Grenson shoes - any thoughts?

[biedrona]

What are your thoughts on these shoes?
https://www.grenson.com/myrtle-womens-goodyear-welted-boat-shoes-in-black-leather/?setCurrencyId=1&utm_source=rakutenmarketing&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=3642857:Kelkoo+UK&utm_content=15&utm_term=uknetwork&ranMID=45046&ranEAID=Sl5uPV1NkiY&ranSiteID=Sl5uPV1NkiY-bVhfZNeHCKcUUcTuSM.X4w

If you like them that’s all that matters. Personally I don’t like them but have a friend who looks fantastic in ugly clumpy shoes. She has slim bony ankles which appears to be the key to suiting them.

Christ - they look really heavy. And the Goodyear bit — does that mean the soles are made from actual tyres??
Love the previous poster”s opinion, (talk about damning with faint praise), about her slim-footed friend who looks fantastic in ‘ugly, clumpy’ shoes.

Love Grenson shoes . And I like those too.

Goodyear welt shoe construction refers to the way the shoe is made - upper and sole are both stitched separately to the welt, so if the sole wears out you can effectively unpick it and stitch a new one to the welt.

Try Solovair if you like well made UK shoes.

Grenson is a superb brand. These are too chunky for me but I recognise they are stylish, balanced and will suit a certain person and style.
as for the tyre comment m, some of us live in the country and don’t want to slip over every time we go out. We have delicate and high heels for other occasions

Grenson were v fashionable a few years ago, lots of 'gifting' to influencers. They seem to be less so these days. I'm a fan of ugly shoes but Grenson always looked really hard and difficult to break in to me. No idea if that's the case.

Never heard of solovair, and only looked them up because of your post.

1. the brand name doesn’t sound British at all so I’d never have considered them, it’s awful.
2. made in the region of good British shoes so happy to take that seriously, but the designs are something from the 80s. Not a take on that, just exceptional old fashioned and not in a retro way.

interesting. But.

Thank you for feedback so far

Exceptionally old-fashioned?! Did you look at their boots???!!

I have several pairs of Grenson shoes and I love them. They are incredibly comfortable and the ones with soles like this are not heavy at all. I only buy in the sale though!

Grenson make some nice shoes.

In terms of the style that's up to you, but practically speaking I'd want to know if the whole lace was changeable so that it could be made all black if preferred.

The name Solovair is a play on the words ‘sole of air’.

the soles are like DMs - full of air.

Solovair are the OG dr martens construction and manufacture retained in the uk now Dr M’s are owned by PE and manufactured overseas.

Grenson are great. I’ve got a pair of sandals that are 8ish years old and heavily worm. They are robust and well made.

I like the pair you’ve linked to. A bit different but not wildly so. I can see them looking v cool. So well made, interesting design and in the sale sounds like a result to me.

I also love grenson as a brand - and only buy in the sale or even the annual sample sale. They look heavy but they’re not like dr martens heavy at all - the soles are often actually really light. They’re amazing quality.

Solovair - they aware the original DM factory in Northants. Management but out when DM moved production abroad 15 or so years ago. They are a different style to Grenson, but it is an enduring one. I’d it’s not for you, fine. I’ve worn my Solovairs about 5 days a weeks October- April for 4 years, and they just look better with age. The quality of materials and construction is excellent.

Goodyear - make tyres, also inverted rubber vulcanisation, the processes which changes soft, sticky, natural rubber into hard, durable rubber. It’s not a huge stretch to think they they may be involved in shoe soles

As for the shoes the OP has posted. I don’t like them. I do love chunky shoes, but these are a chunk too far. I also don’t like the red lace running round the edge. It’s reminiscent of boat shoes, which is not a good association for me.

Haven’t bought before but like the look of Grenson - oft recommended by WearsMyMoney on insta and I love her style..

decent sale on those 👍

I own lots of Grenson (don’t have slim ankles!) and I love these ones. I’m tempted OP!

No from me. The boat shoe detail doesn't work on the style of the shoe. There's a reason they're in the sale.
If you love them, buy them.

A pp mentioned NPS Solovair.

I have Solovairs (boots) and love them. I've a couple of pairs of Grensons and don't love them as much, but it's an old and good British brand.

Very well made shoes but too chunky for me. Will be great for Autumnal weather and puddles though! TK Max do Grenson shoes sometimes if you're lucky.

My husband is a great fan of Grenson shoes and I agree that they are excellent quality, but Ive yet to see a pair of their women’s shoes which don’t look like men’s. Im afraid I think these ones are particularly ugly.

I have Grenson boots & hate them! They are hard & v stiff leather. Zero arch support inside & just generally unconfortable to wear

Luckily i bought them in a sale so not as bad as it might have been but i'm looking for new boots this winter as i can't bear the thoughts of wearing them again

I expected a LOT more to be honest given their reputation

I'm sorry op those shoes look seriously uncomfortable!

Solovairs parent company NPS based in Northampton, used to make the original dr martens shoes & boots, back when d.m's were worth buying. Dr martens moved all their manufacturing to Asia to cut costs. NPS kept the original machinery, and Goodyear welting method and started producing their own range under the Solovair label, thus keeping the factory alive, and people in jobs! They're supposed to be far superior to d.m's produced now.

Thanks, I’m not a DM person so wouldn’t know that. Interesting and I do support British makers where I can

It is described as a very light sole despite looking chunky

My experience with the few pairs of Grensons I've owned (and subsequently sold on eBay) has not been positive.

They're neither particularly well made nor comfortable, and pale in comparison with Crockett & Jones, Tricker's and Joseph Cheaney, all of whom make fabulous-quality shoes and boots.

Grenson markets itself as making its shoes in the UK, but this isn't the case with all of its footwear. Only G One shoes and boots are made in the UK; the others are made "overseas".

Solovair is a much better brand. Their footwear is well made and comfortable.