I love my Blundstones. They are the perfect foul weather boots that you can abuse and not care much about at all. I wear them in the rain, snow, slush, on hikes in mud, even stepping through a field of horse sh*t once. They are also chunky enough for my preferred outfits these days. For now I'm mostly over the sleek chelseas in general.
Happy early Straya day Nick! My expat wife and I picked up new pairs of RMs while in Oz visiting family over the holidays. With the conversion rate they were $418US. I got suede and she got black with more heel for work. Our original brown Yearlings are 25 years old and were dropped off to be resoled. Our RMs are faves but our Blunnies are right next to the front door and are the go-to casual and yard work chelsea. Cheers mate!
I got a pair of the Blundstones last year to wear as my stylish winter/rain boot in the PNW. They served me great. Now I wear them as my stylish winter boot in Colorado and they have been equally great in the snow. These wouldn’t be my first choice on a winter hike, but those would be my hiking boots. Overall I really like them and they’re still in great shape with tons of tread left.
people really really love their blundstones. and the price makes the more democratic, more people can afford them! which i guess is a pro for the brand, they get to make more people happy
The addition of the sound effects were fun. it’s very Stridewise of you to catch yourself for being a snob. 😂 You’re good man, you probably have the friendliest demeanor of all the boot reviewers on RU-vid.
Bought a pair of R.M.s based off your first R.M. video. They are absolutely worth EVERY penny. I find I reach for them more than my other boots. The comfort is unreal and I think they are really sharp. Take care!
You’re not being mean - you’re being honest. The more I hear about blundstones the less desirable they are. No need to apologize for it. The company needs to make them in Australia and increase the quality. They should be apologetic.
Absolutely, but they are more of a work boot compared to the 2 others; who even though they market themselves as hard wearing, they've become more fashion, like Doc M's
Anyone looking for a good alternative for the blundstones, Redback boots makes a better alternative for less money even! Also a big plus is that they are still made in Australia:)) should maybe do a video on these? Absolutely love mine!
Nice to see a video to celebrate Australia Day! RM Williams are super comfortable and the last design looks great, yearling leather do have great attributes. I prefer the look and feel of some other leathers.
Got my First RMs last month, and I'm loving them so far! I got a pair of the men's Craftsman boots secondhand from someone who only wore them once, had Timpsons slap some subtle rubber under the front, and people keep complimenting them. 😊
Bought my pair of RMWs several years ago. They have the rubber sole. I can't wear them out. They are comfortable all day long. I wear them on bad weather days to the office, and I am on my feet all day. They're expensive, but worth it.
Horses for courses, as the Brits say. Apples to oranges, we say in the states. The only thing they have in common is that they're both Chelsea style boots (and both overpriced.) Different details and price strata for different usage.
I know this is an Australian boot video, but I have a pair of Canada West Romeos that I would say are right in the middle between the Blundstones and R.M. Williams. They're my most comfortable boot by far. I wear them casually, but they've also worked in more formal situations. But that could just be a function of my lacking any sense of style.
What you get depends on what you want to do with them. I pulled up at a hiking trail in Utah, where I live these days, and realized that I'd forgotten to put my hiking boots in the truck. So I hiked up the mountain in my Blunnies. Now, this hike was no joke. The ascent was 2,678 ft over 1.38 mile (816 m over 2.22 km) - i.e. bloody steep, with summit at 11,019 ft (3,358 m) above sea level. Fortunately, there wasn't much snow. I was buggered by the time I got to the top carrying my pack of radio and survival gear. Sore feet, too. But my Blunnies got me up there and back down in one piece. There is no way I would have worn a pair of RM Williams boots on a hike like that. For one thing, it would have been really painful. For another, I would have cried to look at the state of the boots when I got back to my truck. Blundstone boots are perfect for casual wear and you can really thrash them if needs be.
Nick - Random question: Do you use taps for your boots? (Longtime NYC resident but moved and now a monthly commuter.) I used to religiously take my shoes and boots to my local shop and get taps. The concrete jungle would otherwise burn through a heel in weeks. I ask because I generally hate taps and want to know if there is a better way outside of relearning to walk. Thanks!
"The highly developed nation of Australia" Meanwhile, Bogans: "I'm a bloke, I'm an ocker, and I really love your knockers" Good video; wish you had done this about a year ago when I was looking for a solid Chelsea, couldn't decide on one and went for hiking style boots instead
You can actually resole Blundstones. Local cobblers can do it, they can repair and resole any shoe or boot. There are also several videos on youtube where they resole Blundstones. Snooty cobblers in the other hand “says” they cant.
No, the long term cost of RM Williams is not lower than Blundstones, as the cost of resoling Goodyear welted boots is usually higher than a new pair of Blundstones 585. Obviously RM Williams are better in pretty much every way; however, they are also much more expensive in every way.
I love my RM Williams, but I'd have a hard time justifying them over something like Carmina today given the prices. When I purchased mine (8 years ago) they still had a custom program you could order from Australia based retailers. I was able to get a Blaxland, which is the same as the Craftsman but with the outsole from the Comfort Craftsman. It was also possible to choose a custom leather, veal calf and kangaroo being the upgrades over yearling. Mine are black kangaroo. I'm not sure what the exchange rate was at the time, but it was only $380 AUD including shipping and duties to get them sent to the US. I also have an RM Williams Stockyard that would be closer in equivalence to the Blundstone. Similar glued construction, but with a better leather and whole cut. I'm not sure they are made anymore, but the price was in the ball park of Blundstone, at least in 2019, I paid $220. Finally, if you want an upgrade over Blundstone, Meermin is just slightly more expensive. The ultraflex Chelsea rivals Blundstone for comfort IMHO. But the leather quality is way better and they're also a whole cut. The downside is they're made in China, but if you are buying Blundstone I can't imagine that's really a downside. They are $20-$50 more than Blundstone, but if you're paying MSRP for Blundstone you're doing it wrong so they're probably more like $60-$90 more.
I really like the RM Williams but 500 euro for a pair is a bit rich for my blood. Maybe some day... I bought a pair of Meermin wholecut Chelseas, which are half the price and a second pair in one of their MTO runs (Waxy Commander and Bourbon Museum Calf). They are a punishing break in, but pretty good once you get that over with.
There’s a resoleable ladies blunstone that my wife saw. I checked it and it looks pretty good. Might get them for her. Any thoughts? Any reason they don’t make a men’s boot like it?
It's so sad Blundstone aren't made in Australia. Such an iconic boot. I'd buy them all the time but I'd rather Mongrel or Redback purely cause they're made here in Australia and are just as good. Can't fault my RM's either.
Off course it should still say Tasmania on them. It's where it started and based. Many companys in all segments all over the world outsource their manufacturing.
Talking “resoleability” Blundstones will go for years and years before wearing out. They were my work shoes for a couple of years and I eventually donated them after replacing insoles. Some cobblers offer Blundstone resoles albeit charging about 70% of retail which isn’t an attractive option for most people. Got myself an rm as I moved up in the world and they definitely feel like a sock once broken in. I however don’t take them through as much punishment as my Blundstone.
Might have been better to compare the Blundstone Heritage range to the RMs. I don’t actually know the difference but being more expensive may close the gap???
I know you like the Comfort Craftsman, but I'm be curious to hear your opinion on the Comfort Turnout? I can't decide which of the two models to purchase!
C’mon man, Blundstone are iconic WORK boots. RM’s have now become dress boots although they were originally riding boots. Forget Blundstones and try Red Back boots. Still made in Aus and a far better boot.
Casual eye-rub with the middle finger while doing outro on Blundies. Hmmm... My Blundstones are decent boots, but they're certainly a casual boot. Maybe one day I'll go to Australia and buy some RMs in person.
The other thing is blundstone has a good warrenty i got a pair second hand warrantied them got a brand new pair wore those for 7 years and they sent me another pair
Can you compare RMs to Baxters? I think this would be a more apples to apples comparison - both dress chelseas, Australian companies (Baxter boots is based in Goulburn NSW) and Baxters offer a whole cut. From what I have found most Baxters are made overseas but some may still be made in Goulburn.
Is there something that looks and feels like Blundstone but is re-sole-able? I find them more comfy and I prefer the more casual style for everyday use. I find my RMs have too sharp of a toe that I worry about getting a bunion or something it pushes my big toe inwards a little
Definitely a bit of a snob, mate. Blundstones have their place. Every now and then, put on a pair of boots with a thick slab of poron. Your knees will thank you.
@@Stridewise haha! Probably just a Thursday Sneakers with the cacao waxed flesh but you've done a review for it already - sort of (which is why I bought it in the first place)
They have shanks for sure, steel shanks I believe. The leather is soft and the sole is comfortable. They are a perfect everyday boot, and a great replacement for sneakers. Docs are a hot pile of garbage in comparison
i have red backs. my dream is to get r.m. williams comfort craftsman, but they are super expensive in the u.s.. what is the price of the r.m. williams comfort craftsman in australia in u.s. dollars?
Comparing RM Williams boots to a blundstone is like comparing a Toyota Corolla to a Ferrari. There is no comparison. For years I bought a new pair of blundstone every 18 months I stopped buying them when they shipped the manufacturing overseas. But as you say they still try to pull the wool over everyones eyes with the bullshit rear tab. I now wear Rossi or Redbacks and are both every bit as good as Blundstones and are both still made in Australia.
It's like shelling out $10,000 grand a new car. That's cheap, would be considered in the budget range. $10,000 is a large sum of money. In the context of whatever class of good is being discussed, the prices that would be classified as budget will differ.
Over 95 percent of the people on the planet can not afford boots that are 200. .5 billion will go to bed hungry. If they spent 200 on shoes there kids might die of hunger.
@@williamm3503 Context is everything. When RU-vidrs are talking about consumer goods, it's mostly in the USA context or Western Countries. So in the USA $200 would be budget boots. If you take Mozambique, the GDP per capita is $542. So $200 boots would be half someone's net worth. RM Williams and Blundstone are making their products for Western consumers.
Eh. RM shoes are bland and you can get better looking and a lot higher quality good year welt work style boots from others for same or lower price (eg Grant stones). Or much better incomparable quality from high end companies if you want to go refined (viberg, Edward green, etc) Blundstone is differentiated on style and comfort in a way that makes them unique vs all other bookmakers.
Ian Harold boots are in my humble opinion better than RM Williams and cheaper, better construction and more comfortable. I had a pair of Blundstone boots, dreadful quality, uncomfortable I'd never buy another pair, misleading as thought they were Australian only to read tag inside, Chinese
Boot guy reviewers shitting on Blundstones just makes the Boot Guy Reviewer come off as an elitist asshole. Even more so when people who like them don't care where they are made. They're nice boots. They are comfortable to wear. They don’t cost nine hundred dollars.
Lol what a joke this is proper outback working boots and all you b-roll pavement with nice but same thing nice salvage jeans wear a chain saw and flanell while u at it 😂😘
@@fallingwickets Officiene Creative chelseas are phenomenal if you’re in that kind of boots…. I have many different brands but this is definitely my favourite brand. My opinion is better to have one pair of fantastic craftsmanship boots than etc several pairs like blundstone bs…
