Grant Stone Horse Bit Loafers

C.F. Stead Espresso Repello Calf Suede

boots_4_meabout 1 month ago

These are my most comfy loafers I have. I ordered TTS and they were loose so I used a Pedag tongue pad to lock in my foot. I normally prefer my footwear to be snug but the Travelers I had were too tight around the instep so I made sure these are a bit looser. It’s got a RO heel so it mitigates the heel slip. I wished they had more options for the leathers because these fit me well.

Taken on August 16, 2025

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Maker

Grant Stone

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Model

Horse Bit Loafers

Leather

C.F. Stead Espresso Repello Calf SuedeMade for Grant Stone

Last

Campus Last

US Men's Brannock: 10D

Campus Last: 10D

Go TTS. Perfect for higher insteps(like me). The penny loafer strap sits further up on the top of your feet so it’s not painful.

Sole

Leather SoleMade for Grant Stone

Heel

Dove Tail

Purchased from

Grant Stone

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More about this item

It seems like some people have questions about the difference between the Alexander’s last and the Campus last. Most people know the Traveler Loafers to be on the Alexander’s last and the HB loafers to be on the Campus last. I have tried both, now. I am a 10D brannock and I wear 9D’s on the Leo last. 8.5D on the Floyd last. 9E on the Alexander’s last(probably needed a 9.5D). 10D on the Campus last. I have found the loafers are hard to land on the right size. Since there aren’t laces on loafers the strap above your instep is the only thing keeping them on your feet without falling off. If it’s not perfect it will either cause you a lot of pain or your feet will be falling out with a ton of heel slip. Some may know, a month ago, I got the Midnight suede Travelers. I started out with the 9D but I had to get the 9E. However, the instep can be somewhat painful if I don’t stretch them the night before(probably due to my high instep). I still wanted loafers for the remaining rest of Summer so I ordered the Espresso suede HB loafers. I wanted to be able to wear them all seasons because I’m tired of lacing up my boots but that’ll change in the Winter time when it is colder. The fit is completely different. I ordered the 9.5D and 10D. Too bad they don’t have a midnight suede in the HB loafers because I love that suede. It’s my jam. On the Campus last(HB Loafers), the loafers strip sit a bit more forward on the top of my instep than on the Alexander’s last and it doesn’t have a leather heel counter(I don’t think the Travelers have a leather heel counter either but the Travelers heels feel more stiff) but on the heel of the HB loafers there is either a rough out pig leather patch or just “some” kind of rough out so even with the 10D my heels aren’t slipping. I’m not sure why GS chose to make the HB loafers with a rough out patch but I’m glad they did because this means you can size up and not experience heel slip(or not that much). I was hoping the HB loafers would work for me and I’m glad I bought two sizes this time. The 9.5D’s were snug and had maybe 1/8 of an inch in the front(not much) but the 10D has about 1/4 of an inch in the front(just enough). Not a major difference but the 9.5D are definitely more snug and shorter. The 10D fits a bit loose but that’s ok because in the winter time, I’ll be wearing them with DT wool socks or Grip 6 which is much thicker. Normally, with boots I prefer them snug, but I have learned that snug loafers can be painful in the instep. Especially if you intend to wear them with thin socks. I haven’t tried my HB loafers with thicker wool socks like DT, but I can for sure wear them with ONDO no show wool socks(without any issues) which is what I’ll be wearing majority of the times in loafers. On my midnight suede Traveler’s I found that I can’t wear them with socks and the fit is somewhat sloppy because it’s an E width. If I had a chance to do it all over again, I would try the 9.5D but GS is phasing out the midnight suede Travelers so who knows if I’ll ever get another chance. I wished they offered more suede options in the HB loafers because they’re nice. I enjoy this Campus last. There is a good amount of space in the ball of your feet but they feel like a “firm” handshake. My toes feel like they are able to splay out in the 10D HB loafers whereas the 9E Travelers are tighter around the ball. I’m sure the HB loafers will stretch out a little(because all leather stretches) but I’m not counting on it, because my midnight suede loafers were somewhat painful to wear with ONDO socks and they didn’t stretch much at all(even after stretching the instep for weeks- during the nighttime). All in all, if any of you are looking to get loafers for the rest of Summer buy 2 sizes. A size that you normally wear in GS boots and 1/2 size up on the Alexander last. If you go with the Campus last I would buy 1/2 a size down from your brannock size(aka TTS) or just go TTS. Try both sizes on and see how they’d fit. For me, I intend to wear them with socks so I think I chose right with the Campus last this time since I have a higher instep. If you have a lower I step you may get away with a more snug fit for both loafers but I’m not taking that chance again. I think that GS’s sizing suggestions are spot on with TTS especially with the HB loafers.

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