Blundstone Boots

[Biltmore Bob]

I've got a hankering for a pair of Blunnies, but there ain't no retailers in my neck o' the woods. Anybody out thar what has a pair, can give me a report?

[Flitcraft]

Greetings, Paddy!
A liitle assistance, Amigo: Do any models of the Williams boots come with rubber soles, and if so, which ones? Any other suggestions/observations much appreciated.
Muchas gracias!

[PADDY]

Hi. Their website is http://www.bootsonline.com.au/

They have some that have composite soles (non leather), so that they are oil/fuel resistant (that's what mine are, and they look great and wear great).
I've found that the more beat-up they become and mould to your feet, the greater the character they get. And so versatile too. The ones you see of mine are the GARDENER, and come in black or brown hide, unlined (this stuff is thick). Check first that you can work-out your size, as they are in Australia and I believe when they say an '9' or whatever, it is an English/UK sizing. Good luck with that.

[Canadave]

I have both Blundstones and Williams, and I'd have to agree that the Williams are higher quality, but I have no complaints about the Blunnies.

I think these (http://www.bootsonline.com.au/LargeGraphics/B781.02.jpg) are the closest to the Williams I have...rubber soles. Very well made, comfortable, and high quality.

David

[Flitcraft]

Thanks for the leads.
Off to do some boot shopping!

[swinggal]

Now for an Aussie perspective...'Blunnies' were (and still are) traditionally a work-boot worn on building sites, mining sites and for gardeing etc. They have a more robust feeling about them and a rougher look. They only became a 'fashion' item in the late 80s/early 90s thanks to gay culture, which slowly trickled into maintream fashion. Tap Dogs also made them more popular worldwide. They finish off a casual vintage outfit nicely and I have sent several pairs to friends in the vintage scene in Europe. Blunnies used to be $25 AUD a pair when I was in high school!!! A friend of mine in London told me that 5 years ago people were paying $300 for them! (suckers)

Williams are different/higher quality with a sahper heel because they were made for stockman and farm workers. Worn mainly by 'country folk' before they became popular with the mainstream too

[Canadave]

...Blunnies used to be $25 AUD a pair when I was in high school!!!...

Wow! How much are they now? This (http://www.australianboot.com/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=16201&cat=0&page=) model, especially made for the Canadian market, are $179 ($188 AUS/$142 USD).

(I'll add one thing...there are many more "knockoffs" in Australia...other brands with a similar look, incorporating the elastic side panel and front and back loops. On our visit, I wondered if Aussies actually wore these type of boots, or if they were mainly for export, but yes, they are worn by the locals!)

David

[swinggal]

Hee hee...knockoffs, thats funnee :) Most of the other brands have been around a long time too (like Rossi's).

You can still get Blundstones in places like 'Work Clobber' for $50 a pair here, it's were miners/construction workers etc go to get their clothing. They know they have to keep the prices lower there because those guys aren't going to pay $140 for a pair of boots they paid $35 dollars for around 6 years ago.

[Biltmore Bob]

Gay culture...what a shame.

[BellyTank]

I remember- back in NZ in the early '90s being told that Blundstones were going to take the World by storm as "the new Doc Martens ", they kind of did.
The early DMs were actually quite good- then they became a hollow, low quality, brand item.
B
T

[swinggal]

Gay culture...what a shame.


Huh? I meant it as a good thing! A lot of my gay friends are the most stylish people I know. Over the last 10 years I think every man under 40 has aquired pair for casual ware...even girlies. :kick:

[Biltmore Bob]

Love the sinner, hate the sin, ay Swinggal.

[swinggal]

Huh? You've lost me. I couldn't care less what someones sexual preference is....now, back to boots. :kick:

[BellyTank]

Don't worry Swinggal, it's not you-
some folk here aren't as liberal as others.
B
T

[BellyTank]

No offense intended Bob.
Takes all sorts to make a world.
B
T

[Biltmore Bob]

Ain't that the awful truth.

[Canadave]

dr greg started a thread here [/URL][url]http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=15415 (http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=15415) but the title may cause some to overlook it, so I'm re-posting.

An excerpt; "The company claims to be "Australian for boot", but its boots are about to be made in Asia. Blundstone, based near Hobart, is shifting most of its production overseas, at the cost of about 360 jobs - 80 per cent of its workforce."

Any Aussies (or others) in the Lounge have a comment?

David

[PADDY]

I think the average Aussie will be disgusted by this move. And it will just confirm the rot that's setting in with many home grown industries looking after their pennies and dollars..etc by relocation of production to the Far East/Asia. But it's following the trend and can be seen in the likes of the UK, US and other international economies. Sad.

[Matthew Dalton]

I know I'll definitely be getting my work boots elsewhere now. Hey, it could even be Akubra next.

[dr greg]

I noticed that the MD's name is Gunn. I wonder if he's one of the Tasmanian family of Gunn's that are one of the most rapacious woodchipping companies in the world, apparently the family that actually own (or once did) Blundstone are very distressed about the whole thing.
The rationale is that "young people" want a greater degree of "ornamentation" on the boots, what a load of garbage,they're a workboot, that admittedly had a moment of hipness a while ago with the doof crowd, and catering to the fickle instead of the tried and true leads to this sort of outcome. I wear RM's as well, but they cost too much for work, unless one is a horseman and not actually pounding the ground in them.

[Benny Holiday]

It's sad, but no surprise. Many of our supposedly iconic brands are now owned by overseas interests. The whole thing's disgraceful.

[Matthew Dalton]

I noticed that the MD's name is Gunn. I wonder if he's one of the Tasmanian family of Gunn's that are one of the most rapacious woodchipping companies in the world...

Me? Not quite. Just a random name I grabbed from a site for use in certain places on the internet.

[dr greg]

MD = Managing Director, the MD of Blundstone is Mr Gunn. He's the one making the statements and doing the TV interviews.

[Les Gillis]

so is everyone else...

Back in the early 90s I bought a pair of Dr. Marten's boots. They lasted forever. A few months ago I picked up one at a shoe store and it said made in China. I don't know if they ever claimed to be "British for Boot"; but it was weird seeing made in China on something that I thought of as very distinctly British. Nothing personal against the Chinese. My Chipewa LL Bean Cap Toe Boots were made in China also and they've held up well.

[Smithy]

I think it's a real shame and unfortunately the way the world seems to be going.

Heaven forbid if they do the same with RM Williams, I'll have a fit!

[cookie]

There is a tremendous sadness about Blunnies especially in view of the job losses in a state which is hard for employment. But there was an equally interesting comment re RM Williams which said that with assistance from the Federal Governmen re R&D the company had got their act together so much so that they were exporting their product overseas to 20 places. This is what we call "clever country" stuff and is the way to go when the alternative is China the home of most manufacturing industry for footwear and clothing etc.

Whilst on the subject of iconic brands.

I bought two pairs of shoes on holidays.

One was a pair of suede Sperrys which were China (PRC) made and excellent. I looked at my old favourite Timberlands and (whilst struggling to keep up with trendy designs) the quality and manufacture was pathetic and of a cheapness in finish I found sad. But the people will wise up and another icon will go the way of other famous compromisers.

[MikeBravo]

Oh well ... there goes another one

We are quite used to it by now. Lots of our "icons" have gone offshore or been taken over by foreign countries

Sidchrome, Blundstone, Vegemite, Aeroplane Jelly, Drizabone, Ugg boots, Qantas sending their servicing offshore, there's heaps more

[The Shooman]

ECONOMIC TALK

ln the late 80's, Australia had a really promising economic growth in the manufacturing industry. Academics [wrongly] predicted strong growth for many years to come. But, they underestimated the tragic effect that cheap Asian labour would have on our manufacturing industry. Company owners [in Australia] are losing pride in Australian made as more and more are seeking cheap Asian labour.

While i'm very very worried and upset by the current economic trends, many manufacturing business' in Oz have to go o/s to survive. But that's not the only problem, many business people are waking up to the fact that relocating o/s is a great way to increase company profits [as well]. lt's a double wammy. There have been so many aussie business' relocating o/s that now our former economic strength in Manufacturing is no more. Jobs in Australian manufacturing are being lost like no tommorrow....many business owners don't care about their employees or feel they have any responsibilty to contribute towards employment in Australia anymore. More and more businesses now think global, there is no pride in ones country anymore. Many aussies don't buy Australian made. l think our large immigration rates have massively watered down the pride in Australian made too.

Blundstone has cut 300 jobs in the little old island of Tasmania......it wouldn't surprise me if many of those guys don't get jobs again (jobs aren't easy to get in Tasmania). How many will default on home payments and lose their house? Tasmania is a funny little place with funny people so many of the battlers are gonna be hard pressed to find other work.

SHOO TALK
Blunstones are a blue collar boot. No way near as well made as R.M.Williams [which is now run by Americans]. Blunstone boots have a glued rubber sole. The sole is prone to cracking after a short while. l have a pair of blunstones that i've had for over 20 years....l use them down the beach.

[The Shooman]

My partners down at my beach house at the moment. l'll tell her to bring my Blundstones back so l can take a picture of them to show you all.

ln the 90's Blundstones hit a peak. Everyone wore them. Blundstone workboots were trendy......every second girl and bloke wore them.


R.M.Williams quality decline
Similar things happened with R.M.Williams. Reg Williams sold the company to the Americans, and within a short time the quality suffered so much that Regy was heartbroken, so he bought the company back again so he could restore quality. Once again, R.M.Williams has been sold to the Americans....the quality has gone down hill [again] l feel. The quality of the boots are not what they were making 20 years ago.

[johnnycanuck]

Can anyone comment on Blundstone boots? fit? 9.5 American to 8.5 au? how long they last? any information would be helpful.
Johnny

[reetpleat]

Can anyone comment on Blundstone boots? fit? 9.5 American to 8.5 au? how long they last? any information would be helpful.
Johnny

Very comfortable, last forever.

[cookie]

the famous aussie male dance troupe 'tap dogs' (you saw them at the 2000 olympics spectacular) use them with tap cleats - that's how strong they are.

[Bebop]

I have 3 pair of Blundstones. One brown, one black and one light brown steel toed. I bought my first pair about 6 or 7 years ago and they are still going strong. I have worn them as my only footwear on a spur of the moment, month long trip to Argentina which included using them in a wedding and for light hiking and my pair of Blundstone steel toed work boots have served me well for just about anything. I don't need the steel toes very much but the fit was so perfect that I went with the steel anyway. The sizing tends to be all over the place. One pair is a 10, another a 9 and the steel toed, 11. I had to try on several pair of the same size in order to find the right size. Sometimes one boot was way larger than the other of the same size. Sadly, they are not resolable but they last pretty long. Great boots that you can wear with almost any style clothing.

[Smithy]

I had a pair of Blundies around 10 to 15 years ago. They were worn fairly often and treated pretty badly truth be told. Mine lasted only around 18 months and died when the soles split. Not uncommon judging by other mates' experiences with them.

If you want a good Aussie boot, I highly recommend RM Williams instead. They have lots of styles (including a "Blundstone looking" type), are far better made (from my experience) and can be resoled. I virtually live in a pair of RM Williams Blaxlands which I have had for 3 years, they have been resoled once and are still going strong (touch wood!).

They are more expensive but I can't recommend them enough.

[skbellis]

I started wearing Blunnies in March 06. I bought them as my only shoe choice on a trip to Europe. They worked great hiking in Austria and with a quick wipe they were perfect at my wife's geology conference dinner I had to attend. Blunnies are great if you have wide feet. I have been wearing them non-stop ever since. I have bought a couple of other pairs of ebay (much less money than my first pair) to rotate with. They have beeen holding up great.

For your first pair you might want to buy them from a reputable dealer so you can figure out your size. All of the pairs I have bought, the sizing is consistent, but the first pair I bought was too large so I had to exchange them.

I would also reccomend you buy some of the official Blundstone shoe cream for them. Great stuff.

I have never owned a pair of RM Williams, but one of my friends has a pair. They are much higher quality, but the price tag is much higher ( you get what you pay for).

Cheers,

---Scott

[johnnycanuck]

Good information all round. I was hoping for a more of a hard and fast rule on sizing. I save over $50 if I order them in from Australia. I guess I can try and track down a local company that carries them and just try them on. Thanks for the reviews.
Johnny

[Mojave Jack]

I tried and tried Blunnies, but my arches are so high that I just can't wear them, no matter how badly I wanted a pair. They are the boot of choice of one of my heroes, Les Hiddens.

I ended up with a pair of Ariat Spot Hogs (http://www.ariat.com/products_detail.aspx?pcid=9&cid=2&scid=21&pid=68). The Ariat Cody ("http://www.ariat.com/products_detail.aspx?pcid=9&cid=2&scid=21&pid=309) is a similar style They were tough as nails, and not nearly as expensive as Blunnies. Not quite the cool reputation and history of Blunnies, either, but might be easier to find around here.

[cookie]

Blunnies are closing in Tasmania for manafacture and going offshore aka Thailand or somewhere. Methinks the quality may suffer ....hope not...

[The Shooman]

Very comfortable, last forever.

l cannot agree on that.

l bought a pair 20 years ago. Nice cow leather work boot uppers and a strong glued sole (back then)....BUT as usual, the achillies heal of all cheap shoos are the soles. They Crack!

Blundstones were very very popular with the Uni crowds (esp girls) in the late 80's - early 90's.

The Blundstones l see now are worse. lf l were you, i'd forget about them.

[The Shooman]

l keep my old bludsones in the shed for most of the year (a great home for all the spiders to live in). But l do get them out and wear them when i'm down the beach.

[shortbow]

Aside from moccasins and sandals in the summer, my Blundstone 500's are my only shoe. Been wearing the same pair for five years, hiking, riding, hunting, town et al. The best quality and most comfortable boots I've worn in 40 years of outdoor life. I wear 9-9/12 D or E and my Blunnies are Aussie size 8.

Sure as hell though, I wouldn't buy them if they move the factory off shore. What a shame.

[Baggers]

I've had two pair of Blunnie 500s for 4 or 5 years and love them. Very comfortable boots. In fact I just rotated the brown ones out of the closet a couple of days ago to wear on our current trip. You can't beat a pull on boot when stripping down for airport security screening. Also great for walking through frozen slush and snow.

Total shame about moving production offshore though. Kind of defeats the purpose of purchasing something uniquely Australian if it isn't made in Australia anymore. Who's next, Akubra?

Cheers!

[Baggers]

Correction on what I posted yesterday. To my horror, I just discovered that the soles on my Blunnies are disintegrating. I looked down and noticed some black bits and flakes as large as an inch across on the floor of the hotel room we're staying in and then looked at the soles of my boots and saw that the tread had flaked away and the soles have cracks across them almost through to the insole. I know it's been cold here (it got down to -17 F Friday night), could that be a factor, or could there be something else going on?

At any rate, they're practically destroyed and now I'll have to depend on my L.L. Bean Chippewa ankle boots to get me home. Oh well.

Cheers!

[Charlie Noodles]

I got a custom pair of 11.5 structural firefighting boots from them. Not sure if they'd be some of the last made in Tasmania or the first made in China. That model was recently replaced so I guess maybe it was the former.

[shortbow]

Gad, Baggers that worries me. Mine are so far in perfect condition, sure hope they don't suffer the same fate as yours. Have worn them at 30 and more below.

[Fletch]

062 Cuthbertson owner here. This is the so-called dress model with the non-lugged soles and slightly squared toe box.
http://www.blundstoneusa.com/images/blundstone/products/BL062.jpg
Very satisfied and hardly have the suckers off some days. I wear a 9.5 as opposed to a 10.5 US size. The 062 supposedly fits a little closer with its narrowed, squared toe, but I find them ample in width and fit.

[BinkieBaumont]

I have a pair that I've had for 20 years they just dont seem to age!! I wear them around the garden mostly, they are so easy to slip on and orf due to the elasticated sides.

You need to use "Dubbin" on them i think thats the trick ;)and whats not to Love about the packaging!!?

http://www.waproo.com.au/products/dubbin.htm

[Baggers]

Gad, Baggers that worries me. Mine are so far in perfect condition, sure hope they don't suffer the same fate as yours. Have worn them at 30 and more below.

I'm completely flummoxed by this. I'll be bringing them back with me and take a couple of pictures to post here. I'll also be giving my black pair a thorough going over as soon as I return.

Could salt or any other de-icing agent cause this?

Regardless, I'm investing in a pair of Maine Hunting Boots before I hit the snow again.

Cheers!

[Charlie Noodles]

My big, ugly Blundstones. I mostly got them for the protection of the steel insoles.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f367/mdalton87/blundstoneboots.jpg

[bburtner@moran]

Blundstone`s made in Asia now????

[Talbot]

I'm pretty sure they are manufactured in Tasmania, but it wouldn't surprise if if they outsourced to Asia.