermins are made in China mostly and any finishing in EU is cosmetic like polishing. None are Italian, astroflex is just an attempt to make their stiff goodyearwelt a bit easier to break in. Great value though
@loqu4 ай бұрын
Nice looking shoes unfortunately neither goes past US size 13 and I wear 15.
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
that's really surprising, especially for Alden, lots of sizes is meant to be their advantage!
@loqu4 ай бұрын
@@Stridewise you’d be surprised how many show companies don’t cater to large feet when we need them the most.
@gdaddy69224 ай бұрын
I havent heard anyone speak so highly about Alden in quite some time..
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
it's so refreshing to hear people who know what they're talking about and still love Alden
@gdaddy69224 ай бұрын
@@Stridewise oh my. Is that a dig at the original Alden drama starter??
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
@@gdaddy6922 oh no I didn't mean it that way, just that it's good to have a smart voice on the Pro team
@joebop68494 ай бұрын
Am currently waiting on an exchange for some Grant Stone penny loafers in crimson chromexcel (sized too large). Maybe in the future I’ll look to Alden for other shoes or boots, but it’s just too steep a price for what I want right now.
@TorJonsson-uw3zqАй бұрын
You swapped your facial hair, ticho!
@willramirez75Ай бұрын
Grant stone Alexander last is very tough on your instep, if yours are high.
@StridewiseАй бұрын
good to know! i actually had to add a half insole to mine to make it work for me
@88sstraight4 ай бұрын
I wish all shoe and boot makers would give detailed info about their lasts, including heel to forefoot ratios. The Munson still rules for my feet as I require a tight heel and broad forefoot.
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
Yeah I know what you mean! I just went to Meermin in NYC and none of their boot lasts fit me except the Negon. If I hadn't tried the different lasts I would have concluded the brand's lasts just don't work for me!
@darenius31054 ай бұрын
Alden all the way!
@df5401484 ай бұрын
Rancourt runs about the same price as Grant Stone. Alden is just overpriced.
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
That's why I put that section in to make it clear Rancourt and Oak Street's construction is cheaper. It's rarer, but still cheaper.
@df5401484 ай бұрын
@@Stridewise Rancourt also gets some fun leather from Horween like that new olive bulldog that's so fire.
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
@@df540148 yeah i've been considering them actually. but the point being that rancourt is cheaper because it's worth less than Alden, like they're less expensive to *make* than GYW loafers, so they're not a 1:1 comparison when assessing value
@df5401484 ай бұрын
@@Stridewise yeah I agree. I have some second hand shell blutchers and they're nice but I'd rather wear my Ranger Mocs any day.
@aznlemonboy4 ай бұрын
Any experience with the weltline from rancourt?
@robd79343 ай бұрын
Grant Stone might be a good shoe but the price is too high for a shoe thats made in China. My Acemarks blake stitch loafers are made in Italy and cost $324.
@Stridewise3 ай бұрын
yeah in fairness goodyear welts and leather lining make a loafer that's more expensive to produce, but I get preferring blake stitches
@oussisaho2084 ай бұрын
King of penny loafers.. JM Weston
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
That's so funny I was just on their site looking at the demi chasse. I must try these loafers
@toughlifevirgina4 ай бұрын
There's always the Portuguese market!
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
it's like the China of Western Europe
@toughlifevirgina4 ай бұрын
@@Stridewise 🤣
@aj_sanjuan4 ай бұрын
Why did I envision some lazy people fighting ? 😂
@AdamJones3814 ай бұрын
I would be curious to know the median age of the Alden customer. Even with the Indy boot, that was a popular movie franchise 40 years ago. I can't see Alden surviving long, or being bought out.
@gnarl124 ай бұрын
They're private so who knows. That said, you'd be surprised at their margins...... Allegedly it's VERY high
@AdamJones3814 ай бұрын
@@gnarl12 Alden could be hugely profitable today, if the majority of their customers are in their 60s, then in 20 years time they wouldn't be selling enough items to be profitable.
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
@@AdamJones381 did you guys hear about how much money their CFO was able to embezzle, I guess there's good money floating around there: www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/former-corporate-executive-sentenced-30-million-embezzlement-scheme
@AdamJones3814 ай бұрын
@@Stridewise Thanks for sharing Nick!
@mikeg34204 ай бұрын
When that guy says, “right?”, are we supposed to answer, “right” or “wrong”? Because one of those comments was wrong. Venture capital doesn’t buy shoe companies. I think you’re thinking about private equity.
@etebol4 ай бұрын
Chinese made is just simply not for me. On principle mostly.
@whereRbearsTeeth4 ай бұрын
Such a hypocrite. 90% of what you own is made in China
@edbee85084 ай бұрын
Yeah that's a common sentiment among the more youthfully challenged.
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
This video was an hour long and we talked about it more before cutting it, I think I'll release it as its own video
@etebol4 ай бұрын
@@edbee8508 I’ll take that as a compliment since the “youthfully gifted” seem to run low on principles and much more on emption.
@petergreen19944 ай бұрын
Then I suggest you look up how many Made in US brands that are made in LA abuse their workers in the worse ways. I don’t know what your principles are but you should know many Made in US brands aren’t ethically made at all.
@FranciscoAldereteE4 ай бұрын
Alden is the king of loafers, no contest
@arindambasu98504 ай бұрын
Grant Stone beats Alden hands down every time whether it's boots or loafers. Especially when you bring price into the equation. Alden is just way way overpriced , for no good reason other than their brand name and excess of brick and mortar stores. I will and have bought GS every time and they are fantastic products.
@x.nihilo4 ай бұрын
How does Alden still have a shred of credibility after Rose Anvil video is beyond me. They are clearly riding their heritage and whatnot, but their products' value is nowhere near their prices.
@milkshakeplease46964 ай бұрын
alden lhs looks better but they're probably comparable in quality
@gnarl124 ай бұрын
Borh brands are Great, although GS lives out of a Chinese white label factory....
@d05wtt4 ай бұрын
A little strange watching you do a loafer vid.
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
i decided/realized it's the best way to wear high quality shoes with shorts! Them and my Crown Northampton sneakers...
@franky3fingers3374 ай бұрын
OSB??! 🚩
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
Red flag? what's wrong with OSB
@franky3fingers3374 ай бұрын
@@Stridewise there is just something always off with them in my opinion. Puckering on the welt stitching, soles not glued on correctly, sizing being a bit off at times from other boots in the same lineup, and worse. I definite suspect they used CXL bellies on my awful sport mocs I bought last year. No proof on that but the leather was off.
@CarlMurawski4 ай бұрын
UNSUBSCRIBE! Lol
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
why can't we be friends
@CarlMurawski4 ай бұрын
@@Stridewise this is exactly why.
@ralphmarkasher4 ай бұрын
So true, we allowed business to go to China and sell us cheap stuff
@DuduOhsson4 ай бұрын
Grant Stone all day every day. Alden is in the toilet.
@Stridewise4 ай бұрын
i hope the extreme difference in opinions in this comment section can teach everyone a lesson about subjectivity