Tell me about Grenson boots

[D20]

Every year I look at the sales and think ‘one year I will’. Are they are well constructed as they look?

They are gorgeous. Makes me feel I need some more:)

I have a pair of their shoes (Mae). They are of beautiful quality. They come up quite wide though. I have to wear thick socks.

I'm the only person in the world (it seems) who doesn't get on with them. I have a pair of Nanettes in a slightly rubberised leather with chunky sole and they are absolutely beautiful, so well made and make any outfit look cool. But they make the balls of my feet burn so badly. I have super wide feet so that might be the reason, but they really don't feel too tight when I put them on. I wear them anyway and suffer the pain as I love them so much, but I couldn't go for a long walk in them.

I also have a pair of fisherman sandals and the leather is so creaky, you can hear me coming from miles off!

Have you tried adding a thin insole to your boots, @evilharpy? (I’ve never bought that style so don’t know how they feel.)

Actually, thinking about it, the difficulty with polishing might be one of the reasons why I can’t feel any interest at all in fisherman sandals. Because I was going to say that regular polishing with shoe cream might soften your shoe leather - but those sandals would be incredibly awkward to tend to.

Grensons are pretty misleading, they’re actually made in India. Look at Trickers or Cheaney for proper British made shoes - a level above Grenson and just fantastic.

I like Trickers - and they suited my wardrobe when I lived mostly in the country. But they just don’t work as well with my city clothes. And my feet, for some inexplicable reason, make Cheaney footwear simply disappointing. I’ve stood in their shops, watching other customers turn onto veritable beauties as they slip into boots or lace up shoes. I just looked … pointless!

As I said, Grenson is comparatively cheap - I’m equally likely to look at Hereu Studio, or Marsell, and obviously other places if I want a different style of footwear - but for completely everyday pounding of city streets, with the odd meadow or muddy path thrown in, I find they really work for me.

(And I’ve read enough about them not to feel in the least misled about what I’m buying!)

Does anyone know what there are like to wear for someone with plantar fasciitis?

Mine were so narrow I had to send them back.

The boots I bought were actually the same as the OP. Mine were under men’s, but look identical (I actually thought that, despite the clompiness, they were quite feminine). I have extremely wide feet and they fit me perfectly - but I often find men’s shoes are wider.

I love mine. I've had my black croc leather Nanettes for 5 years. I've resoled for about £100 via their company once and I think I'm permitted to do it one more. If you use this service, remember to remove your laces. My lovely black ones got replaced with another colour. I complained and they said it was in the small print. Anyway, after some emails, they sent me a black pair.

This thread is very timely for me as I've been weighing up some Solovair and Grenson boots. The Grensons are in the sales and cost broadly similar to Solovair at full price. (Sorry, I don't want to link as I don't know how many are left.)

I've bought Solovair before, like them very much and also like to buy British made when I can manage it. However I slightly prefer the look of the Grensons. Can anyone who's worn both brands say how they compare in terms of quality, design etc? Thanks in advance!

(I did check out Joseph Cheaney too but there was nothing I liked in their sales in my size and I can't afford full price.)

The sizing is bizarre.
I saw a pair of ankle boots on a discount website that I absolutely loved. Ordered them in my usual size and they were enormous. I don't mean 'just wear a couple of thick pairs of socks', I mean my DP, who never notices anything that I wear, saw them on the floor and said, 'Christ, are they yours?' They honestly didn't look like they were my feet when I put them on, they were so big.
Ordered them in a size down instead and tried wearing them in the house with thick socks to stretch them, but had to admit defeat and send them back.
I'm still mourning them; they were the best pair of ankle boots I've ever seen.

Sorry, @Floisme - I’ve never worn Solovair. I’m aware of all their good points and can see they look good on other people - but that ‘bovver’ vibe would not be flattering on me.

(Presumably you’ve already dismissed Lanx? Again, slightly lower prices related to their manufacturing arrangements.)

True, @LittleBitofBread! I once ordered some for my mother, whose feet are a good two sizes smaller than mine. The pair that arrived were loose on my feet! Returned for a better size and they’re perfect on her.

I have a no longer available pair of the Mae T bar shoes (beautiful plain tan brown leather) that I stupidly kept last Autumn because it took a couple of proper days’ wear to realise they were too small. Planning to take them to a cobbler today / eventually () in the hope of stretching

I'm glad she got a pair that fitted! Just wish I had

Thanks @CapaciousHag Yeah, much as I like a chunky, stompy boot, I'm drawn to Grensons because they look just a bit sleeker than Solovair. I will check out Lanx too - thanks again!

If anyone is still looking, brandalley have a fair few grenson styles on sale at the moment, I just ordered the Meg ankle boot for £85.

https://www.brandalley.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=grenson

Thanks. I saw a lovely pair of Nanette’s on HoF too at a good price. Trying to weigh up whether pale suede for winter is a good idea!

Mine arrived yesterday, I walked around town for 2 hours today and they were really comfortable! Also, for those querying sizing, I am usually a UK4 / 37, ordered the 4 and they fit perfectly with a slightly chunky sock.