A hard crash course in my first long time wear of a heritage " work" boot, and im not going back

I got these as work boots. Im an auto painter, standing on cement and steel grates all day. I need support and comfort. Ive also worn them on hikes and hay rides. In mud and snow. A worn down wedge sole in ice and slush is death sentence FYI

The leather scratches, gouges, and cuts easily. Early on it bothered me but know it's just character. It started extremely stiff, really digging into my ankles but now i dont even think about it. Soft and supple. In terms of care i brushed them on Fridays. Early on i conditioned them in only the hot spots to try and soften them up, which worked great. Whenever i dumped large amounts of paint on them i wiped them down with lacquer thinner. I also did a more thorough cleaning shortly before picture days. Ive tried a few different conditioners. Bick 4 (ok), venetian shoe cream (my favorite), and smiths leather balm (i liked this one too especially as added protection in winter months) and brush brush brush. Even thought my 2 year old daughter to brush her and my boots. After a few months ive really loved how darker and more red the leather has become. The little speckles of paint and primer used to bother me but not anymore.

The grant stone sizing is accurate, listen to them and make sure you get an up to date brannock size . I didn't so im a half size to small, but the brass boot has plenty of room in the toe box so after the break-in they fit perfectly fine. Sizing correctly might have made break-in better but it really wasn't terrible for me. The support is good. Ankle support was very stiff at first but later because smooth and supportive. The wedge sole is the perfect balance of support and comfort for me. Early on i believe i could feel the shank on one foot but that went away after a month or so. Thick socks are a must for all leather insole boots in my opinion. Whoever said heritage boots are the most comfortable shoes you'll ever wear is a liar. Even after break-in i still have sore feet at the end of the day, but with sneakers i had sharp pains so i guess im happy to lose stepping comfort for no long lasting pain.

Great attention to detail, everything looked pristine. The wedge sole could have been more rugged and with better grip but it also wasn't really advertised as a work boot, which is how i used them. The sole and laces are the only things id change. I infact did change the laces to thicker waxed ones that just broke right at the end of the comp. Also the lining did bleed a little bit, luckily i just wore my work socks so who cares.

The sole doesn't have much lateral grip, the leather patch on it gets really ugly really quick, i wish it was thicker, and when worn down provides zero traction in wet snowy or icy conditions, though that could be a problem for all worn wedge soles. They're comfortable though

Ive loved the brass boots and ill continue to love them for many resoles. I love the design of grant stone products. the only problem i have with GS is they're options. I wish there was an MTO option because exactly what i want isn't available, so ill have to wait until it is