Ozzie boots

shortbow · Nov 28, 2010

Sorry to my mates down under, hope I've called them the right name, but I'm talking about the type of boots like my Blundstones with the elastic sides and ankle high.

Is there a proper generic name for this type of shoe?

When did they first come on the scene, who wore them in days of old, and who wears them now?

Traditionally, was there a different version for work and for the street?

Thanks eh?

MB5 · Nov 28, 2010

I believe the origin is an equestrian boot. The generic name is jodhpur boots.

http://www.tredstep.com/contour/index.htm

James71 · Nov 28, 2010

We just call them riding boots. My family all wore blundstones for generations. Boss cockies wore RMs, but my ancestors were working men so blunnies were the go.

shortbow · Nov 29, 2010

Thanks, Gents.

Boss cockies?

And do you know how long they've been around, and also, do you wear spurs with them, and if so, down on the heel or up high?

Thanks mucho.

James71 · Nov 29, 2010

A boss cocky is a rich landowner.

Blundstones were made in Tasmania from the 1840s until 2007 when they moved the manufacturing to Asia and sacked their 300 employees. The quality fell through the floor. I just recently bought my first pair of non-blunnies. I'm in redback boots now. Still proudly Australian and great quality.

lolly_loisides · Nov 29, 2010

Weren't Blundstones mostly purchased by tradesmen as workboots?
Here is the Blundstone website

VitaminG · Nov 29, 2010

when I was living out west I saw just as many farmers in blunnies. They are a tradie staple though - work sites full of footy socks & blunnies - as Aussie as Four'N Twenty pies

MikeBravo · Nov 29, 2010

Blundstones are a great brand, and popular with tradesmen. I wear RM Williams boots, myself.
There are a couple of threads on them, do a search.

I'm sure that spurs could be added to them. Like the american cowboy boot, they have a pointed toe to fit into the stirrups and a high heel to stay there, as below:

Here's the page for my "Bushman" style boot Boots Online

The Shooman · Nov 29, 2010

Best to avoid this terrible brand and the terrible woman running the company. They are under the Pacific Brands umberella who have sacked much of the aussie workforce and have gone to China (but that's another storey on its own).

Avoid Blundstones, they are rubbish and have been for decades. l wore then in the late 80's because they were the coolest boots worn by the Uni crowds....all the hot girls wore them as well as blokes.

Why are they rubbish? Because the soles will split because of poor design, same goes with modern day Florsheim these days. The uppers are good, but that doesn't help much if the soles split.

l won't talk about where Made-in-China will take the brand, but speaking to world experts about made-in-China shoo manufacturing doesn't leave me with much confidence.

Avoid, move on and don't support this dreaded company.

http://www.2gb.com/index.php?option=com_yoursay&task=view&id=992&limitstart=20&Itemid=173

Companies like them are a dime a dozen. Support someone deserving like R.M.Williams.

The Shooman · Nov 29, 2010

The critical problem with Made-in-China:
http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=7060

DAJE · Nov 29, 2010

Current Blundstones are made in Vietnam, not China. They've never been made in China, to the best of my knowledge.

The Shooman · Nov 29, 2010

DAJE said:
Current Blundstones are made in Vietnam, not China. They've never been made in China, to the best of my knowledge.

That's actually a worse prospect. Made-in-China has become too expensive to make these days, so the Chinese have started sending the shoos to Vietnam to be produced for much cheaper. (Made in Vietnam still has much to do with the Chinese).

Vietnam is even lower regarded than made-in-China. When the political climate settles, experts predict Vietnamise and Chinese production will move to Africa, that trend has started already (made in Egypt).

Made in China/Vietnam = bad. The motivation is not to produce quality, the motivation is to produce something which resembles a shoe from the outside but at the cheapest price possible. Whether it functions as a shoe is not important, as long as it looks like a shoe. Nothing good is going to come of it, people will tire of the rubbish, they are starting to now.

cookie · Nov 29, 2010

shortbow said:
Sorry to my mates down under, hope I've called them the right name, but I'm talking about the type of boots like my Blundstones with the elastic sides and ankle high.

Is there a proper generic name for this type of shoe?

When did they first come on the scene, who wore them in days of old, and who wears them now?

Traditionally, was there a different version for work and for the street?

Thanks eh?

It is Aussie ...Ozzie is the rock star...

lolly_loisides · Nov 29, 2010

cookie said:
It is Aussie ...Ozzie is the rock star...

Indeed. Great avatar BTW Cookie.

ClothesHorse · Nov 29, 2010

I've got Blundstone, RM Williams, Redback, and Rossi side gore boots. They've all got their plusses and minuses. Blunnies- I've got pre and post Tasmanian production - Great for casual/work wear.

The Redbacks are Comfy but are strictly casual- No way to dress up the sole.
Rossi- Clean up pretty well, not dressy but better than the above mentioned.
My RM Williams, are great! Two pair on more casual with Oiled leather and rubber sole, the other in Kangaroo with leather sole. Constuction on the Williams is better as is, in my opinion, the profile of the boots.

I've had to play with different insole/sock combinations to make any of them fit- But I also wear an orthotic in my Alden's.

I love the pull on and go!

Now if I can just get Drizabone to send the Traditional Bluey Jacket they came out with to the US....

CH

shortbow · Nov 30, 2010

Thanks for the heads up on the Ozzie/Aussie - I actually know better but sometimes I'm brain dead.

I've not owned any brands of these other than than the Blunnies, mine made in Tasmania, and they are going strong after many miles and about 9 years.

Definitely won't buy them again though, as I'm with you all on the outsourcing thing.

I am interested in someday getting the most vintage-style and authentic leather soled pair of this type of shoe one day, when the time comes I will look at Williams and the others.

I'm still trying to get straight on what these boots are called in a generic sense. Over here, if you say cowboy boot, everybody knows what you mean. Is there not a similar appellation for these?

Thanks for all the great info. My young daughter is off to Australia for a year just after Christmas, sure wish I was going too. From all the pictures I've seen over the years I'm sure I would love it there.

MikeBravo · Nov 30, 2010

We just call them elastic-sided boots

Lincsong · Nov 30, 2010

Ozzie Nelson made boots?

MikeBravo · Nov 30, 2010

Lincsong said:
Ozzie Nelson made boots?

I finally get that reference. There is a community station in my city that is showing repeats of the Adventures of Ozzie and Hariette. It may have been shown originally but I would have been a baby then

shortbow · Dec 1, 2010

Did some more snooping around the 'net and apparently they are widely and simply known as 'Australian Work Boots.' Guess I'll go with that for now. Whatever you call them, they're the best footwear going when anything other than moccasins or sandals are called for.

Ozzie boots

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