The pricing of GS used to be a strong point of the brand. With the several price increases they are starting to venture into the price being more and more an issue. Indonesian and South American brands are starting to catch GS.
I’m super frustrated with grant stone approaching 400 for their diesel boots, but at the same time, I can order one at anytime I like, i can’t do the same for parkhrust, or any Indonesian. Not even Truman, for Truman I don’t even know what’s in their core range😂.
$395usd is now their standard price after another increase just in the last week or so. Availability is why I would still get them, but the price is now on par with other non-USA or non-UK made boots, the crazy value is gone but that doesn't mean they aren't worth it. I know its not the same aesthetic, but makes you wonder how Truman in the USA can make their boots so cheap really if these are now $400usd. Trumans lines start at $400 and up to $480 for the exotics. That gap has really closed up. Maybe Truman need to make a dressy service boot if people are paying that much for Chinese made ones. I will likely only buy the brand on sale moving forward.
I have the all black with the studded sole. They are a great go to with my clerical wear-all black. They still have some character not being struck through, but fit with my dressy but not dress needs most days. I have several black boots, the black on black is less versatile broadly, but work with most of the outfits I wear to the office. Great review as usual!
They have that exact look for the Nora, but not the Diesel. The Diesel with the natural welt and rubber sole is the exact look I want, so I feel like I'm being taunted
Great video as always Teik! I own 2 pairs of GS Diesels, one in Badalassi saddle veg tan on leather soles and one in CF Stead natural Wax Commander on the lug sole. I clearly prefer the leather soles in general. They are more comfortable, mold to your feet better, breath clearly better and are noticeably lighter in weight. Either a pro or a con is that leather soles are colder in winter but much more comfortable in warmer conditions. An alternative to maintain & preserve leather soles is Saphir Sole Guard oil. Very easy to use and it can easily double the lifespan of leather soles if used only 2/3 times a year. As for the GS Diesel, brilliant boot. In quality, fit and looks and my favourite of all. I've found that not using the top speed hooks or eyelets improves comfort considerably. I shorten the laces to fit without the looping around the ankles to 'use up' the mile-long laces. Very uncomfortable and pointless for the typical use of this boot imo.
As much as I love the Grant Stone Diesel Boot (my signature fits like a glove boot) I just care for the look of the black chromexel. Although not GS quality, I love the looks of my Helm and Thursday black boots so they're in the rotation. Today I wore my Diesel Walnut Bison boots and my, oh my! They are just perfect! I'm also breaking-in a pair of Diesel Dune Chromexel and noticed they're leather lined (as opposed to the Walnut Bison) so even though they fit perfectly the foot slides around a bit until they break in and start to grab. Like you, I also prefer the rough-cut lining during that break-in phase. C'est la vie. Enjoy the review, as always. Cheers!
Have 12 pairs of GS. The black diesel with leather soles is my latest and is on the way to me, scheduled to reach me Monday. Timely review indeed, thanks.
Having worn leather soled shoes for work for decades, frequently in rain, I found that the main problem with slippery leather soles was the leather heels. Changing the half or quarter rubber tip heel top lift for an all rubber top lift used to transform the grip. Plus it stopped the crunch underfoot if you walked on loose stones or broken pavements. They still weren't perfect but were good enough to run for a train 🙂 and were not much different from Dainite in their grippiness (on pavements) though obviously Dainite was better for keeping your feet dry.
I had two surface scratches, an i used leather honey to brush them off with good success. What do you use to cover the scratches?. I'm worried about my soles since im getting them wet and not sure how long they'll last
Hey Tek. Bought a pair of these beauties a couple months ago for Christmas based on your review. Really like them. I've noticed the same issues you mentioned with regards to the full lining, wear on the front of the soles, and stiffness of the shaft. Probably the biggest issue I'm having with them, however, is the leather outsole. I've never owned a pair of boots (or any footwear) with a leather outsole before. Took some getting used to. They're slippery, but slowly getting better. What bothers me most, though, is that they're noisy when I walk on some outdoor surfaces, especially concrete. They make a crunchy sound when stepping on small rocks and pebbles. I guess I could have purchased the version with the rubber sole, but these were just too dam good looking. As for sizing, I'm a 10.5D on the Brannock. I actually bought mine in 9.5E. They fit perfect. Construction quality is great. They're built like tanks. Thanks! Love your channel dude.
I have a pair of black Chromexcel Diesels with the dainite style sole. I have had them for about 11 months, but with just five pairs of boots/shoes, I might have worn them more than you have. I have just a few things to say: 1. Sizing is really individualized. My brannock measurement is 13D, but my feet are thinner than average. Grant Stone doesn't offer 12.5s, so I went with a 12E to get the half size. They are slightly large on my feet and I would likely by a 12D if I got shoes in the same last again. The good thing about Grant Stone, at least for those of us living the US, is they offer free returns. It's really not a hassle to exchange them, and I would recommend trying to find the right fit. I ended up putting in some thin kilties to fill up some extra space in the instep and I like the fit now. 2. I had to replace the toplift on the heels. It wore down quicker than I expected, but that could be how I wear them. I typically walk about a little more than a mile on concrete to get to my office, and then again from the office to my home. It may be that two plus miles a day on concrete wears it down quickly. But I was still surprised that I needed new toplifts within 10 months. A toplift replacement isn't expensive ($35 at my neighborhood cobbler), but I wonder if the rubber compound is softer than others. 3. I see the styling as appropriate in both business and casual situations. This can depend a lot on your personal circumstances and I really don't know what is considered dressy or casual in Australia. I suppose I still think of narrow oxford shoes as being dressier and the wider, derby, bigger eyelet style on the Diesel feels more casual to me. I do wear them to office and I feel comfortable wearing them in any business situation, but I also wear them with jeans and in casual circumstances. In short, for me, they work for everything, and that's pretty cool. I have no complaints about these boots at all. Took me a bit to get the fit the way I wanted, but it's worth it. They look good, they feel good, the quality is holding up, and I"m expecting them to last a long time. When I do need to resole them--maybe two more years--I will probably swap them to a leather sole and I might replace the speed hooks with eyelets. But as is, they are a fantastic pair of shoes and definitely worth the price.
Regarding styling, I am absolutely a casual person with hoodies as my staple. I wear GS cap toe boots without issue as I find they can match with very casual outfits well.
I have the burgundy Kudu Diesel's that I bought this past black Friday sale 2 months ago. I spoke with customer service before placing my order the size they recommended is definitely too big. But I managed to get them to fit fine with an insole. The insole definitely because I find no matter how much I try I just can't enjoy a leather insole. I have flat feet and plantar fasciitis, and the grant stone insoles just make my feet hurt. So with a little foamy insole really does wonders for my feet. I will grant them that the space in the toe box is pretty nice. I also live in Canada, so they've seen a fair bit of snow. I've definitely gotten a bit of leather seperation, especially around the heel and a bit around the toe. I've tried applying beeswax, but the seperation still happens. Good quality boots. But y'all overhype the water resistancy of a good year welted boot. A cemented boot is gonna be far more water resistant than a good year welted is.
I have this same pair and the clicking and rolling on yours is a LOT better than mine. Black CXL is not my favorite leather and I got these second hand mainly for a size comparison, but they get the occasional wear here and there because the fit is so good.
I'm so close to purchasing a pair of Brass Boots in Jungle Kangaroo... I wish they had an Option to have a Toe Cap Scuff Guard ... had a pair of browning Upland hunters in Kangaroo many years ago that had Shark Skin Toe Cap ... Best boots I've ever owned.. that shark skin was like the tip of the boot was iron..
Thanks Teik for another great video. I like my Diesel’s but would agree, I think the Black Cxl works better on my Brass boots as they are more rugged everyday style. Wish I had half the boot choices you do😊.
My Diesel boots were half a size too big, and the wear on the toe of the leather sole was insane. I was afraid it woukd go all tbe way to the welt! But it stopped half way through the midsole. So I will have to get the midsoles replaced when I resole them, but at least I can keep the welt.
Wonderful video, thank you. These will be my next GS purchase. I am excited to get a pair of GS leather soles, as i have quickly tired of their hard rubber sole.
Man Leather soles are a different world is wear I love them but the wear on the toe is worry some .Make sure you get the right sized after 4 pairs of GS I figured out my right size down 1 full from bionic device and gone E to EEE on GS and the break in much better now
Loved the video. I have has some issues with stiffness at the collar of Edwards, but not Diesels. I like shinny boots and originally I had used colour wax; but after a milk spill accident I decided to give the tea core a chance to develop. I think that the brown tea core will play well against the natural leather soles.
I love my pair of these, I have 4 pairs of GS boots with leather soles in my collection, these are the only CXL the rest are veg tan. I stopped buying at 50 pairs. 😂👞👍 I condition my soles using triple filtered canola oil and let dry cure for a month after, softens and prolongs life and weather resistance. In regards to teacore I find it’s irrelevant if you choose to polish, I’ve let my Truman cap toe boots in Seidel black double shot patina more than these but these look great worn in but more cared for IMO. Cheers!
I have the same exact boots and they are one of my favorite as they have a leather sole my other favorite GS boots are the midnight sueded Ottawa's also with a leather sole. My Diesel's are still very shiny and I used to wear it every day for about a month until I got the black CXL Ottawa's and I've bought 6 GS boots and they are all pretty awesome. I just bought a pair of the bourbon suede Ottawa's also with a leather sole. I have fallen in love with GS's CF Stead suedes. Thanks!
Hey Tek how do you like the Parkhurst Nicks collab Falcon? Really need your help with this one - I have same size boot 8D but in the oarkhust Niagara it’s seems I little too big for me. Actually putting in a super feet insole is needed to take up some of the volume versus the regular HNW nicks last 8D is pretty snug Besides fit how does it compare to your Whites MP? Thanks buddy
0:34 what's the significance of this statement? I noticed that in your initial videos you didn't used to say this line, what made you to start on this statement?
Please Google “Acknowledgment of Country in Australia”. In my early videos I was still experimenting with UA-cam and hadn’t settled on a standard style of video. Still evolving!
I had a question, i have a pair of truman coach ramblers, what would you recommend to condition the boots? I dont want to change the colour or texture, any recommendations?
The pricing of GS used to be a strong point of the brand. With the several price increases they are starting to venture into the price being more and more an issue. Indonesian and South American brands are starting to catch GS.
What's your favorite Indonesian boot maker that makes a service boot?
I’m super frustrated with grant stone approaching 400 for their diesel boots, but at the same time, I can order one at anytime I like, i can’t do the same for parkhrust, or any Indonesian. Not even Truman, for Truman I don’t even know what’s in their core range😂.
I also want to know@@NogGonnaMakeIt
The price increases for GS and Parkhurst/Truman adding some wide width options have made the ~$400 usd heritage boot market very competitive lately.
I'm impressed by your "over 100 pairs of boots". That's quite a collection.
$395usd is now their standard price after another increase just in the last week or so. Availability is why I would still get them, but the price is now on par with other non-USA or non-UK made boots, the crazy value is gone but that doesn't mean they aren't worth it.
I know its not the same aesthetic, but makes you wonder how Truman in the USA can make their boots so cheap really if these are now $400usd. Trumans lines start at $400 and up to $480 for the exotics. That gap has really closed up. Maybe Truman need to make a dressy service boot if people are paying that much for Chinese made ones.
I will likely only buy the brand on sale moving forward.
The tea core will go very well with the natural welt color. Excellent review, like always! Thank you!
I have the all black with the studded sole. They are a great go to with my clerical wear-all black. They still have some character not being struck through, but fit with my dressy but not dress needs most days. I have several black boots, the black on black is less versatile broadly, but work with most of the outfits I wear to the office.
Great review as usual!
I can’t decide between the two which is why I have neither yet. I did get the brass boot in black.
Really wish this boot had a rubber sole. Love the look of black leather with natural welt
They have that exact look for the Nora, but not the Diesel. The Diesel with the natural welt and rubber sole is the exact look I want, so I feel like I'm being taunted
Great video as always Teik!
I own 2 pairs of GS Diesels, one in Badalassi saddle veg tan on leather soles and one in CF Stead natural Wax Commander on the lug sole. I clearly prefer the leather soles in general. They are more comfortable, mold to your feet better, breath clearly better and are noticeably lighter in weight. Either a pro or a con is that leather soles are colder in winter but much more comfortable in warmer conditions. An alternative to maintain & preserve leather soles is Saphir Sole Guard oil. Very easy to use and it can easily double the lifespan of leather soles if used only 2/3 times a year.
As for the GS Diesel, brilliant boot. In quality, fit and looks and my favourite of all. I've found that not using the top speed hooks or eyelets improves comfort considerably. I shorten the laces to fit without the looping around the ankles to 'use up' the mile-long laces. Very uncomfortable and pointless for the typical use of this boot imo.
As much as I love the Grant Stone Diesel Boot (my signature fits like a glove boot) I just care for the look of the black chromexel. Although not GS quality, I love the looks of my Helm and Thursday black boots so they're in the rotation. Today I wore my Diesel Walnut Bison boots and my, oh my! They are just perfect! I'm also breaking-in a pair of Diesel Dune Chromexel and noticed they're leather lined (as opposed to the Walnut Bison) so even though they fit perfectly the foot slides around a bit until they break in and start to grab. Like you, I also prefer the rough-cut lining during that break-in phase. C'est la vie. Enjoy the review, as always. Cheers!
Price rose today to $395
Currently wearing my Crimson Diesels. Love them.
Have 12 pairs of GS. The black diesel with leather soles is my latest and is on the way to me, scheduled to reach me Monday. Timely review indeed, thanks.
Geez, save some for the rest of us 😆
Having worn leather soled shoes for work for decades, frequently in rain, I found that the main problem with slippery leather soles was the leather heels. Changing the half or quarter rubber tip heel top lift for an all rubber top lift used to transform the grip. Plus it stopped the crunch underfoot if you walked on loose stones or broken pavements.
They still weren't perfect but were good enough to run for a train 🙂 and were not much different from Dainite in their grippiness (on pavements) though obviously Dainite was better for keeping your feet dry.
Thanks for the long term review Teikoh. Bought these for Christmas. Loving them so far. Wearing them 5-6 days . And they do scratch easily
In general I really like mine,however as you say they scratch easily,some like this I personally don’t and I am constantly trying to cover marks.
I had two surface scratches, an i used leather honey to brush them off with good success. What do you use to cover the scratches?. I'm worried about my soles since im getting them wet and not sure how long they'll last
Everyone needs a few pair of Diesel boots from GS. I have 2 and and 1 of Ottawa.
Hey Tek. Bought a pair of these beauties a couple months ago for Christmas based on your review. Really like them. I've noticed the same issues you mentioned with regards to the full lining, wear on the front of the soles, and stiffness of the shaft. Probably the biggest issue I'm having with them, however, is the leather outsole. I've never owned a pair of boots (or any footwear) with a leather outsole before. Took some getting used to. They're slippery, but slowly getting better. What bothers me most, though, is that they're noisy when I walk on some outdoor surfaces, especially concrete. They make a crunchy sound when stepping on small rocks and pebbles. I guess I could have purchased the version with the rubber sole, but these were just too dam good looking. As for sizing, I'm a 10.5D on the Brannock. I actually bought mine in 9.5E. They fit perfect. Construction quality is great. They're built like tanks. Thanks! Love your channel dude.
I have a pair of black Chromexcel Diesels with the dainite style sole. I have had them for about 11 months, but with just five pairs of boots/shoes, I might have worn them more than you have. I have just a few things to say:
1. Sizing is really individualized. My brannock measurement is 13D, but my feet are thinner than average. Grant Stone doesn't offer 12.5s, so I went with a 12E to get the half size. They are slightly large on my feet and I would likely by a 12D if I got shoes in the same last again. The good thing about Grant Stone, at least for those of us living the US, is they offer free returns. It's really not a hassle to exchange them, and I would recommend trying to find the right fit. I ended up putting in some thin kilties to fill up some extra space in the instep and I like the fit now.
2. I had to replace the toplift on the heels. It wore down quicker than I expected, but that could be how I wear them. I typically walk about a little more than a mile on concrete to get to my office, and then again from the office to my home. It may be that two plus miles a day on concrete wears it down quickly. But I was still surprised that I needed new toplifts within 10 months. A toplift replacement isn't expensive ($35 at my neighborhood cobbler), but I wonder if the rubber compound is softer than others.
3. I see the styling as appropriate in both business and casual situations. This can depend a lot on your personal circumstances and I really don't know what is considered dressy or casual in Australia. I suppose I still think of narrow oxford shoes as being dressier and the wider, derby, bigger eyelet style on the Diesel feels more casual to me. I do wear them to office and I feel comfortable wearing them in any business situation, but I also wear them with jeans and in casual circumstances. In short, for me, they work for everything, and that's pretty cool.
I have no complaints about these boots at all. Took me a bit to get the fit the way I wanted, but it's worth it. They look good, they feel good, the quality is holding up, and I"m expecting them to last a long time. When I do need to resole them--maybe two more years--I will probably swap them to a leather sole and I might replace the speed hooks with eyelets. But as is, they are a fantastic pair of shoes and definitely worth the price.
Regarding styling, I am absolutely a casual person with hoodies as my staple. I wear GS cap toe boots without issue as I find they can match with very casual outfits well.
I have the burgundy Kudu Diesel's that I bought this past black Friday sale 2 months ago.
I spoke with customer service before placing my order the size they recommended is definitely too big. But I managed to get them to fit fine with an insole. The insole definitely because I find no matter how much I try I just can't enjoy a leather insole. I have flat feet and plantar fasciitis, and the grant stone insoles just make my feet hurt. So with a little foamy insole really does wonders for my feet. I will grant them that the space in the toe box is pretty nice.
I also live in Canada, so they've seen a fair bit of snow. I've definitely gotten a bit of leather seperation, especially around the heel and a bit around the toe. I've tried applying beeswax, but the seperation still happens.
Good quality boots. But y'all overhype the water resistancy of a good year welted boot. A cemented boot is gonna be far more water resistant than a good year welted is.
@@whereRbearsTeeth but some people live in very wet climates and actually need to keep their feet dry...
@@whereRbearsTeeth you sound like you're blessed with nice dry weather and don't actually have to muck through water and mud all day
I have this same pair and the clicking and rolling on yours is a LOT better than mine. Black CXL is not my favorite leather and I got these second hand mainly for a size comparison, but they get the occasional wear here and there because the fit is so good.
Thanks for the honesty
Thank you for another great video Teik!
I'm so close to purchasing a pair of Brass Boots in Jungle Kangaroo... I wish they had an Option to have a Toe Cap Scuff Guard ... had a pair of browning Upland hunters in Kangaroo many years ago that had Shark Skin Toe Cap ... Best boots I've ever owned.. that shark skin was like the tip of the boot was iron..
I have not 100% agreed with all of your conclusions, but you do an excellent job making and supporting your arguments. Much appreciated! Thank you!
Recently purchased GS Diesel in Jungle Kangaroo. Was wondering if anyone has experience with that leather. Love your channel Teik!
my favorite part of your boot videos is when you acknowledge the traditional custodians.
Thanks Teik for another great video. I like my Diesel’s but would agree, I think the Black Cxl works better on my Brass boots as they are more rugged everyday style. Wish I had half the boot choices you do😊.
My Diesel boots were half a size too big, and the wear on the toe of the leather sole was insane. I was afraid it woukd go all tbe way to the welt! But it stopped half way through the midsole. So I will have to get the midsoles replaced when I resole them, but at least I can keep the welt.
Requesting a long teem review of the saddle tan diesels please
Wonderful video, thank you. These will be my next GS purchase. I am excited to get a pair of GS leather soles, as i have quickly tired of their hard rubber sole.
Man Leather soles are a different world is wear I love them but the wear on the toe is worry some .Make sure you get the right sized after 4 pairs of GS I figured out my right size down 1 full from bionic device and gone E to EEE on GS and the break in much better now
Loved the video. I have has some issues with stiffness at the collar of Edwards, but not Diesels. I like shinny boots and originally I had used colour wax; but after a milk spill accident I decided to give the tea core a chance to develop. I think that the brown tea core will play well against the natural leather soles.
Should I add taps and other protection on the bottom? I walk on asphalt a lot. Teacher.
At $400 or less still a great price for what you get especially compared to Alden, Crockett, etc.
I love my pair of these, I have 4 pairs of GS boots with leather soles in my collection, these are the only CXL the rest are veg tan. I stopped buying at 50 pairs. 😂👞👍
I condition my soles using triple filtered canola oil and let dry cure for a month after, softens and prolongs life and weather resistance.
In regards to teacore I find it’s irrelevant if you choose to polish, I’ve let my Truman cap toe boots in Seidel black double shot patina more than these but these look great worn in but more cared for IMO.
Cheers!
Like the canola oil tip thanks
I have the same exact boots and they are one of my favorite as they have a leather sole my other favorite GS boots are the midnight sueded Ottawa's also with a leather sole. My Diesel's are still very shiny and I used to wear it every day for about a month until I got the black CXL Ottawa's and I've bought 6 GS boots and they are all pretty awesome. I just bought a pair of the bourbon suede Ottawa's also with a leather sole. I have fallen in love with GS's CF Stead suedes. Thanks!
Have worn my brass boots fairly hard for two years and they’re STILL stiff on the collar/ankle area. Assumed it was thick CXL
I put rubber in my GS kudu.but that was extra 65 dollars
How do you get these to Australia? Do Grant and Stone post to Australia?
@@olivergordon8276 go to their website would be the first thing to do
would have loved to see the tea core before you blackened them teik
I’m scared to buy boots with white stitching. Because of dirt.
Yeah, I will add a half sole. Then maybe the shoe will have less of a “drop.”
Nice boot
Hey Tek how do you like the Parkhurst Nicks collab Falcon?
Really need your help with this one - I have same size boot 8D but in the oarkhust Niagara it’s seems I little too big for me. Actually putting in a super feet insole is needed to take up some of the volume versus the regular HNW nicks last 8D is pretty snug
Besides fit how does it compare to your Whites MP?
Thanks buddy
I have bad bunion, so can only buy boots that come in extra wide. 😢
You cannot do better than a Grant Stone boot that’s on sale.
I'm so torn between these and the same boot in veg saddle tan which you have also reviewed.
What would you choose if you could only buy one ?
Personally, because I wear suits, the black one. Personally.
0:34 what's the significance of this statement? I noticed that in your initial videos you didn't used to say this line, what made you to start on this statement?
Please Google “Acknowledgment of Country in Australia”. In my early videos I was still experimenting with UA-cam and hadn’t settled on a standard style of video. Still evolving!
What are some boots you would recommend to wear business casual and perhaps for city function… suit and tie ? Thank you
I have a whole video on this, check out the channel
I had a question, i have a pair of truman coach ramblers, what would you recommend to condition the boots? I dont want to change the colour or texture, any recommendations?
I’ve used Bick 4 on my ramblers
I'm not a fan of the tea core wear. I know most boot lovers find that statement heretical. 😅
🤣
This vs the RW Blacksmith?
These. I have a pair of beckmans and the finishing and attention to detail isn't even close.
"Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time." --George Bernard Shaw