The Leo last fits half a size full in length and width. Most customers will go down half a size from their average sneaker or dress shoe size (Brannock), wearing the same size as most of their GYW boots.
Additional widths are offered, including E & EEE. The wider widths increase volume in the instep and ball area.
When moving into a EEE, remember to go down in size. For example, someone who measures 10.5 on a Brannock may wear the following sizes comfortably. Note, length is added when grading E and EEE widths.
10D
9.5E
8.5EEE or 9EEE dependent on fit needs.
The displayed image(s) may not be indicative of all leather, color, sole and hardware variations for this style.
These boots are the most comfortable fit I have ever had in footwear. I put them on Day 1 and didn't wear anything else until I had to resole them 4 months later with a rubber sole. I think my strange gait mixed with walking a few miles on sidewalks per day wore down the leather sole quickly. I don't blame the manufacturer for this. I will buy many more boots from GS, just not on a leather sole for everyday use. There was no break-in period as far as I could tell. These boots are my daily driver with nothing else in the rotation...for now.
Perfect construction, I can't find any blemishes or mistakes in these boots. Grant Stone is one of the most carefully made footwear that I've every had. Truly amazing.
The boots feel snug and secure. Maybe a little preasure in the instep that concerns me, but otherwise they feel good. The heel and arch support is great, the room at the toe box is enough to wiggle my toes just a bit. The ball of my feet flex in the right position.
Comparing this to my Alden Indy in the same size, I'd say the Indy give me more room and comfort. I think that for my next Diesel boots I'll go either half size up or move to an E width in the same size.
Oh, something to notice is The packaging and unboxing experience. It was from another world. I did not expect this exquisite details inside that box, from the smell, to the boot bags, laces and even the material of the box it self... Not even Viberg have me this experience. High end.
Fits pretty good right from the beginning with medium socks. It felt slight conky when new but as the sole breaks in more, the conkiness is disappearing. The heel has a little slippage but less so as the boot continues to break in (I only wear them about once every two weeks so the breakin process is extended). I have to say it is a nice looking boot, this is one of my favorite boots and I look forward to wearing them.
Haven’t been able to get too many wears in them yet. They seem to fit well but are still very snug and the leather very rigid. Particularly at the ankles. I know they will soften up and stretch some with more wears.
Their customer support recommended 9E based on my foot dimension. The length is perfect, however its roomy on the toe box area and slightly wider on the ball area. Should have gone 9D instead
The leather soles are very comfortable after month of constant use they still look great and I think it gives the boot character, the leather is simply incredible, amazing looks and feel , the leather laces , are the best leather laces I’ve ever had .the material quality is simply top tier
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10/10/2021
They run slightly long and narrow, the instep is comfortable and very minimal heel slip , I wear these on dry days mostly because the leather soles tend to slip on wet surfaces . And they also tend yo slip on carpet . Where they excel the most is on concrete .
Plenty of reviews of the great GS diesel so I will focus on fit. 9.5D fits OK but 10D would be better as these feel slightly narrow on my left foot (pinky toe gets squeezed). The facings nearly touch even though my ankles are not especially thin
I was all set for boots in the short term, but when Grant Stone said these were going out of production, I jumped. I was planning on getting a pair for next summer anyway.
My sizing history in Grant Stone is going from a 11,5EEE Leo last, down to a 11EEE Floyd last, and then finally this 11EEE Leo. This is a snug but comfortable fit for me. Quite perfect for summer, wearing thinner socks.
These boots are beautiful and well crafted. I purchased used and thought I could manage a 8.5EEE while I am typically a 9D. They fit more like a 9.5 or 10 now and I can probably make it work with some thick socks or an insole.
It's a little tight around the balls of my feet and along the sides but there's enough room in the toe box and heel fits well. I think next pair of Grant Stones I will size up to an 8.5E.
After doing research online for measuring my foot for length, circumference around the widest area, and taking a chance, I purchased this in 9E and it's my absolute best fitting boots. I'm normally a 9.5 or 10 in boots/dress shoes and 10.5 in Adidas tennis shoes and under armor tennis shoes.
I own both the tan Essex and ostrich skin. Both fit fine out of the box in 9.5 EEE. I thought I could downsize to a 9EEE but while that fit my smaller foot by larger foot was experiencing toe rub on the side. So I went back to a 9.5 EEE. A 4E May have worked but GS has none with a FF size.
I have only worn these 15 or so times to the office, but I normally do get at least a 30 min walk in every day. These fit very well so far. My right foot is a 10.5 and left is a 10. The right seems perfect, and the left may be slightly loose. They are much more comfortable than some size leather sole Ottawas I have. The lightness of the boot makes a huge difference.
Pattern: Diesel Boot
Last: Leo
Leather: Earth (CFS)
08/20
I tried the 10D. I found this last to have a good fit overall; from the heel to waist, it hugs the foot nicely. The instep isn’t too high or too low. The toe box is spacious enough width wise, but the reason I have some discomfort with them because the toe box height is too shallow. I did gain quite a bit of height after break in, however; it wasn’t enough for me personally.
Color 8
Chromexcel
Rubber sole
Brass hardware
Weight: 970g per shoe
1/25/22
These puppies are STOUT. Really impressed with the build quality, leather and heft.
This is my first experience with chromexcel, and I'm quickly coming to understand why this leather has developed such a cult fanbase - incredibly robust, really rich color, and is going to patina real nice.
GS has developed a reputation for punching above their weight when it comes to QC for the price point ($360), and these are no exception. Both pairs are pristine. Stitching is top tier, no nicks or scuffs on the leather. Packaging was also next level (sturdy box, shoe bags, shoe horn/bottle opener, and foam between the shoes.)
Soles are the GS version of Dainite, and are well suited for the Portland weather.
Fit, at first try on, appears to be perfect. Stiff, obviously. Slight heel slippage that I expect will disappear with a few wears. Ordered half size down from Brannock.
Will update again when I've taken them for a spin.
Update: 1/29/22
Took these on a 4 mile walk. Ouch. Lots of hot spots (heels, balls of feet and top of pinky toes). Probably should have taken it slower with the break in, but these are going to take awhile. I think my feet are also very soft after wearing nothing but crocs for 2 years...
These fit exactly right, although I think pattern-wise there is too much room around the ankle. I have been using these as work shoes (winemaker) and they have been covered in all kinds of chemicals with the occasional wine splash. They have held up fantastically because the leather is incredibly resilient. They are finally broken in, but the break-in was the most painful of any boot I have owned because the ostrich is so tough and moves so differently. It chafed at the heel and ankle constantly until it began to stretch to the shape of my foot more recently. Now they are very comfortable and fit my foot and ankle just great.
1. Coffee suede with Vibram wedge sole; 2. Badallasi Saddle Tan 3. Black Chromexcel with leather sole; 4. Tan Essex with Grant Stone studded sole
July 2021
The Leo last fits me perfectly straight out of the box. The wedge sole and the leather sole needed a bit of breaking in to get it to break across the flex point but the uppers were immediately comfortable. The veg tan is thick leather but felt perfectly comfortable even with the thick leather sole. The coffee suede is soft and luxurious to the touch. The black Chromexcel, fully lined is a thick upper. The Tan Essex is so soft and supple.
Talk about a well built boot. The quality is top notch and all materials show it. The leather soles are strong and can stand up to anything you throw at them. The rubber soles are just as good but have much better traction.
11/2020
I normally wear a size 12 in sneakers and I went with Grantstone’s recommendation of sizing down 1/2 size to an 11.5D. They fit great and are comfortable all day long.
Purchased used on Reddit. Gently worn and used as the previous owner found them too wise. This boot seems to be typical Grant Stone. Roomy but not loose or sloppy. The GS pseuo-Dainite sole is soft and decent traction for my casual and office use of this boot. I really dig the color, as it is a deep and rich reddish-brown, but not burgundy. Very easy to wear with almost all earth tone outfits. Very comfortable for all day wear. I was thinking I would replace the leather laces, but they look and feel great. When they need it, I will replace with same.
Fit is roomy but not overly large. I have a thin Spenco insole in them and don't feel crowded. Fit and finish on these is perfect though the looking down profile and natural color welt is not my favorite. This is personal preference and I would buy another pair of GS.
How I got them.
Since Ive gotten into gyw I've always kept my eye on Grant Stone. People really seemed to like them. So I waited for an opportunity to get a boot from them.
Few months ago, I got a mail that they got some Diesels in Jungle Kangaroo in stock. Ive never had kangaroo leather and was instantly interested. Its something entirely different over what I already had in the closet. I mailed the grant stone team, to inquire about sizing. I gave them my measurements and sizing in other footwear and was recommended a 8,5D. When I got them, I couldnt even get my feet in the boots. They were too small. Especially the instep felt way too tight. After talking with Wyatt, I exchanged the 8,5D for an 9E. This was spot on!
Details.
Grant Stone
Diesel boot
Leo last
9E
Jungle Kangaroo leather veg tan from an non specified italian tannery
Grant Stone proprietary studded sole
Single midsole
Leather heel stack
Fit
Ive never stood on a brannock device. Its just not a thing over here in Belgium, I guess. But in most gyw footwear im around an 9D. But the 9E I got is just spot on perfect!! Measurement wise there is just a few mm difference between a 9D, 9E and 9,5D. The real difference is found in the instep. Somehow in the leo last, I like a bit more volume in the instep.
From the moment I first got them on I felt like my feet were right at home. Felt like ive had been wearing these boots for years. So comfortable. Still today, Im certain these are my best fitting and most comfortable boots. The soft and supple kangaroo leather really helped. Zero break in required.
The good and the bad
Honestly I love these boots, but I'll try to be as impartial as possible.
I really like how these boots are made. The upper leather of the kangaroo is really thin. But this is typical for kangaroo leather. But the leather really makes up for it in tensile strength and suppleness. The upper feels really strong. The upper is lined with full grain kip lining. Feels really soft.
I like that grant stone uses thick veg tan insoles, midsoles and counter. Yes a thick leather counter for a 300$ something boot. That's just impressive. I'm looking forward to seeing how this all evolves with years of wear.
The studded sole look really slick and dressy. But in the wet I can feel my feet wanting to slip. I have the dainite studded sole and I feel like the GS studded sole is more slippery than the dainite sole. This could be highly subjective of course. But this is how I experience the difference. After 4 months of wearing, the sole has close to 100% of its life left. Really durable rubber.
If I had to mention one thing that I dont like as much, its the 360 degree welt. I more a fan of a 270 degree welt. I feel like the boot is much more sleek with no welt at the heel. This is purely how I like it, I'm not entirely sure if one is actually better than the other. Pure from a construction point I don't think a 270 degree welt is less durable than a 360 degree, but I could be wrong.
Conclusion
I love these boots. By far my most comfortable boot out of the box. After wear they're as comfy or even more comfy than my red wings, and Indonesian boots.
The value is the best feature in my opinion. Ok they're made in China, but does that really matter? Maybe yes, maybe no. But in the case of Grant Stone it really doesn't matter. The quality is some of the best I've seen.
Ive really enjoyed these boots over the last few months. And I'm sure I'll enjoy them for many more years to come. Okay, maybe I'll take another boot when its raining or snowing. Luckily we're in this hobby were one boot equals no boots at all. So I've got back-up.
PS
Please excuse the spelling, I'm Belgian ;-)
If anyone knows the tannery that made the kangaroo leather, please let me know. Thanks :-)
Fit is snug. Chromexcel stretched immediately and had no break in. Waxy commander took some breaking in as it did not stretch much. The boots are very solid and well build. Great shock absorption and sturdiness.
I love the color and feel of these boots. They should develop a nice patina over time. This size is a little large in the toe box for me but not enough to cause any problems. My next pair of Diesel boots will be size 11D though.
Diesel Boot, Saddle Tan veg, leather soles, Badalassi Carlo Tannery
11/22
The fit of these boots are great with plenty of toe room. Leather is on the stiff side out of the box but is breaking in nicely after several weeks of wear. I have been wearing about twice a week in a rotation with my other boots. Some people don’t like a leather sole but is no problem for me because I wear cowboy ( western) boots weekly as well and they have leather soles as well.
These boots are as well built as all the reviews on the internet proclaim. I like wearing Grant Stones when I am “dressing” up. Very professional looking boots and I will be purchasing more in the future.
Great fitting last in 7.5E for my 8E brannock size. I have the bourbon suede which had almost no break in time. I could probably go 7.5 EEE to wear thicker socks.
11/21
Worn for work, no break in time. Comfortable to wear all day.
Socks: Mid-cushion cotton, midweight merino wool socks
Misc. Notes: Higher volume right foot; two pairs: one in Earth 6E (pictured), one in Storm Kudu 6.5E
Both broken in as of 7/22
Update 9/3/22: After wearing the 6E Diesels out and about for a bit, I still ended up getting quite a lot of friction in my heels, despite them being fully broken in. That tells me that they're definitely too short, and there's nothing a cobbler can do about that. These are no longer a part of my collection.
The 6.5E Diesels are also no longer in the roster. Though I can ignore the pressure of the tongue seam on my right instep after a little while, I have so many more comfortable options. I'm passing these along too.
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Update 8/4/22: I got my 6E Diesels in Earth back from the cobbler. It's knocked me off the fence about keeping these. They are so comfortable now.
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Update 7/17/22: I ordered a pair of Diesels in Storm Kudu in size 6.5E not long after I'd gotten the Diesels in 6E and it fit a lot better. It's still a little tight on the tongue seam even after breaking in, but it's hardly noticeable with thinner socks (as opposed to the 6E which are still quite noticeable). I sent in my first pair for stretching to see if I can get some extra room in the ball and instep because the more time I spent wearing other, more comfortable boots the less I could tolerate it.
Grant Stone's sizing information says that it's possible for someone to size down a half-length and up a width and achieve a similar fit. Given the slight tightness on my instep that I don't experience with the rest of my 7D boots across brands I think a 7D would fit better than the 6.5E. So I think in the future I'm going to stick with 7D, which, now that I know my proper size, should be my go-to anyway.
That being said, this size is much more comfortable. Despite the expected slight heel slip, I haven't gotten any blisters -- break in was easy.
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Update 7/3/22: The review below is from before I learned my Brannock (or "true") size is actually 7.5D due to my arch length. Previously I was referencing Red Wing's Volumental measurements, which put me at a 6.1EE (which is based on my heel-to-toe length). I've kept the review largely as is because my experiences with this boot's fit and comfort are still relevant (even if the interpretations may be off), and I think it's a good illustration of how complicated, varied, and subjective fit can be.
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06/22, 6.0E: I'd actually briefly owned another Leo last boot in size 6D, bought secondhand. Those were way too tight right away. In retrospect, no surprise there.
Being as how Grant Stone don't yet have EE sizes in the Leo last, I sent a sizing request and was recommended a size 6E, as it would fit my length better and offer more room in the forefoot than the Thursdays I own in 6.5.
One thing the rep said was that their lasts tend to run a half size "larger" than Thursday Boots. When I got my Diesels I double-checked it against my Captains in 6.5 and I personally didn't see what they meant. The Diesel's length was shorter (which was a relief, as I wanted a shorter boot; the length was perfect) and while it was indeed wider as I was told it would be, the seam of the tongue was tighter on the instep of my right foot.
If it weren't for the tight instep, I would consider this the best compromise for me in length-vs-width so far. The width in the ball is still slightly tighter than snug, and the instep tightness makes it so that lightweight socks are the only viable option for me. I think next time I'm going to try 6.5E on the Leo last, though I'm still willing to try a 6E on the Floyd last, since I hear that one is roomier.
All that being said, I'm pretty thrilled with these boots. They're impressive quality and a really rich color and texture. I can't wait until some of the wax starts rubbing off.
Very impressed with these so far. I often struggle to find shoes and boots to fit my wide but low-volume feet, and the Leo last does that very well. The 10 E is spot on for me, snug but plenty of room in the toe box. The break in period has been relatively painless, and I'm now wearing them for everything from dog walks to days in the office. My only very mild criticism is that the grain break differs between the boots, bit pretty sure that's due to my different shaped feet and is par for the course with CXL. Overall I'm incredibly pleased and can't wait to see how they age. I'll inevitably be investing in more GS boots in the future.
I normally wear a 10.5 EE, but after reading reviews on sizing of these boots, it seemed that an E would likely fit.
When the boots came my feet slid into them easy enough and they felt okay, a bit snug, but definitely wearable. Having now had these boots for 8 months, I wish I had watched the Grant Stone website for a while and considered these in EEE - it wasn't an option when I purchased, and I'm not sure my foot wouldn't be swimming in EEE.
Fit - snug. These are 4 to 5 hour boots for me. After that my feet begin to feel like they are in a vice.
Similar to another pair of Grant Stone's that I have, I get a lot of heel slip which will cause blisters after walking in them for a while.
They also don't seem to bend at the ball of the foot at quite the right place. Not a huge issue unless you are really lifting your heel up.
Comfort - the most uncomfortable pair of boots I have ever worn. Beyond the above issues, the boot leather is so stiff, everywhere, they just hurt to wear. I have tried several different conditioners on these hopping it would ease the stiffness, but no help at all.
Looks - Wow, they look nice on, tons of compliments on their appearance. The leather typically has a greenish hue to it with blue pull-up. When the light hits them right, the entire boot will take on a bluish look.
Phenomenal fit, gorgeous glow. Calfskin really makes for a resilient upper and combined with the all-leather sole makes for something supportive and sturdy that I can comfortably stand in all day. A half down from Brannock is an enjoyable fit with plenty of room on the interior to let your foot breath. The glow of the veg tan Badalassi Carlo is warm and vibrant. Highly recommended, the Leo last is one of my favorites!
They are a great fit through the toes similar to an Alden Barrie last. The heels are a touch wider and the heel cup doesn't quite grab onto my heel like several other pairs I own. There's more heel slip with thinner socks as a result.
Extremely comfortable out of the box aside from typical GS outsole stiffness. Instep is a little tight for high volume feet due to the low gussetting but breaks in fine.
I got the Earth (waxy commander) version of these boots with the studded rubber sole. They are comfortable right away and the leather is pretty soft and supple. My fourth pair of Grant Stones and I am impressed as always. Impeccable. I have yet to find a flaw.
12/2021
More for around town than work, but they are built to last.
The Diesel is absolutely one of my favorite boots. I just wish it fit.
I have a low volume foot with a narrow heel & ankle and wide toes. The only way for me to get a good fit in the Diesel is to go TTS and wear super-thick socks or use a 3/4 length arch insert. This is not very comfortable as it raises the heel, putting more pressure on the forefoot. A full-length insert can work as long as it is thin and does not squish the toes too much. I finally gave up on this last and have moved onto the Brass Boot as my preferred Grant Stone footwear (more on that later).
In the Leo last I have tried the following sizes: 9.5D, 9.5E, 10D, 10E, 10.5D, 11D.
10E is my best-fitting Leo size without relying on inserts. The length feels right, the volume is a little bit much but perfect with medium/thick socks. The quarters completely close around the top but that is a feature I have had to get accustomed to with my skinny runner's ankles. The only thing wrong with it is the taper of the toes, especially the big toe. I get too much pressure on the side of the big toe and it's nigh unwearable. Thankfully, the Floyd last from Grant Stone totally fixes the toe room issue and I highly recommend it!
Instantly comfortable, right out of the box. The kudu leather is tough and will take a beating, but it's more forgiving than cow leather for breaking in.
The lug rubber sole looks great, is kind on your stepping action, and can handle any terrain.
The craftsmanship is second to none. I'll definitely be expanding my Grant Stone collection
