The Grant Stone Edward Boot in Natural Minerva is Underrated

[@DalesLeatherworks]

Fantastic review!! I agree with the superiority of the leather sole 😊

[@chalkboardshoes]

Dale, I just did a review on the Lisbon II boot. Your video helped convince me to try them.

[@DalesLeatherworks]

@@chalkboardshoes AWESOMMMMMMMME!!!!!

[@aran1757]

I did not realise how good beige laces could look on tan. Great stuff!

[@chalkboardshoes]

Minor error in this video: GS does offer leather soles on the Diesel. I was more referring to the older version of the dune cxl Diesel, which now only uses the rubber sole.

[@InGrindWeCrust2010]

I'd love to see what this leather looks like 9 months on. I'm considering it but I'm afraid it will get too dark and I already have another pair of boots that are kind of British tan.

[@TrojanMars1]

Kept coming back to this particular review video on this exact boot. Well, let’s just say it worked as I just pulled the trigger on a pair myself! Thanks for such a detailed review.

[@chalkboardshoes]

If you can get through the stiffness of the leather, hopefully you'll like them.

[@TrailBlazer5280]

Yes I agree i wish they had an option of leather vs lug or other sole. I currently have a wedge moc toe and am looking for a lug on my next pair. I love these natural boots but in a winter climate I need a lug of some sort. The wedge is actually amazing in winter but im ready for something new

[@boots_4_me]

You almost got me there. QC with GS is bar none. I just purchased a pair of the Ottawa’s in crimson cxl and the first pair they sent me had some severely loose grain but it didn’t show up until after I wore the boots for a few days. The loose grain is so severe but it was only on the left boot in the outside. I could not minimize the loose grain so I contacted GS and told them that I was unhappy because of the loose grain and they sent me a replacement boot that had much less loose grain. The replacement pair were perfect in every way. I could not find anything wrong with the boots except for a tiny dent on the heel counter of the right boot. I ended up massaging it away with a horse-haired brush and some Saphir renovator. Now the boots are perfect.

[@1999Scottie]

I have GS Field boots. They came with a crooked tongue on one boot too, so bad it doesn’t cover the inside of 2 speed hooks. It’s not really a comfort issue though so gotta live with it.

[@redhotsillypeppers]

I'm excited to see how this channel develops, great intellectual content and analysis, I think it's missing visual stimulation

[@janhuraj8576]

Thank you, I always look forward to your review! Two notes from my experience with GS Leo Last and AE 1757 Last boots (and 2 other manufacturers): 1. Plain toe shoes/boots usually feels a bit roomier than cap-toes (on the same last). 2. I have the opposite experience with cap-toe vs plain toe boots on the Leo last. Leo last is quite long, which is why I like cap-toe boots on it a bit more, which make it visually shorter. On the other hand, AE 1757 is more beautiful with plain-toe (Higgins mill) than cap-toe boots (Alpine cap-toe, Patton), which are no longer as elegant as cap-toes on Leo last. Anyway, it's just details, both lasts are great!

[@bootsjeansandtheoddwatch]

I love the comfort of leather soles! Also really getting the itch to try Grant Stone. Glad I found your videos!

[@DavidGriffis]

Sizing information very helpful

[@jeffd4026]

SO many of your comments and observations resonated with me. Definitely on a similar page as you. Thank you for mentioning that the leather soles seem lighter and easier to break in. As someone who just purchased my first pair (Ottawa Natural CXL) and being a bit shocked by the weight of the boot (I've been mainly in sneakers for decades) i thought a leather sole might be lighter and more pliable. I am about to purchase my second pair and trying to decide between the Minerva and the Forest Kudu and one of the main factors is the sole. Which is probably why i will go with the Minervas. Unless i opt for something completely unexpected like the Gray Kudu on the leather soles. But so far those haven't been capturing my attention.

[@jeffd4026]

Also forgot to add how important your comment on the color of the Minerva was for me. Every time i look at them on the GS website i think they are far too yellow and it scares me away a bit. But when you showed the photo from the website and your pair in comparison it really cleared the color issue up for me. Thank you for taking the time to post these great videos.

[@jeffd4026]

@@chalkboardshoes Reminds me of another question i had for you. Since i have the Dune CXL in the Ottawa boot, do you think the Minerva and the Ottawa Dune CXL will eventually be similar in color a few years down the road when the patina really is maximized? Same question on the Saddle Tan and the Ottawa Dune CXL. I would like to avoid buying two pair that will eventually be almost the same shade. Do you think that's a possibility?

[@christopheraltman5021]

I bought this very boot at Christmastime. Funny. They are darkening up nicely. I got them on sale and it was a great value. Very happy. I am needing toe taps though before it is too late!

[@kingofthenoobs]

I'm with you on the double leather soles, super comfortable and flexible. I wear out the toes too fast on them though, so I have to put metal toe plates on all of them if I plan on wearing them with any regularity.

[@eduardoalvgtz]

Thank you for your review. I’ve been following you for about a year now, and your insights are always appreciated. Last year I got a pair of the Diesels in the Minerva Saddle Tan w leather soles. You’re right in that they break nicely and faster (so much more comfortable than Dainite) but they were so slippery that I ended up taking them to my cobbler to put on Vibram toppies. I think I found my perfect sole that way: rubber grip and leather sole softness.

[@hannibalbarca2939]

Great video, just bought these. I am about to check if you did your follow on year review right after this video.

[@chalkboardshoes]

I would suggest watching my most recent video on Grant Stone, which kind of goes into the situation.

[@igniaulfsborg8946]

Great video. Thank you for putting in the time and energy.

[@gmblunder8195]

Finally! I've been looking for natural lighting images of these shoes besides the site's review section. I wanted to see if it is close to the natural vachetta colors but these are still lighter. I'm with you in hoping they give leather sole options to their Diesel CXL and Edward Tobacco! It's literally the sole reason I'm keeping myself from buying.

[@chalkboardshoes]

Thanks -- in person, I see it as like an apricot color. Of course, it will darken a lot over time. It's not quite as yellow as the website indicates.

[@ryanmcfadin09]

Just stumbled on your content. Great video man!

[@bouncingBrain]

Very informative. Thank you. I got the Natural Minerva Edward in December. Love it and its leather soles. Wore it outside a few time, not slippery anymore and it's breaking in nicely. I agree that Grant Stone should offer more choices of bootsin leather soles.

[@bouncingBrain]

@@chalkboardshoes . That's my first boot from GS. My recommended size is the same as yours -- 7.5D. However, based on what I heard from a reviewer who recommended, while downsizing by a half, increasing the width, I ordered a 7.5E. It felt fine but I think I could do 7.5D, which I chose in subsequent orders. As for loafers, I ordered size 7E.

[@Trex100]

Yeah, that is a really nice leather. I'd like to see it on a few years. What a nice boot. Enjoy!

[@billcobbett6265]

Can you do an update on this to show the color change? Thanks.

[@chalkboardshoes]

Hi, I might try that, but I made a more recent video where I talked about how I didn't wear this boot very much in 2023. I did start wearing it again in 2024. Check out my video the Diesel boot.

[@Currentsituation-nj9nw]

They do have several diesel models with leather soles. Including the storm kudu.

[@paolog5679]

i bought a B grade Ottawa natural minerva with leather sole. Still have not worn it because its rainy season! Definitely a nice BOOT!

[@paolog5679]

@@chalkboardshoes I am your size. I got lucky

[@giraffchen_]

Agree on the leather soles. They have some kangaroo leather boots that I want to pull the trigger on, but having a stiffer rubber sole seems like it would defeat the point of something so soft and light.

[@zacharyybarra7676]

I wanted these boots badly but needed a mini lug sole.

[@Papamonty01]

Thanks for the video post!

[@carlosdurazo1329]

Nice review! interesed in the year review! any IG account where i can follow? any video update coming? Regards from México!

[@chalkboardshoes]

Well, I do have an IG account with the same title. However, I did do a brief explanation of my Edwards in my recent Diesel boot review.

[@Xman80888]

A lot of the Diesel boots are offered with leather soles, they may have been out of stock.

[@chalkboardshoes]

Yes, I made a slight error in this video. I was more referring to the older version of the dune cxl, which used to have a leather sole.

[@Xman80888]

@@chalkboardshoes Oh, I see. Ok that makes more sense.

[@64gbdata11]

I wear thursday captain boots size 9D. Should i go with size 9D in grant stone or should i hald size down?

[@64gbdata11]

@@chalkboardshoes i'll to order same size first. Then see if it is big. Better to be bigger than smaller. The return shipping will cost me so i want to have my first purchase to atleast fit right. Thanks for answering

[@siddharthakhanna6806]

How do these boots look now?

[@chalkboardshoes]

Not a lot different, but a little darker. I might do a follow up video one day to show where they are at.

[@ismaelcalderon2542]

Good review. I like the boots but dont like the fact that it doesn’t preserve the color.

[@chalkboardshoes]

That's true. They will darken into an orange over time, but it takes a few years.

[@Thunk00]

How has the natural Minerva aged 18 months later?

[@chalkboardshoes]

It's still pretty stiff and tough, but I admit I didn't wear it a lot in 2023. I only started wearing it more in the last few months. The color is slightly darker, but not much.

[@Thunk00]

@@chalkboardshoes I ordered a custom boot from another maker with the same leather just the other day. It'll probably be a month or two before I get it but I'm excited to see what it's going to be like. My experience with pure veg tan leathers generally is that they really do take a long, long time to soften up.

[@chalkboardshoes]

@@Thunk00 I had a pair of C&J dress shoes that I think were made of pure veg tan leather. They took a long time to soften, but they did. Maybe after 25 wears they felt good.

[@mikester6192]

If I paid $600 or $700 for a boot with a crooked tongue, misaligned welts or mix matched colors. I will definitely exchange the boots until I have a perfect boot to my liking.

[@travelfeet]

I bought a B stock pair of Edwards just like those in the video for $215. I could not find any reason for the b-rating. Retail was listed at $350. I feel like I pretty much stole them. I woudl expect that the coloring on the welt will rub out/fade after just a few days of use.

[@gress12000]

I love grant stone BUT, some of their boots welt can be to big making them look like clown boots. I have 3 pairs. The tan diesel I had to return because of that fact.

[@chalkboardshoes]

I know what you mean. Sometimes I imagine I would like them even more with a sleeker welt.