I Love Your Boots! : Grinders

If ever there was a dilemma that faced a punk, rivethead, or goth, it would be the hunt for that perfect stompy boot. There are so many brands out there, it’s hard to know where to begin looking. But I’m here to help you in this journey through the land of leather and treads and point you in the right direction to finding that perfect boot. In this issue, I’m going to start with one of the most highly recommended combat style boot brands out there, Grinders. Grinders is a company started in 1965 in the United Kingdom, and they’ve been going strong ever since. They are well known for their sturdy leather construction and durability. The patented Grinder sole unit is sealed to the welt using the Goodyear welt process. This makes their boots extremely durable. Their unique air cushioned sole also ensures flexibility and comfort. These boots are made to last and they do.

“Grinder’s, Grinder’s!!!
GRINDERS!!! 12 fucking years,
my other boots only lasted a
measly 2 years.”
-Moses, Grinders fan.

Most Grinders’ boots have a steel toe, however, they do make one style (Cedric- 8 eye, ankle) that comes without a steel toe, if you prefer. The tread and sole on these boots are uber thick, ranging from 3⁄4 inch to 1.5 inches, giving you that much more distance between your feet and the ground. Grinders carries several styles in their Classic (combat style) line, such as the Alfred- 6 eye, ankle; Baron- 8 eye, ankle; Bulldog – 10 eye, ankle; Herald – 14 eye, calf; King- 20 eye, knee; and several more.

They’re not too shabby on colors either. They come in the standard black, of course, but also make red in various styles. Grinders are well known for their creative ruboff colors as well. These come in burgundy, blue and green. The ruboff color boots are some of the prettiest and coolest shoes I have ever seen.

Even though Grinders is renowned for their resilience, some have complained that their quality has diminished over the years, since most of their boots are now manufactured in China. But for those purists and those who only want the best UK quality boots, do not despair. The British Boot Co. still has Grinders manufactured in Northamptonshire, England. Because of this, they carry several funky and exclusive styles and colors, such as ruboff yellow; the Camden Boot – 10 eye with straps; Super King Boot – 26 eye; and The Queen – 30 eye. http://www.britboot. co.uk/ “I like Grinders. Unlike Docs, TUK, and London Underground, they last. The leather doesn’t crack, the seams hold up, the sole’s indestructible. Also, they take no time at all
to wear in. I bought mine and danced in them that night. This is the word of Toast”
-Toast, As Stated As far as my experience with Grinders goes, I have found their boots to be too wide for my feet. I have a very narrow foot, so my feet would sort of float in them when I tried them on. Because of this, those with narrow feet might have a hard time finding a good fit with these boots. However, they definitely had a good, solid weight to them and I could tell that they were skillfully made and were a quality shoe. Everyone I have talked to has raved about the excellence and durability of Grinders. And not only that, they look fucking cool too. I would highly recommend this brand for great stompy boots.

I bought [my] Grinders with a friend of mine who was retiring
his after 13 years of daily wear – and they weren’t even in that bad of shape.
Really, that is the best testimony! And they look great when I’m wearing a skirt!”
-Cyn, Grinders Fan

http://www.grinders.co.uk/ – Official Site