Blundstone Boots, worth it?

[soupmaker]

I've only got two winters out of a pair of UGG Bonham Chelsea boots. They've got really worn inside and out so need replacing. In so unimpressed with how worn they've got I'm not getting another pair of UGGs. So, wondered if a pair of Blundstone boots might be a better bet. They are seriously expensive so would need to be hard wearing, waterproof and warm for the school run, walks in the park and standing about watching DC playing sport all year round. Anyone got a pair? Do you rate them? Will they fulfil my brief?

I got some a few years ago, but returned them. I found them very stiff, and didn’t love the way they looked on me - much nicer on the Toast models! I think if you want heavy wear, and longevity, you possibly want something which has a sole that can be replaced by a cobbler. I can’t remember what the Blundstone soles are like? Might a DM Chelsea boot work? They tend to be very hard wearing, once you get past the breaking-in period.

I love mine, had them two years and they are holding up great. They are comfortable, waterproof (not deep puddles), warmish I would say, as long as you wear some decent wool socks with them. You can get a winter version that has sheepskin liners and are fully waterproofed.

I loved that my Blundies were comfy and very grippy in wet weather BUT for such a pricey boot, the sole can’t be repaired. Mine eventually just fell to bits So, great if you accept the soles will go long before the uppers. These days I wear DM ‘rigger’ type boots instead.

Yes, the sheepskin lined ones are lovely and warm. I’m very hard on footwear and they’re holding up well.

@Craftycorvid I would love a pair of warm rigger boots, the DM ones I saw had steel toe caps which I'm not keen on. I wore DMs for years as a student - had lace ups and a pair of Chelsea boots - and the bloody soles always split. Maybe 25 years on they are made better.

DMs are lighter and comfier now! I too remember the grim ‘breaking in’ stage!

@Craftycorvid Ha, ha, I remember well. Took bloody weeks to break them in. There is a DM store in the city I live in so may try some on to see if they'd do. Worry I may be too old for DMs!

I have DM furry lined Chelsea boots and no breaking in required. They are just about to start their third winter and still going strong. I found the blundstones a quite wide ankle fit so several different pairs have gone back already.

Blundstones were cheap work boots at Big W when I was growing up in the 00s, they were only $50 or so and most commonly worn by men in blue vests sporting a mullet hair cut and a pack of Winnie Blues.

Private equity has gotten involved by the looks of things - they are categorically not worth £180/$300.

@jcurve I did wonder if this might be the case.

I LOVE mine... mind you I bought them in Aus where they are more sensibly priced.... Very little wearing in required for me and I have quite sensitive plates.

RM Williams for Chelsea boots. They are also expensive, but if you take care of the leather they last literally forever as you can replace the sole every few years.

I had a pair about... ooh 15 years ago, now. I loved them at the time. They were the rigger boot style and really comfy. I wore them to death over about five years, but then found that the sole wasn’t replaceable, which, for the price, was a major downside. I had to let them go... which made my boyfriend happy as he thought they weren’t ‘feminine’

My friend has a pair and she's obsessed with them, but it's only her first year to be fair. The front tab would drive me batty tbh.

I tried on a pair of DM 2976 Chelsea boots in a shop with a "wintergrip" sole and my god they were the comfiest things ever. Super bouncy soles. Yellow stitching, and not too big looking - you have to size down though as they're unisex and marked in mens sizes.

I'm waiting for a discount before I get them though as they're pricey. The good thing about DMs is that they are stocked all over the place so you can get the odd 20% off if you hang about and search around.

DH used to be a big fan and has had several pairs (of the Chelsea boot style) . However in recent years the quality has deteriorated and the soles have split and separate from the upper after not much wear. I had a pair too and the soles actually disintegrated (that's the only way I can describe it, big chunks of the tread just fell off) after very little wear. Won't be getting any more. I now wear DMs and DH bought me some Trickers which are gorgeous but were quite a bit dearer than blundstones. However they can be resoled and are the kind of shoes you keep for 20+ years

Do you only want an ankle boot? What about Subaru ?

Bloody autocorrect, Dubarry.

Thanks everyone.

@cultkid Dubarry's not my thing I'm afraid.

@ElspethFlashman I'm leaning towards a pair of DMs, winter soles sound good.

If you sign up to the DM newsletter they give you a 10% off code straight away.

Thanks @ElspethFlashman

Dubarry are the best hardwearing boots in the whole world, to me.
You can get half leg height if you prefer, but I am miserable since I stopped wearing skinny jeans nothing looks decent with my dubarry’s anymore. I wear skirts most of the time now and do mourn their loss.

Sounds silly but I love them so.

Sorry just read you weren’t into dubarry’s 😆

I do like the Astro (not sure of name) by solovair.
They’re like DM’s but have a burgundy brogue boot I’m keen on.

I have a pair bought in Australia. I don't wear them often as getting them off drives me nuts!