Alden vs Allen Edmonds vs Grant Stone: The 3-Boot Battle!

MADE A CHOICE?
BUY THE ALDEN INDY HERE: https://fave.co/33yolVK
GRANT STONE DIESEL HERE: http://bit.ly/2PUiAKI
ALLEN EDMONDS HIGGINS MILL BOOT HERE: https://fave.co/2X1jBE2

FULL REVIEW + PICTURES: https://stridewise.com/alden-vs-allen-edmonds-vs-grant-stone/

I see these boots compared to one another so much I thought I’d save us all some time and do my first three-way boot review: the Alden Indy vs. Allen Edmonds’ Higgins Mill vs. Grant Stone’s Diesel. I’ve worn all three of these for a long time — they are far from new shoes — so I’ve got a pretty good idea of how well they handle!’

FIRST GLANCE
-Alden
The Alden is the most unusual of the three and is easily distinguishable with its bright white moc toe and the chunky, tan colored Goodyear welt. It also has a soft heel and a neo-cork sole.

*SEE FULL ALDEN INDY REVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgSRBDjFKIQ

-Allen Edmonds
Like the Indy this is made with Chromexcel leather but the aesthetic is a lot simpler. It’s almost like a service boot but it’s slimmer and easier to dress up. Also notable is the fancy Dainite sole, a good compromise between grip and flexibility

-Grant Stone
With duller, wrinklier leather, the Diesel is a little more outdoorsy but otherwise looks a lot like the Higgins Mill. It’s the cheapest of the three and the sole is made of what seems to be imitation Dainite.

LEATHER

-Alden & Allen Edmonds
These are both made with Chromexcel, a glorious and beloved combination tanned leather from Horween Leather Company in Chicago. Stuffed with beeswax, beef tallow, and a zillion other materials, this leather is known for its great depth of color. The downside is it’s a little easy to scratch away the top finish.

Alden had better leather selection; the Higgins Mill had quite a bit of loose grain on the shaft.

* SEE FULL ALLEN EDMONDS REVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cb3JLxjyy4

-Grant Stone
When I bought this boot it wasn’t available in Chromexcel, though it is now. The boot I got is Castagno Veg Tan, a vegetable tanned leather made with American cowhide that’s tanned in Italy. Compared to the other two boots it’s thicker, more hardy, it doesn’t scratch as easily, but it does age faster.

SOLE

-Alden
A flat neo-cork sole with a soft rubber heel, a lot of people complain that the heel wears down easily but it has great shock absorption. There’s also a cork midsole and leather insole, plus a steel shank for stability. Note that the Alden has the best arch support of the three, though the worst water resistance because of the big gap between the heel and the upper.

*ALDEN VS VIBERG – WHICH HIGH END BOOT IS BEST? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnH0qh6U8Ys

-Allen Edmonds
A fancy Dainite sole that is a great combination of flexibility, durability, shock absorption, grip. Like the Alden it has a cork midsole and a leather insole, though this boot has a wooden shank and the arch support isn’t quite as great. It also has a storm welt, which is a little more water resistant than Alden’s regular 270-degree Goodyear welt.

-Diesel Boot
This has the heaviest and least flexible sole, though with its split reverse welt it may be the most resistant to the elements. The outsole is a rubber that seems pretty intent on competing with Dainite, then a leather midsole, cork midsole, leather insole, steel shank, and a heel seat. This has the best heel support and stability of the three.

* WATCH THE FULL GRANT STONE REVIEW — DOES MADE IN CHINA MATTER? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKKySSAnslg

FIT & SIZING

-Alden
This has an unusual combination last, so the heel is a narrower width than the rest of the shoe. I’m normally a D width and this is labeled as having a B width heel, but it felt more like the toebox was roomy than the heel was tight. Available in all widths, fits true to size.

-Allen Edmonds
The best all-round fit for my foot, though your fit may, of course, be different. This is a great width and feels a lot like it’s cradling but not squeezing my foot, which is what you want to look for. Order a half size down from your sneakers.

-Grant Stone
The sole is pretty hard and there’s not much arch support, the boot is also the heaviest of the three. You might find that to be a pro or a con. Order a half size down from your sneakers.

PRICE

-Alden
$550-$580

-Allen Edmonds
$350 to $395

- Grant Stone
$360 - $390

VERDICT

Alden Indy
Pros
- Most distinctive
- Best arch support
- Every width available

Cons
- Most expensive
- Least versatile
- Least water resistant

Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill

Pros
- Best fit
- Most versatile
- Good compromise on sole flexibility and durability

Cons
- Worst quality control
- Loose grain in leather
- Not the most rugged

Grant Stone Diesel Boot

Pros

- The toughest leather
- Best heel support
- Cheapest

Cons
- Leather is dull and ages quickly
- Sole isn’t very flexible
- “Made in China” rankles some folks.

FOR FULL REVIEW + PICTURES, GOOGLE: STRIDEWISE ALDEN ALLEN GRANT

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