Warfield & Grand Battery Boot Review: Tried and Tested

If you’re like me and you spend your days searching through boot brands and American heritage clothes, not much surprises you.

But when I heard of the new brand Warfield & Grand, I needed to learn more. 

They’re not new, per se, but they got their start as a Nordstrom brand and now they’re branching out into their own direct-to-consumer business. 

At the sub-$200 price point, they’re going against some heavy hitters—Thursday Boots included. 

I picked up the Warfield & Grand Battery boot to try out. So how does it stack up? Keep reading to get the scoop. 

Warfield & Grand Battery Boot Overview

Warfield & Grand boots are primarily Blake stitched, though a few models are made with rapid-Blake stitch construction, too. 

That doesn’t make too much of a difference to the casual wearer, especially since both are easy to get resoled if the need ever arises. 

But the Battery is a classic Blake construction, and it’s a slimmed and stylish take on the classic service boot. 

There are several leather options, but I opted for the wheat suede. Most Battery boots are two-toned, with a combination of standard leather and suede, but I prefer my boots to be consistent. 

Warfield & Grand also carry a moc-toe boot, a chukka, and another plain toe service boot that’s a little more sleek and dressy than the Battery. All of the boots appear to be built on the same last. At least, they’re all a very similar, low profile, and narrow shape.

You can consider Warfield & Grand a fashion brand. 

Things to Consider Before Buying Service Boots from Warfield & Grand

As I mentioned, Warfield & Grand is a fashion-forward brand. Their boots are well under $200, and the least expensive I’ve reviewed (other than boots with cemented construction). 

Their mission is value. With a leather lining, leather midsole and stacked leather heel, plus good quality suede, it’s pretty impressive what Warfield & Grand has been able to pack into such an inexpensive package. 

None of Warfield & Grand’s boots are made for working conditions—these are best kept to city streets. 

My Hands-On Review

First Impression

The wheat suede immediately stuck out to me as a unique color for a pair of boots, so I went ahead and picked them up. 

I’m really pleased with how they look. These boots are quite narrow and slim. That could be problematic if you have wide feet, but for my style, narrow is preferred. 

I was surprised to find that they’re Blake stitched, meaning I can get them resoled if the need ever arises. 

You can also find the Battery boot in two different leather options—both are mixed leather with suede panels and standard full grain leather uppers. I’m not really a fan of that mixed leather style, which is part of the reason I went with the straight wheat suede. 

This look is ideal for spring, and also works well throughout summer (if you’re brave enough to wear boots in the high heat). And I know the color will do well through the fall, too with lighter outfits. 

Overall, I really like the style of the Warfield & Grand Battery. Probably my only style-gripe is on the dark brown leather piping around the laces and ankle. I think the boot would look better if those edges were just painted or burnished, but that’s just a minor issue for me. 

Leather Quality and Care

The leather quality is what stands out the most for Warfield & Grand. I can’t speak to their more traditional leather options, but the wheat suede I got is quite nice. 

So far, it’s been quite resistant to scratches and knicks, and even the marks it has gotten have been easy to buff out with a suede brush. 

It’s quite soft and flexible, and I’ve been enjoying the leather lining. The lining is pretty low-grade leather, but I don’t mind that too much—it gets the job done and no one can see it. 

Otherwise, the leather on the Battery is my favorite part of the boot, and compared to other brands in the sub-$200 price range, I think Warfield & Grand has done an excellent job with their leather selection. 

Care for the suede is fairly easy. All you need is a suede brush and suede eraser. Big stains like oil will require the eraser, but for most scuffs, a brush will knock them out in no time. 

For a full breakdown, you can learn how to clean suede here. 

Sole

I have mixed feelings on the Battery sole, as there are some strong points and a few negatives. 

Let’s start with the negatives:

The insole is flimsy and not well secured. It’s glued to a synthetic fabric that offers little cushion. The footbed is leather lined, but the insole is my least favorite thing about this boot. It’s plenty comfortable, but it just doesn’t have the same level of quality as the rest of the boot. 

That said, the midsole is leather, and the heel is all stacked leather. Combine that with the Blake stitch construction, and you’ve got the makings of a solid boot. 

The Battery features a rubber lug outsole which is somewhat soft. This is great for added traction and shock absorption, though it’ll probably begin to wear down a bit quicker. 

For me, I’d gladly take the shock absorption over the bit of durability (to be clear, I’m not saying the outsole isn’t durable—it is). I’m on my feet a lot and put in many miles in a workweek, so comfort is a must. The Battery delivers on this front.

Fit and Sizing

I picked up my sneaker size, a 10.5, and the fit is spot on. These are comfortable right away, and given how narrow these are, I wouldn’t recommend the standard “half-size down for boots” method.

Just get your regular sneaker size and you should be happy. 

That said, there aren’t a ton of different sizes available for Warfield & Grand. They have the most popular sizes in full and half size options, but the brand only goes down to 8 and up to 12.

There are also no E wide sizes or above. So if you have wide feet, you’re out of luck here. 

Break-in Period

There was basically no break in period here. The suede was comfortable from the beginning and even after my first three miles in these, I didn’t experience any discomfort. 

What do Other Reviewers Say?

There aren’t a lot of reviews online for Warfield & Grand boots. From what I could find, people had basically the same reaction as I did: low-cost, but good quality boots. 

The brand has a decent selection of boots in a variety of classic leather options, so there’s a good chance you can find something you like. 

Warfield & Grand Battery Boot Alternatives

Thursday Boots President

The Thursday President is similar in shape and construction as the Battery boot from Warfield & Grand. It’s about $20 more expensive (at the time of writing, anyway), but that’s not a tremendous amount when you’re at this level of quality.

The Thursday President is a little more comfortable due to the synthetic foam midsole and footbed. Also, the President features a Goodyear welt rather than the Blake stitch, which should theoretically make it more water resistant. 

You’ll find several more types of leather available in the President, and a wider variety of sizes, too.

I think the only edge Warfield & Grand has over Thursday is in specific leather types. Thursday doesn’t offer anything like the wheat suede I have in the Battery boot. Based on that one data point, I’d venture to say that Warfield & Grand has a higher quality leather in their boot compared to Thursday. 

Grant Stone Diesel

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The Grant Stone Diesel is roughly double the cost of a Warfield & Grand, but I’m throwing the Diesel in as an alternative because it’s one of the best value boots I’ve ever seen. 

Grant Stone is making a boot that could rightfully be priced at $600, but they’re selling it in the mid-$300’s. 

Made with Horween Chromexcel leather, impeccable construction, and some really sleek styling, the Grant Stone Diesel is a fantastic choice for a plain toe boot if you’re willing to double your investment and get way more life out of your boots. 

My Thoughts Overall

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