I have a pair of the AE Higgins Mill with Dainite and they are awesome. AE offers sales periodically and if you wait, you can pick them up for about $300. I even have the one with the commando type sole that I picked up for $270.

I've had my Higgins Mill for three years now. Very soft and comfortable leather uppers. The leather lining makes the interior smoother and more comfortable than an Iron Ranger. A great casual use leather boot that you can fly in (no steel shank). The Iron Ranger in comparison is a more rugged work boot, with thicker leather, and much stronger stitching. I Love both of them, and happy I got them both on sale.

I have Allen Edmonds dress shoes and I love them.. Some I have had almost 30 years and they still look like new and are uber comfortable. I would suggest going to an Allen Edmonds store to get purely fitted, it's nice to know you are getting the exact size and width that will make the shoe the most comfortable le. Plus, Allen edmonds offers re-construction services where they take the shoe, replace the sole and do any work needed to the shoe..

Another guy here with both the AE Higgins Mill and a GS Diesel. I love both, but if I'm on my feet all day or traveling, Higgins Mill hands down. It's lighter and more comfortable (the GS is surely built more rugged, but I'm not doing hard labor) and the wood shank is clutch at the airport. Being TSA pre-check yet forgetting you have a steel shanked boot on is especially annoying. The Higgins is also that perfect middle ground between dress and work boot.

Allen Edmonds does a great job re-crafting a majority of the shoes that they sell. This includes styles that are discontinued. Making them, over time, the better deal.

I paid $190 (no not seconds) for my AE Higgens Mill on FleaBay (brand new) in Natural Chromexcel with Dainite soles. I have been wearing them almost everyday, sometimes for 10+ hours a day and they are beyond awesome. I also have a pair of AE Alpine with the Vibram Arctic Grip Rubber Sole, the grip on snow and ice is amazing. Although the Grant Stone look great at the end of the day I will pas and buy the AEs on sale or even seconds and support an American employee.

I've 7 pairs of Higgins Mills. My CXL's have survived the ultimate test - The French Quarter - more than once. Got two pairs in shell and look great. They are very comfortable. I wear an E, which many boot manufacturers do not offer.

I think you've brought up a point that I don't believe other boot-tubers have mentioned; the Grant Stone Diesel boot is extremely similar looking to the Allen Edmonds' Higgins Mill boot. Similar enough that it's not really practical for most people to own both. But since you are BootSpy, I could see for the sake future comparisons and reviews keeping a Higgins Mill around, maybe return that one and get a different colour? If not, maybe perhaps then the Landon Cap-Toe boot instead? I personally think the Higgins Mill is a more elegant version of the Diesel Boot, the lighter weight, lack of a leather midsole, less stitching, wooden shank, smaller eyelets etc. I think the Higgins Mill is a shoe-in (no pun intended) for dress-casual offices. I think it can reach above jeans and perhaps enter the realm of slacks and other dress pants wear. The Diesel on the other hand is like a more rugged version of the Higgins Mill, heavier, thicker leather, mid leather sole, more stitching, metal shank, bolder eyelets etc. Works well with jeans, can pull off dress-casual offices as well, but I don't think it can quite leave the realm of jeans. Then again, I knew a guy who wore Iron Rangers with khakis in the office 5 days a week, so maybe I'm over analyzing this.

Bought the Allen Edmonds for $350 on sale, my first nice boot purchase of any kind ever. I was happy they had E width in stock. Looking forward to getting them hopefully Friday!

Allen Edmonds seems to have sales pretty regularly. At the sale price I think the Higgins Mill is a good boot. I wouldn’t pay full retail though. I purchased the Higgins Mill a couple months back and have been wearing it 2-3 times a week. Really like it. Really comfortable. Love the suede tongue and the tongue stay loop. I think it fills the dress/casual spot nicely. Does it need triple stitching for light duty? Time will tell. Send it back or not? For me I like having variety in my closet, trying the different brands. Since most of the Higgins Mill are chromexcel I made the decision to let this model be my brown CXL boot. There are so many other options in the Grant Stone Diesel that I’ll pick a more unique leather when I go buy the Diesel boot.

I have has my Higgins Mill boots for 4 years and love them. The Grant Stones look very similar, possibly they are slightly ‘better’ but either would be great. I have a pair of grant stone chukkas and I am a big fan of the company and their build and quality. GS does not cut corners by using fiberboard heels or heel counters for example). I would rather support US workers but at least GS is a very ethical company and the components are US or globally sourced. Rose Anvil on youtube cut a grant stone boot in half and it is built beautifully. All that said my higgins mills are probably my favorite boots. Very good review, thank you.

Higgins Mill is my go to everyday boot. I have Whites and Redwings. But the Allen’s are so comfy and just easier to throw on In a hurry. Broke in great and I think go with more. The others r too rugged looking with some outfits. Only complaint is laces stink. Also, half off price all the time so just be patient.

Unlike other shoe/boot brands, Allen Edmonds has regular discounts/sales. I have never paid full price for any of my AE shoes/boots. Anyone reading the comments, undecided on whether to purchase a pair of Higgins Mills, if you’re near a store, go and try on a pair. They are one of my most comfortable pair of boots I own and I have quite a few from different brands. I like them so much that I have 3 pairs of HMs and will be getting my 4th at the shell cordovan trunk show in a couple weeks.

The AllenEdmonds looks way better the toe looks much nicer and the sole is shaped better Allen Edmonds are the best out there.

I own 5 pair of AE including some newer Higgins Mills. I paid $159 for Factory seconds with a Military discount. I have no regrets and am enjoying the break in, however, if I had $500, I would 100% pick up some Truman Boots.

Would you say AE and Thursday boots sizing is similar…would an 11 Higgins Mill be same as an 11 Thursday Captain?

I just checked on AE's site and you can get seconds of these for $300 or less in case anyone was wondering.

I personally preferred the look of the Higgins Mill. Thought they had a finer shape, wouldn’t miss the steel toe. They can be bought in sale from time to time.

Excellent review as usual,by the way keep the Edmonds let go of Diesels.With all do respect,Allen Edmonds are superior !

The problem I have with Chinese boots is the lack of integrity that comes with them. They are masters of deception, whether it's point blank lying about the materials they use or making something look like something it's not. As with Chinese metal/steel products, it's really hard to tell the difference in grades of leather if care is taken to have one material emulate another. Having purchased nearly a billion dollars worth of Chinese equipment over my career in manufacturing, I don't trust them. Maybe they're good. I could be wrong. But, I'll spend $80 more to know what I'm getting and to know it was made by an American craftsman rather than by Chinese child slave labor. But, you're exactly right, it just depends on what's important to you. That's just my position. Not knocking anyone who differs.

Oh, and for $445 you can basically buy the Whites Main Street boots. Seems like another alternative if one wants to stay with purchasing made in the USA boots.

Alan Edmonds all the way! Made in USA!

For the record, people would still watch your videos without the click-baity thumbnails and titles.

How is sizing between Allen Edmond vs Grant Stone?

One thing about the AE boots to consider is factory rebuilding. GS doesn’t offer it, but AE does. In my area, good cobblers are hard to find. I’ve had a couple pairs of shoes ruined by poor cobbler-ing (?). The fact that I can drop my AE in the mail and get it back as good as new is a huge selling point for me.

I find my Higgins Mill are more comfortable than Grant Stone. My one issue is that Allen Edmonds has a lot of quality control issues. I lucked out, but that is holding me back from buying more in the future.

So I have 2 pairs of Grant Stone Diesel boots and 2 pairs of Higgins Mill boots. They are quite different on your feet. The Higgins Mill is much more comfortable to walk around in and has very soft supple leather. The Diesel boot is thicker leather, thicker sole, and steel shank and very solid construction but not as comfortable as the Higgins Mill boot. The Diesel also has a wider toe box and looks more casual than the Higgins Mill. Both are awesome boots and I agree that you don't need both. You really should buy a Higgins Mill and wear it more to appreciate the difference when you walk around. Also, the Higgins Mill comes in many more sizes and widths and you can actually try them on in a physical store. The Allen Edmonds factory seconds are a great deal and I picked up a pair of new Higgins mill boots for around $200 and I can't really tell why they are seconds.

Grandstone is definitely better made the thing about Allen Edmunds is of course the sales and you can send them back to be recrafted. I have experience with both great video!

Do you think the Grant Stone Edward are more comparible to the Higgins Mill than the Diesels? Either way I agree the Grant Stone are a better option even if they were priced the same.

I recently got the Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill recently in their sale for $280. I also ordered the grant stone diesel in black. Being a tweener, sometime 10, sometimes 9.5 I ordered the 9.5. That size was too large. I had no problem with the return, and exchanged them for a size 9. Unfortunately the right boot arrived significantly smaller than the left. So they will need to be returned again. I may ask for a refund rather than an exchange. The Allen Edmonds have been great….9.5 was spot on, and a comfortable wear

The grant stone diesel heel cap is fake, though, which is not as thick as the rest of the upper leather. If you remove the heel cap on the grant stone you’re looking right at at the heel counter. The Higgins mill has the upper leather all around the whole boot with the heel cap stitched over it. Meaning that if you remove the heel cap on the higgins mill you’re looking at the upper leather underneath it, with the heel counter still behind the upper leather. That would move me to the Higgins mill, personally. .

Higgins on SALE right NOW for 379 April 2024 I bought a pair of these. I'm gonna return them. Fiberboard heal. It doesn't have a mid soul. Why pay 400 for a new boot that needs to be upgraded ? Sad that it is American made and cost cutting corners are in play.

Buy Allen Edmonds factory 2nd wait for the sales with extra 30% off Grant stone is not bad but I pick AE

I watched reviews, read up on the Allen Edmonds manufacturing methods and history, it all sounded great. So I bought a pair of Chukka Boots, great product, great purchasing experience overall, I decided to buy more shoes. Bought a pair of Dalton Wingtip Dress Boots. I received 2 different color boots, also one of the boots seemed to be a different vintage or much older and had been on display for some time. Multiple price tickers attached and removed, physical dimensions were different, a different cut of the same style. I called customer service, they apologized and said they would send out another pair, free shipping. Got the next pair, shoes are with out a doubt reject, factory second shoes. I wear a size 9.5, the shoes I received are a size 8 or possible even smaller, but marked as a 9.5 D The shoes were also misshapen. The left looked like a right, the toe was curved outward. The worst quality I've seen from any shoe company, shameful quality.

Keep it got mine last December, once broken in they feel like butter and look good! Mine size 12D purchased at UTC Mall store in San Diego they are great folks!

I am very curious why you would have bought a boot that looks almost identical in the same color, instead of trying a different color to add some variety? I have a pair of Higgins Mill in natural Cxl leather that I picked up 2nd hand a few years ago. They look awesome and are super comfortable, unfortunately I need a smaller size. The leather lining is really nice vs. my Red Wings that don't have that.

Great review love the Higgins Mill. I saw you video on Velasca hiking boots. I bought a pair of dark brown waxed flesh after I saw the video and LOVE them. They have a great feel and awesome look!!!

One question: my AE Higgins Mill size is 12 E. Do you have a sizing recommendation for the 79 last? Thanks!

I have a pair ae Landons which is the cap toe version of the Higgins Mill. Great boot. The problem I have with grant stone is sizing. They say go a 1/2 size down. Im a 13d. They dont make a 12.5. Company said 12e would fit me. Frankly I dont trust that recommendation, or im not willing the spend $400 to find out when i know AE will fit correctly.

i use mine in the winter only. they keep the heat inside very well. that being said, i had hot feet wearing them over the summer and would not recommend to use during warm weather.

Allen Edmonds all the way. Wait for their sales. Plus you know for a decent price they will recraft them for you when the time comes. No need to look for a capable cobbler.

I pick the Parkhurst Allen in CXL over the Higgins Mill, I prefer an unlined boot though and a stronger shank and Parkhurst is made in USA

Is the sizing the same on your grant stones as the Higgins mill? I'm thinking of buying some Higgins mills but not sure what size to get them in. My grant stone boots are 10D and I also wear a 10B/D Alden Indy.

Love my AE Higgins Mill.

Since you already have the diesel, returning the Higgins Mill is probably the right call. They are so similar to the point that they are redundant. I did something similar a couple of years ago. I bought those Higgins Mill on sale but accidentally ordered the wrong width. In the meantime I realized I could buy 2 pairs of Beckett Simonon for less than the price of the Higgins Mill. So that's what I did. Returned the wrong size Higgins Mill, and bought 2 pairs of BS. Their Lopez boot is similar enough to fill this role in my wardrobe. No regrets.

Thanks watching this made me realize I don’t need this boot.

Alen Edmonds is a winner because they offer large (US 14, 15) sizes for their boots.

Both are excellent choices for a standard brown service boot, but have one or the other. I'd rather support Grant Stone because I like the guys who own it and they're a much smaller company. The Higgins Mill is no slouch though, great boot as well.

The unstructured toes on my Higgins Mills are collapsing and look ugly (though some find that look trendy). However, the 1757 last is super comfortable. I wore my 1757 last AE Patton boots today for 10 hours at the office, finishing lecturing on my feet for 1.5 hours, and my feet feel great. Grant Stone's QC blows away AE! Why should "buy American" require acceptance of sloppy QC. If you want made in USA, go Parkhurst!

Crimson CXL is GS version of Brown CXL, just like GS Dune = Natural and GS Maduro Shell = Cigar Shell. Maybe it's just for branding but they're the same leather

Is this the weatherproof version?

So if the insole is not leather what is it?

Got Allen Edmonds for 350 on sale..awesome boots and yes, I would rather support the economy of the free Western world..

Hey-O Keep them both you’ve got them keep them your young enough to justify it!!

I have found the leather quality on all AE boots to be below standard. You wear them once for a day and the grain looks like they are months old. They are comfortable and feel almost like tennis shoes but the leather they use is not the best quality compared to others in the same price range.

Another nice video William...! That boot almost reminds me of a pair of Grant Stones, very similar look...GG...IN

William reviews any boot. Me: i really should get the Grant stone Diesel

Return it and buy the White's Main Street Dress Cap on sale for $341 or plain for $319. Surely it's better than Grant Stone Diesel.

The thread of the sole looks like the kind Thursday uses for their boots.

I find it disgusting to compare USA made to Chinese made grant stones Yes both are good but I think there's a moral reason to always buy USA made if you live in the US, it supports businesses that are doomed to could go outta business cause everything has became outsourced and stimulates the economy and support american workers, just BUY ALLEN EDMONDS... If I was British I'd buy British brands like CHEANEY or any other European brands obviously It's not the fact of is it important to ant of us... its the fact that why is it NOT important to you? 9:35

I own the Diesel in CXL 8 and have tried the Higgins Mill in AE stores a couple of times. The quality and craftmanship of Grant Stone is far superior to Allen Edmonds, without any doubt. I'd definitely prefer the Diesel. Nick from Stridewise has also complained about loose grain in the Higgins Mill, and in forums people complain about their QC.

Most comfortable boot I own.

Do not return them I just saw a video where a guy explained that if ppl keep doing this that Allen Edmonds will most likely move to cement construction because their factories are filled with “flawed boots” because ppl return them plz don’t do it just sell them off grailed

Dude, i love the channel. Really good content and well made. But you gotta cool it with these thumbnails. Those mouth-agape, wide-eyed thumbs, "fake surprise" looks don't match the channel. Your content is about quality footwear, men's fashion, but those thumbs are lowest common denominator stuff bro. You can go higher and do better than that.

Companies like AE stand behind their product and offer no question returns, which comes with a price, and which relies upon the good faith of their customers not to abuse the policy. While your video is informative and well-produced, it kind of seems like you bought the AE knowing you were going to return it. You already had the Grant Stone, and you know enough about boots that you knew exactly what you were buying with the AE before it ever shipped to you. If so, not cool.

im pretty sure "Crimson" cxl is actually just brown. Likewise "Dune" and natural.

Allen Edmonds are "Made in the USA" in loose terms. The leather and parts are shipped to the dominican republic to be nearly half made, then sent back to the US to be finished and soled. They do this to save $$$. Essentially squeezing both the craftsman and buyer for every last penny. I do prefer to buy made in USA, but that really grinds my gears. Side-by-side, the Grant Stones even look superior too! I would've made the same choice.

I have these in their shell (after trading in my cxl) and they're both pretty comfortable. My dad has the cxl version, has lasted him many years now. Just a great casual boot. Definitely get them on sale or seconds.

Not sure this is relevant but I knew an Alan Edmunds once. He was an extremely nasty piece of work and got sent to prison for grievous bodily harm after going mental in a Chinese takeaway in Tipton. I never saw him after that.

Who says that these are considered rugged? Is this you or is AE making this claim? And I walk and work in the snow a lot and Danita’s are horrible in snow. Yes they slip worse than vibrams but the really bad part is that snow packs onto the bottom and it’s a pain to get off. I have scrapers by all of my doors and the brushes don’t get the snow off very well. My vibrate lug soles are much easier to clean out with the scrapers.

Great video as always 💪 Diesel boot sounds better overall imo

grant stones are put together in China with all the parts from USA between Chicago and Wi parts

The Ae boot looks better. Something about the grant stone makes it look like clown shoes I think it's the welt

Outerknown all day!!!!

Perhaps do a give away! And I’m not just saying that because they are my size!

Stop throwing yer hands around. I'm getting seasick.

Allen edmonds has been making “rugged boots” for 50 years.

Don't like the suede tongue.

Okay back to redwings

Avoid the Higgins Mill waterproof with commando sole: it’s like an overpriced lightweight bulbous leather sneaker

I got a pair for ~$160 after tax

Return them and try something else.

yup return them bc that grant stone are gonna be slimmer and lighter than the allen.

Grant Stone made in China. Never gonna put a pair on my feet. There are US and Canadian made boots out there that are awesome! I’ve paid the money for boots made by my countrymen and next door neighbours with materials made in North America to boot!

Stop wearing jeans. They look terrible

skinny jeans, lol

That is plastic coated leather.

For guys who need a boot with a very wide toe box do you think the Allen Edmonds or Grant Stones would fit better?