Are Blundstone Boots Worth the Hype? Review + Waterproof Test
Are Blundstone Boots Worth the Hype? Review + Waterproof Test
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The Blundstone 550’s in rustic brown is certainly an attractive boot, but does it live up to the hype? This specific style is a 585 and *appears* to be a nubuck leather which to be 100% I didn’t even notice right away because I impulse bought them and then tossed them on my feet.
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I have had a pair of 500’s for 22 years and the sole will not wear out – trust me – if anything the elastic may need to be repaired. I love your video but you are overthinking it! Buy them they are Aussie legends.
Terrible boots. Please don’t buy them. They suffer from hydrolysis where the soles turn to dust (disintegrates).
You will then find they are unable to be resoled.
Not worth the money!
Don’t waste your time with Blundstone, they are not Australian made anymore. Get Mongrels, they are way more durable and comfortable and have a side zip depending on the model you get.
I buy Australian-made Redback boots, which are far more comfortable and durable.
Aren’t they on a loose side because they don’t have laces ??
But are they pee proof?
Blundstones used to be made in Australia. They are now made in Thailand and Vietnam, and the quality has really dropped. Redbacks are much much better and 100% Made In Australia (Sydney), and much more comfortable. Blundstones are a poor man’s Redback.
Just watched a site that resoled theirs
I love my Blundstones. The only thing about them is after a while they get a bit loose. Extra pair of socks fixed that.
Imo red back boots is more comfortable,cheaper and actually made in Australia instead of China.
I had a few of them over the years when they were still made in australia. they are ok, especially if your feet are kind of normal size without extra meat. they just advise you to buy half size up if you have relatively wide feet. One of the mysteries of the Blundstones is somehow the soles just go tofu or something. it doesn’t happen all the time but i have my share of experience of the sole disintegrate on me. When blundstones no longer MIA, I gave up on them.
Can Google read my mind now too! I was literally just looking at 2 people I know that had these and was wondering about them but never said a word…so creepy
blue steel boots are best ………just ask derek zoolander
They are the just crap.
You will have over paid for them.
In Australia most people DO NOT wear these.
We can buy them for less then $100Aus.
You really should try blue steel boots.
As most in Australia wear blue steels
try some Rossi boots (Rossiter), very similar look to the Blundstones & still made in Australia.
i had a very early pair of blundstone hiking boots double weldt(?) sherpa sole screwed on Very tough,very heavy and due to the sealed tongue,,,waterproof.I used beeswax to waterproof as dubbin is hydroscopic.The new boots are garbage.
Come to Canada, you think you’ve seen everyone wear them there? Wait till you come here. Either Alberta or BC is where 1 out of 4 people are wearing or own one👍🏼
How much
One step away from velcro fasteners on your shoes . . .
Redbacks are built much better and they are less expensive. And made in Australia 🇦🇺
The elastics in these ones are technically not waterproof, but if you get the winterized ones, they are fully waterproof! 🙂
Why are we spending so much time talking about a pair of boots……… and why is Youtube recommending this hippie bs to me?
7:24 Omg the birds that sound is like music to my ears it’s winter in Canada
No. Me and my daughter had wear in snow and when we got home our socks were wet .
My four year old Blundstones remain completely waterproof. A wipe of dubbin ever few weeks keeps them looking good
Engagement boots?
Ive had mine for 4 years and the sole from my left boot started to lift. Blundstone is sending me new boots through warranty😊 the leather went before the sole. The leather is not under warranty.
I’ve been using the workboot version for the last 15 years and have noticed the quality slipping. I bought a regular pair for my wife about 3 years ago and the sole on one of the boots completely disintegrated. It was worth the hype maybe 15 + years ago but not anymore. Doc Martens are still great quality and I own a pair for everyday use.
If you call customer service they will you a new pair
Prefer Redback boots(Australian brand). For me and many others, they are much better made and better quality leather!
HYDROLYSIS AND POLYURETHANE EXPLAINED
Many of our shoes have the soles attached to the uppers by a process where 2 materials are brought together in a mould, the resultant chemical reaction forms polyurethane (PU). the use of polyurethane makes a lightweight flexible sole which is not only shock absorbent but also extremely hard wearing, that’s why polyurethane is ideal for shoes.
One of the main technical challenges with polyurethane is overcoming an ageing deterioration known as ‘hydrolysis’. Hydrolysis is the chemical breakdown of the PU polymer and the resulting physical breakdown or crumbling of the PU sole by the attack of water (usually in vapour form), occurring over a period of several years (even when the shoes are in store!).
This process is accelerated by warmth and high humidity. It will, therefore, happen more quickly in tropical climates, but also in confined spaces (such as lockers) if the safety shoes are put away damp. In the most advanced state of hydrolysis, the PU sole will lose all its physical strength, thus cracking or crumbling.
G’day mate, I have a pair of dress boots. Once upon a time when Blundstones were completely made in Tasmania, before being made in China, their dress boots, were called ‘yard boots’. They were used around stockyards, as was the R.M. Williams, Yardboot.
R.M. Williams, is the name synonymous with these style of boots here in Australia. Blundstone was like the poor cousin.
You can see why today, when you look up the prices for R.M. Williams boots, and see why cash strapped Aussies are going for blundstones instead. You can wear yard boots out in the mud, bring em in, and give a quick dry and polish, and you’re good to go to the local ball.
None of these are good boots to go hiking in, on unbroken ground, here in Australia we call them ‘ankle snappers’.
For hiking or really rough terrain, you need something with real lace up support. These boots are good for flat areas, factories, truck drivers, and all round work, etc. As the old name said, ‘Yard Boot’
Did they also sell boots for men?
thanks for the review! as far as re-soling. generally, you want the upper to match the sole. you’ll notice heavy duty logging boots or your wolverines have a stiff upper to match the stiff stole. as a boot ages, the sole wears & the upper softens. you can get a couple re-soles out of a proper pair of boots. after that, the upper is too supple & stretches to accommodate a stiff new sole. you can definitely re-sole blunnies or tennies or anything using glue & an outsole, but the upper will be too flexible & unsupportive to function as attended. just like anything, there are guidelines, it there aren’t any hard & fast roles in real life. my advice? by barely used pairs of blunnies on ebay. i bought one pair for $50 & one for $70 that were in great condition. heck of a lot cheaper than a new pair.
& even though people complain that these are no longer made in australia, don’t let that deter you. they’re lightweight, flexible, easy to put on, casually fashionable, good for hiking, working, or even quick jogs to catch the mailman. breathe well, water resistant, & comfortable. i wouldn’t pay $200 for a pair, but they’re a great boot.
& idgaf, but if you want cool points, vibram is pronounced "vee-bram." 🙂
i worked in these on airport ramps for 2 years with these & i can attest that water gets through after about a half hour without treated leather & sealed seams.
10-15 years ago these were a good product. The first pair lasted ~5years of hard use. Solidly made with thick leather. The sole and heel eventually wore down but appeared to be dense material all the way through. The second pair I bought were like a totally different product. The first thing I noticed was they were much lighter in weight. The leather seemed thinner too. Within 2 years the heels had worn through and were foam filled—obviously unrepairable. Never bought a pair since. I think this company leans heavily on their name and prior reputation. There are much better alternatives IMHO.
Is this a joke? Poor little twit doesn’t have a clue.
Don’t roll your pants up. Lame. 😂
Man I don´t see a problem wearing the same boots of your gf just go for whatever you like
hipsters
+1 on not having to slace. Yeah, can’t replace the lowers… I have wolverine 1000 miles but the convenience of these for $200..love them.
After trying to break in a pair of DM’s for months, I gave up and bought Blundstone 550 rustic brown. They arrived today and I went for an hour walk and kept them on all day. They are incredibly comfortable and no breaking in or blisters!! Selling the DM’s. Blundstones are amazing! Love them! I am a UK size 3 and they fit perfectly:)
Redback boot is nice as well, more comfortable and made in Australia
There are several brands of Aussie boots. I own two pair Redbacks, and a pair of Mongrel. The Mongrel are my latest. Shipped from OZ. All them.
Five years on no worries.
There are tons of products to keep them water resistant. I use saddle soap for cleaning. I use Huberds “Shoe Grease” for weather. I live in Boston.
could not do this to my own shoes
Welcome to 1990’s Australian footwear… before Blundstone sold out, fired all 300 Aussie Staff and moved to India. Sales dropped so much they came back to Australia, upped the prices by 200% and now make them in Vietnam. I own a dress pair because they are comfortable, but they are no where close to the quality they were when I was growing up… when literally everyone owned a pair. The hype is they are an average boot now, which isnt saying much seeing as most boots are either utter garbage or priced so high only the 1% can afford them. Literally the ONLY reason they started selling them overseas was because they pissed off Aussies so much, that it allowed RM Williams to step in to fill the boot void, who got a contract with the Defence force to supply ALL their dress boots, then artificially inflated their prices to appear as some kind of upper class boot. Genius marketing really. Traditionally Aussie made Blundstones WERE excellent boots back in the day, but they got greedy and the quality dropped, now they are average at best. By the way, they are only waterproof if you polish them with nugget, KIWI preferably. Americans, just like with the Ugg Boot, take our lower class shit and think its gold.
I got the same pair (in women’s) and they are painful! I’ve worn them about a day and half in total, and I was almost at the point of blisters on the very bottom of my heel. I’m not sure if I got the wrong size. They feel snug (not too tight; I still have toe room) when I wear them with thick socks, but they feel quite roomy with normal/thin socks so I didn’t want to size up. With thick socks, my heels rub against the back of the shoe and hurt. With thin socks, my heels don’t rub much but instead the back of the shoe digs into the back of my calf and chafes it. I’ve read a few people complaining of initial discomfort that later resolved I’m still pretty nervous, especially after this guy said he had no break in period! Has anyone else had a similar experience and if so, did they eventually break in?
Redback are better all around boots., in my opinion .,Blundstone seem not the quality anymore….
Blundstone are great for farming. I swear by them. They are from Australia but they are not made here anymore. The other brand that I reckon is ok is Rossi
I clicked off when you said you bought the same boots as your gf
Probably not for backpacking.
I hiked the AT and never saw them. My Danner Acadias will run right over those shoes.