Drop your eyes to the floor of any subway car right now and you’re almost guaranteed to see multiple pairs of Blundstones. The Australian brand’s pull-tab Chelsea boots have been the winter shoe of choice in Brooklyn and beyond for nearly a decade, and its newer styles (including clogs and a heeled boot) are becoming similarly ubiquitous.
Strategist staffers have been wearing and recommending Blundstones for years — they’re deservedly popular. But are they played out? Are there better options out there? We assembled a panel to discuss.
Who is still wearing Blundstones?
Lauren Ro, writer: Me. They’re the most comfortable shoes I own! I have the 566s with the sheepskin lining.
Winnie Yang, senior editor: I have had the Blundstone 550s for seven years now. They’re my primary winter boot, great in rain and snow. I also wear them for travel to colder destinations because they’re so easy to get on and off and don’t look as sloppy as sneakers. I haven’t bothered waxing them or doing any kind of maintenance, so they look pretty beat up, but I don’t mind.
Liza Corsillo, senior writer: I have four pairs at the moment. One pair that is extremely worn in live at my parents’ house in Connecticut so I don’t have to pack boots when I visit.
Bella Druckman, junior writer: I wear them on days like today, where it’s snowy and I need some traction.
LR: Kind of like UGGs, they are not trendy. They are post-trend. They are just solid workhorse shoes that everyone who lives in a city with seasons should own.
LC: One hundred percent agree they are post-trend.
WY: Also agree.
There are so many variations on the original style now. Which Blundstone boot is “the” Blundstone boot?
Jeremy Rellosa, writer: It’s gotta be the 550s. I think there’s something about the smooth brown leather that makes them timeless. I bought my first pair in 2016 when I realized I was under-equipped for winter in Boston. I still own this pair and wear them frequently and try and treat them before each winter season with some waterproofing. I’m always surprised by how comfortable the sole is. I thought that by now — nine years later — it would have lost its oomph and support, but my feet still feel happy in them after a day of walking around the city.
Katherine Gillespie, writer: Agree. Some of my fellow Aussies will tell you that Blundstones have gone down in quality as the brand has expanded internationally and production has moved overseas. But I’ve got a fairly new pair of 550s that are super comfortable and well made. They have a leather lining, unlike the cheaper 500 series boots. Worth the upgrade.
Are any of the brand’s other shoes worth buying?
WY: I got the low-cut ones in September during a sale, and they’re my new favorite.
JR: I really love the clogs, specifically the all-terrain model, which has a water-resistant leather upper. I got them five months ago when I started working in a kitchen, and they’ve been great — mainly because the Vibram outsole is grippy even on wet surfaces, and the footbed is soft yet sturdy enough to give my feet support when I’m on them for a long shift. I wear them outside of the kitchen too; clogs are very in right now, and I like how casual they look compared to a pair of regular 558s or 550s.
Can you wear a Blundstone to the office?
KG: I love mine for travel but really struggle to see them as a city shoe … they never feel formal enough! Having said that, it’s snowing today and six of us are wearing them to the office.
JR: I agree about the more informal look; even the brand’s dressier options don’t quite look as formal as I hope. I think it’s because the toe is still rounded and can get creased easily in a way that doesn’t look formal … not sure. I still wear my black 558s to the office, though. They work — maybe because they’re new and not as beaten up.
LR: I definitely don’t ever wear them as part of an outfit. I feel like in the winter, footwear doesn’t matter unless you’re actually going somewhere and need to look nice.
WY: I think the informality comes from the rubber sole.
LR: The toe box is also a little bulbous.
Amelia Jerden, writer: I like my Blundstones but I agree they are very informal. Blundstones are kinda like the more granola Doc Marten.
Sam Daly, deals editor: I can’t look at a Blundstone without thinking about the co-op I lived in during college.
BD: I also heard that they are the status shoes at Colorado College. I interviewed a student there, Maisie Stamstad, who told me it’s the most popular shoe on campus.
So if you don’t wear Blundstones, what do you wear?
Ailbhe Malone, senior editor: I own R.M. Williams boots because Blundstones made my feet look hobbity. Or I’ll also wear Camper boots.
Lauren Levy, Strategist editor: I have R.M. Williams boots, too. I think of them as a fancier Chelsea compared to Blundstone.
Ashley Wolfgang, newsletter editor: Doc Martens forever! I wear mine basically every day.
Kitty Guo, writer: I’m a fan of Duckfeet.
KG: If you’re after a more niche pair of Australian shoes, I recommend this smaller brand Rossi.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
