Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill vs Grant Stone Diesel Boot

99 facts in comparison

Based on 242 Reddit opinions. Too close to call.

242 opinions
Higgins Mill
Reddit's Pick
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
77%
B
Based on
197 Redditors
Winner

Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill

~$550
49 opinions

tldr; American dress shoe/boot mainstay. Recraftable, wide size range. Quality dipped after acquisition.

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VS
GS
Diesel Boot
77%
B
Based on
690 Redditors

Grant Stone Diesel Boot

~$334.95
193 opinions

tldr; Best value in goodyear welt boots. Chinese made but excellent quality. Diesel boot is the standout.

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Leather QualityConstructionComfort & Break-inDurabilityFit & Sizing
LEA
CON
❤️COM
🔧DUR
📐FIT
52
Points
73
Points

Score by Category

Leather Quality
33%100%
Construction
38%82%
Comfort & Break-in
100%43%
Durability
33%100%
Fit & Sizing
40%24%

Why is Stone Diesel Boot better than Edmonds Higgins Mill?

  • Better leather quality (100% vs 33%)
  • Better construction (82% vs 38%)
  • Better durability (100% vs 33%)
  • Better value (89% vs 67%)
  • Best price/performance ratio at $350
  • Used pairs $175-$225
  • Leo last: size down 0.5 from Brannock
Based on 887 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call

Reddit prefers the Higgins Mill

Winning by 0 points (77% vs 77%)

Better comfort
Better fit
Made in Wisconsin
High confidence (887 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 887 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Higgins Mill
7.7/10
197 mentions
Diesel Boot
7.7/10
690 mentions
COMFORT
Higgins Mill10.0/10
Diesel Boot4.3/10
CONSTRUCTION
Higgins Mill3.8/10
Diesel Boot8.2/10
VALUE
Higgins Mill6.7/10
Diesel Boot8.9/10
LEATHER QUALITY
Higgins Mill3.3/10
Diesel Boot10.0/10
FIT
Higgins Mill4.0/10
Diesel Boot2.4/10
DURABILITY
Higgins Mill3.3/10
Diesel Boot10.0/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Higgins Mill: 2|Diesel Boot: 4
ComfortHiggins Mill
Higgins Mill100%
Diesel Boot43%
ConstructionDiesel Boot
Higgins Mill38%
Diesel Boot82%
ValueDiesel Boot
Higgins Mill67%
Diesel Boot89%
Leather QualityDiesel Boot
Higgins Mill33%
Diesel Boot100%
FitHiggins Mill
Higgins Mill40%
Diesel Boot24%
DurabilityDiesel Boot
Higgins Mill33%
Diesel Boot100%
Higgins Mill77%
Diesel Boot77%
Dead heat - too close to call

Key Specs

SpecAllen Edmonds Higgins MillGrant Stone Diesel Boot
Brand
Allen Edmonds
Grant Stone
Manufacturer
Allen Edmonds
Grant Stone
Color
Brown
Various
Weight
4.1 pounds
1 lb 15 oz (per boot)
Last
Leo last

Key Highlights

Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
🇺🇸 Made in Wisconsin
🎨 CXL and Weatherproof options
🪡 GYW construction, resoleable
⚠️ QC concerns post-2017 acquisition
💰 Best during sales at $250-300
Grant Stone Diesel BootWinner
🥾 Best price/performance ratio at $350
💰 Used pairs $175-$225
📏 Leo last: size down 0.5 from Brannock
⚠️ Insole glue may fail after 4+ years
👍 Storm Suede praised for ankle wrap

Topic Battles

Higgins Mill: 2|Tied: 0|Diesel Boot: 3
Leather Quality
Diesel Boot wins
Higgins Mill
33%
Diesel Boot
100%
Construction
Diesel Boot wins
Higgins Mill
38%
Diesel Boot
82%
❤️Comfort & Break-in
Higgins Mill wins
Higgins Mill
100%
Diesel Boot
43%
🔧Durability
Diesel Boot wins
Higgins Mill
33%
Diesel Boot
100%
📐Fit & Sizing
Higgins Mill wins
Higgins Mill
40%
Diesel Boot
24%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill

Best Praise
+6 pts
Bummer. I really like my Higgins Mills
r/goodyearwelt
View
Top Criticism
+14 pts
I’ve encountered problems with ‘off the shelf’ Higgins Mill and other AE products. I’m also not a big fan of how they completely ruin the ‘weatherproof’ cxl, might as well remove the Horween name from that garbage. However, let me tell you that my shell Higgins Mill that they made when I placed an order (7 weeks) is one of the best boots I’ve ever worn. And it’s a damn shame that one has to pay $1k just for them to get the basics correct. Those off the shelf HM should be made just as well as the custom ordered shell pair I received, and it’s garbage that there is such a difference.
r/goodyearwelt
View
3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Grant Stone Diesel Boot

Best Praise
+8 pts
I tried the diesel and loved it. I’ve stuck with them for dress boots and have 3 pair. No issues. Made pretty solid. The Dainite sole is slippery when wet and is rigid. I usually go for dainite but I think I’d rather have a leather sole. But I have 2 dainite soles. There are sales throughout the year. I hear their b-grades are a steal and nothing really wrong with them from what people have reported.
r/malefashionadvice
View
Top Criticism
+6 pts
That's not Grant Stone's Diesel boot, that's their Cap Toe Boot.
r/goodyearwelt
View
3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
Grant Stone Diesel Boot
$270$360$450$540Jul '25Jul '25Aug '25Oct '25Nov '25Nov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Apr '26Low: $356.96Low: $287.05Current: $550Current: $334.95
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
All-time low: $276.5(2021-04)
Grant Stone Diesel Boot
All-time low: $154.95(2023-10)

Which is Better?

Too Close to Call

Both products have nearly identical approval ratings (77% vs 77%). Choose based on your specific needs and preferences.

Why Higgins Mill
  • 🇺🇸 Made in Wisconsin
  • 🎨 CXL and Weatherproof options
  • 🪡 GYW construction, resoleable
Why Diesel Boot
  • Better Value for Money (89% vs 67%)
  • More discussed (690 vs 197)

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

19%Positive
Positive
19%
Neutral
75%
Negative
6%
Based on 197 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

22%Positive
Positive
22%
Neutral
72%
Negative
6%
Based on 690 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill or Grant Stone Diesel Boot?
Based on 887 Reddit comments, both are similarly rated at 77% and 77% positive - too close to call a clear winner.
Should I buy Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill or Grant Stone Diesel Boot?
Both have similar approval ratings (77% vs 77%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill?
Reddit users highlight: Made in Wisconsin. CXL and Weatherproof options. GYW construction, resoleable. With 197 mentions and 77% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Grant Stone Diesel Boot?
Reddit users highlight: Best price/performance ratio at $350. Used pairs $175-$225. Leo last: size down 0.5 from Brannock. With 690 mentions and 77% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 887 Reddit comments: 197 about Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill and 690 about Grant Stone Diesel Boot. Data was sourced from Quality Boots community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

242 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 7/15/2026