Why Does Everybody Own Blundstones? 

Sorry team! We meant to have the video out last week but things are crazy! Our video about our favourite boots will be out on Saturday! Thanks so much for all your support!

As a Tasmanian, there was a lot of public out cry when they closed the factory and moved production overseas.

I had a pair of blundstones for eight years as my only shoe, but the soles were worn out and they were way too expensive to repair. I bought Canada West Romeo boots for my next pair. These boots are Goodyear welted, made in Manitoba and they were $50 less than blundstones. Another option is Oliberte a Canadian b corp with excellent warranties and Goodyear welt construction.

Any plans to look into any activewear brands? I’d be neat to see a series of videos looking into the activewear market and even comparing brands.

I appreciate this video. It's not always easy to find the fine print info on companies, so I'm grateful you are doing most of that legwork for us, thanks!! I had been considering Blundstones, and held off to allow space/thought before a rather bigger price tag purchase. Glad I waited, and now can seriously consider other, longlasting options!!

love your videos! kudos to your team for trying to raise consumer awareness. everything is so convoluted nowadays, so many products, so much marketing. thank you for keeping the videos short and succinct. I can watch them in 5 minutes in 2x. keep em coming!

Thank you for this vid! I agree that Blundstones are kind of associated with a certain ethical shopping standard, and I appreciate knowing how they actually stack up. Loving the new channel so far!!

I’ve been debating this purchase for a year and I’m so glad I waited and saw this video! Thank you for helping me make more informed purchasing decisions

I was on the fence about getting a pair of these, and I’ll say this has helped solidify my opinion. I’ve seen them more and more as a fashion piece and it’s such a shame they’re leaning into that narrative.

Great analysis! I will definitely wear mine until they fall apart, then look for a more ethical and repairable (and Canadian!) option. Also, love seeing more of this content again from you! I'm excited to see this channel grow.

If you are looking for a boot like blundstones, but want the real Australian deal, try Redbacks or Rossi boots, both are still made in Australia.

Hey, Levi! I'd love to see a video on "ethical" denim brands such as Everlane, and most specifically, Warp + Weft, Levi's "green" line, and also any other brands that market as ethical denim!

I loved my Blunnies when I had a pair in the early 90s. But when they wore out and I couldn’t get them resolved, I knew I needed to find a different company. Thanks for the Canadian recommendation.

A video about the Red Wing Company would be great!!!

This is a channel I didn’t know I needed thank you

They're comfortable, they go with pretty much everything, and they're never really going to go out of style,

Given the prevalence of the Chelsea boot design, I think it's pretty easy for consumers to look elsewhere for a better quality boot without the Blundstone name. I have a pair of Blundstones and a pair of Canada West boots, and the quality of the latter impresses me everyday I wear it. The only downside is that they are difficult to find within Canada, let alone outside of Canada.

wait i thought this was like a big professional youtube channel that has an office and stuff thats been making really good video for years, there is only like 12 videos? surprisingly amazing videos man. genuinely love the storytelling skills so and knowledge you have

RM Williams is what you want, not blundstones. Handmade in Australia, 1 piece of premium leather, Goodyear welted, etc… get the comfort craftsman and that’s the last boot you need in your life.

In the early 80s, I used to wear Blundstone lace-up boots for bushwalking. Never knew the brand even though my mum's family was from Tassie. Then, on one bushwalk, a guy wore elastic-sided Blunnies. I thought he would break his ankles but he didn't. Therefore they stuck in my mind. Not long after, everyone seemed to be wearing them, they became widespread in Melb. Even my aunt had them. For me, being a volunteer firefighter they're great (easy to put on before running out the door to go to the fire station and then to take off when changing into FF clobber) or when going out on a cold night to close the front gate or get something from the car. They can also be worn at work (steelcaps), in a semi-casual setting or even (polished) with a suit. Practical and versatile.

If you do buy second hand blundstones be aware that the TPU sole can degrade if they aren't worn for awhile (I.e they sit in a closet unused for 1+ years). Ensure the seller shows you the sole doesn't crumble or rub away easily before you buy! Also you can resole blunstones it's just more difficult and some cobblers might not know the process.

Thank you!!!! I’ve been looking forward to this video since you teased in a few weeks back.

Dude I love what you’re doing in this chanel! I’ve been following you on your other chanel but I’m hella excited for this one! I was literally thinking of buying Blundstone shoes before but now I’m not 😆 thank you Levi! Super stocked for this chanel!

I’ve had the 192 safety boot now for a few months and I love them! Now the leather has broken in a bit, they are even more comfortable than when I had them new. I need a boot that doesn’t have laces and is waterproof because I’m working around muddy locations and using concrete a lot. The only gripe I have is the lack of reinforcement on the toe upper. An additional layer on the toe would make the 192 absolutely perfect. I will Buy the reinforced boot next time. The soles and insole are just supremely comfy. Brilliant work boot for sure!

I would love to see an episode on Red Wing. They basically have a far superior Chelsea boot that blows blundstone out of the water

Great video Levi! In Australia Blundstones are less a fashion brand and are easily the "go to" brand for work boots - you won't find many people wearing their "Blunnies" to watch the footy at Blundstone Arena. They lost a bit of that strong reputation once they stopped being Australian made though. Perhaps they're finding that the expectations of fashion consumers to be quite different to their original core market.

I’ve had mine for 5 years and they are still going strong. I wear them everyday for every occasion, work, town, hiking. They are the best

I'm super excited for the Birkenstocks video. Birkenstocks makes kitchen footwear and when I worked in industrial kitchens they were the best shoes I ever wore. Although they were the first non-disposable style shoes that I purchased

I finally got a pair on Tuesday. The 163. It’s the green patch safety boots version. The tags say made in Vietnam. I applied some mink oil on it and started wearing them the next morning. They are very comfortable tbh. If I still feel the same way in a few months. I will consider getting a regular pair for my daily wear.

I wasn't aware Blundstones were available outside Australia, but I was aware when they stopped manufacturing boots locally and went to China the quality was just not the same. I've switched to Mongrel Boots that are Australian made, very durable and have excellent comfort.

I absolutely love my Blundstones and will wear them for as long as humanly possible. They've held up great for years! If I ever need to replace them I'll look around for different options

Great quality with the new videos!!! Love them all so far 💪💪💪💪

A boot brand that I believe deserves a spotlight is Jim Green. Jim Green is a South African brand that makes boots for hiking, hard work, and Rangers protecting endangered species. The main benefit is that they do not cut corners and quality is their priority; furthermore they are very, very affordable. Blundstones are great. I have a pair that has survived my job as a new construction plumber for 2 years without any problems at all. Trust me when I say I am very hard on my boots and clothes so I do not skimp on durability and quality. That being said, my desire to support brands that are making their product in their actual country of origin has slowly become a priority for me. My work pants are all now 1620 and I am saving for Nick's Handmade Builder Pros. Great video!

I went with Redbacks, after watching a few vids on Rose Anvil's channel. Still breaking them in, but they have to be the most comfortable boots I've owned. And still manufactured in AU, which was the other reason I chose them.

I bought Redbacks and absolutely love them and recently came across Blundstones in a store and was surprised how flimsy they feel by comparison. Arguably they may look a bit tidier but the Redbacks are a way better boot, still made in Australia and, at least here in the U.K., significantly cheaper too.

I was about to buy a blundstone but this video changed my mind, in a good way thanks

Thanks for teaching me about Goodyear Welt. From now on, that's gonna be a must-have for all my boots.

I've been wearing the same pair as my go-to from fall-spring for over 5 years and they are showing very little wear. I give them a polish a couple times a year and they look good as new 🙂. Hoping for another 5 years!

Love these boots - my first pair lasted 12 years and was worn daily during that time!

I loved this video and the recent boot video on your other channel. Im def gonna try to get some Canada West ones or try to find something else more local to me in the states. I know you’re getting a ton of video ideas but I have another one: a video about toiletry type items/personal care stuff would be awesome. I feel like a lot of common information about that kinda category of products is usually just to avoid packaging and opt for solid products, which is great and all but I feel like you would, as usual, go way more in depth with information about specific ingredients and manufacturing processes and what not. Or even making a video kinda like this, almost “debunking” a brand of product that is assumed to be sustainable but there are much better alternatives. Maybe for brands like Burt’s Bees, Lush, things like that. I think it could be also very helpful to compare a basic super accessible bar of soap from a place like Walmart (dove or something like that) to what would be considered a gold star in sustainable and ethical practices. As in is it worth it to go out of our way in terms of money and time and probably have to order soap online or is the “easier” option almost as good. Hopefully that makes sense. TLDR: I would happily watch a video of Levi discussing sustainable soap for hours😂

I have had a few of these pairs. Here in Europe you buy them in over priced high end fashion shoe shops, but where I bought mine were from hardware stores from NZ and Australia. Classic and simple and comfortable shoes.

Apart from the very important issues you bring up Levi, a better quality boot in the style of the Blundstone chukka is the Redback. Their shoes are still made in Australia I believe, and a number of “tear down” videos on RU-vid attest to their superior quality. Keep up the good work with this channel. Cheers.

they're sorta sitting in between that fast(ish)-fashion and the high quality durable repairable stuff. Also, a look into the sustainability of Brita water filters would be something interesting!

What a great channel!! Thanks for your work

As a pro chef i always wear out the leather far ahead of the soles by pivoting in one spot over and over. Danskos & Blundstones are my go to, so comfy for 12 hour days on my feet.

I've been wearing Blundstones almost all the time for 30 years. In that time I've owned maybe 5 pairs. In the past I got five to ten years out of a pair. The last time I went to by a new pair I could tell they were different the second I picked them up, then I found they were not made in Australia (Vietnam I think). For a long time I refused to buy a new pair for the price they want when they were made in a cheap labour country, then I broke down and bought a pair. We'll see how long they last. If I don't get 5 years out of them I won't buy them again.

Awesome video!! So exited for the Future Proof Content!!

I've gone through four pairs of Blundstone and won't be buying any more. Each pair lasted less than the previous pair. I just bought my first pair of Redbacks and so far I'm very happy. They're more comfortable than Blundstone, thicker leather and better sole, and they're made in Australia .

I had my first pair for 10yr. They only ever needed one repair (free of charge from Blundstone) on the rear pull strap and that was at year 7. They have been relegated to my grass cutting and gardening boots and i have worn through the heel and through a small portion of the leather near my small toe. They were worn year round, ice, snow, sand and sun...you name it. Never let me down! I just recently grabbed a pair of winter specific Blundstones as well as a pair of there new "active" line boots. I expect nothing less then another care free 10yr. 🎉

I have a black pair of Blundies and I love them. Got them 2 years ago and they have worn really well. Not to mention, they can really take a beating and they go with pretty much everything.

I got 2 years out of my last pair of Blunnies, admittedly i wear them pretty hard but the sole completely disintegrated. Switching to jim greens or redbacks now

Thank you for the video! I was looking for information on Why Blunstones are so very comfortable, like more about the shoe design and how can one pair of shoes be suitable for so so many people and numerous different feet. Because since i got my pair, which i absolutely resisted to do for ages because of their popularity, i just can't stop wearing them. My feet never ache or get tired and that i should say is no 1 parametr one should be looking for ) I truly wish they go sustainable as soon as possible. Lets sign a petition and make it happen ))

My Aussie husband had a 10yr old pair of Blundstones. They were really worn but in pretty good shape. I said take them to a cobbler and have them resoled and cleaned. He decided instead during a trip home to OZ to buy a new pair and toss the old ones. Big mistake. The new ones hurt his feet. We’ve tried professional and home remedy methods to soften them to no avail. He really misses wearing Blundstones.

They may not have a Goodyear weld, but you can still resole them. I got mine done a few years ago after the sole crumbled (a known problem). Yeah, it was $120 to get them resoled, but that's still half the price of a new pair and the new sole (Vibram) won't fall apart again. Leather is still good and I am not expecting to have to replace them any time soon. Of course on the other side are my Red Wing classic boots. They can, and will, be with me until I am six feet under.

they're not great; you're absolutely right. the soles fall apart (quite literally) if not worn regularly. they KNOW this issue and choose not to improve the sole material.

Blundstone boots can actually be resoled! A goodyear welted construction is IMO a better way to go, but if you already have a pair of blundstones you like I would recommend looking into getting them repaired once they wear out.

I have a pair of RedWings Iron Ranger and yes, they will probably last 20 years, but I also find myself using Blundstones almost every day. I do agree that they should have Goodyear welt but also think that the fact they dont is what makes them so comfortable. If you are a person who wears out the sole quickly they are not for you but mine have years and so far They still have many more on them. Definitely cant say I would mind buying another pair when they were out. I think a pair of shoes that gives you 5-8 years is good enough for my sense of responsibility to the planet. I also think about the fact that unlike my Redwings, my blundsones are more versatile fashion wise so they replace more pairs of shoes in my closet than the RW.

Mate, I’m from Tasmania and have been wearing Blundstones - “Blunnies,” as we call them - for over fifty years. They are a good boot and, compared to $500 R M Williams equivalents with welted soles, long lasting and good value. However, they’re not a patch on what they were; their newer TPU soles break down, often before the uppers die, rendering them unwearable. Sad. Another Aussie company, Rossi, do very, very similar boots and actually make them in Australia. I’ll be buying my next boots from them.

I have had two pairs purchased in the last 15 years break down in the soles. One pair was a gooey mess that left stains on my carpet, the other pair the sole crumbled off while walking through the Sydney airport. In contrast, I still wear my Blundstone from the 1980s in the garden. The uppers are now soft suede and the elastic is stretched but the older style rubber soles are still going strong. I can't understand why a reputable company would be willing to destroy their brand by continuing to use an inferior product for their soles. Well-made shoes should last decades if treated kindly, not simply disintegrate over time.

Love my Blunnies. Comfortable, warm, waterproof and durable. And the women’s series look really cool.

I see these all the time up here in Canada now too for the past couple of years, definitely a fashio statement. used to own a pair when I was a kid in the 90s but could care less now as an adult. funny enough I still own a pair of sketchers boots that my parents gifted to me back in 2000 that I still own and use in the winter.

Nice video. If you’re looking for a high-quality, Aussie made boot, Baxter is the brand. They are family run, have a similar backstory to Blundstone, but use Goodyear welting, and promote ethical overseas partnerships. They also make some boots here in Oz!

Thank you for this awesome info and I feel better as a consumer now, I always try and find out where products are made, this surprised me. I will check out Canada West. I will say however, I am extremely hard on soles/heals and many of my boots have been to the cobbler and something I like about Blundstones (so far) is I have not needed to do so with these boots.

I'm in the Automotive Field my Redback Boots is still in use since 2017. I was going to buy Blundstone boots but not being made in Australia was a turnoff

Just watched this and cancelled my Blunny order on Amazon. Instead, I bought Canada West Romeo boots for my next pair. They are Goodyear welted, made here in Manitoba and they were $50 less than Blundstones. My old Blundstones lasted many years before they needed resoling. That did not go well.

Im definitely a fan! I bought mine in 1995 & 20 years later the sole crumbled. I contacted them & they replaced them! I did get the old ones resoled as well. I

Used to be a relatively cheap boot for tradies 20 years ago $60-80 when Nikes costed over $100 Seems strange they’ve now somehow become a ‘fashion’ boot. That also like saying crocs are cool

Maybe used to. Our big makers, baxters, succumbed. My jodhpur boots from the 70s with leather sewn soles were good till early 2006. They made military footwear plus different soled boots good for farmers. Not for fashion but function.

I haven't tried them myself but if you are looking for an Australian-made goodyear welted Chelsea boot R.M. Williams is THE quintessential Australian Chelsea boot and I've heard stories about people wearing them for 20+ years

i adore my blundstones. after wearing technical mountaineering/woodsman/workwear boots for years, the light weight & flexibility of the blunnies was a game changer. they can be worn out in town in addition to hiking all day or a day in the garden or walking the dogs in the rain. i worked the ramp at the airport for years & they were my go-to. the soles do wear away quickly in that environment, but my solution? you can get a pair worn like 3-15 times on ebay for $30-70. im on my third pair now & have spent like... $120 for all three? i would never buy them at retail price for what you get, but they're my favorite shoes i've ever bought & converted many a friend from clunky work boots. they feel like running shoes in comparison. handsome durable running shoes. no fiddling with laces either, while still holding your foot well.

Great video!! I recently purchased a pair... I have wide feet and these fit well and very comfortable!!

Tring shoe repair!! Love when different channels collide

Your videos are very informative. Thank you

I love Canada West, got a pair from their factory shop, I could have got them online cheaper but I'm glad I paid more for the experience.

I’m an Aussie, never heard of Blundstones, must be like fosters - no one drinks it but the rest of the world thinks we do. RM Williams have always been THE Chelsea boot to get for both the farmer and the businessman. $$ but last forever, handmade in Adelaide.

Bought some steel cap blundstones and wore them 4/5 times then they sat in a suitcase for a decade, put them on and they were comfortable for the 2 hours before the sole split in half and broke off. So the rubber and glue they use disintegrates if you wear them or not...

I wore mine today in Japan through the snow. Excellent!

These are not 'fashion' boots they are work boots worn on building sites and in workshops.

I think that Blundstone also uses the cement welt construction instead of the Goodyear welt because it’s more water resistant. Of course it’s cheaper too, but I think that they pass those savings onto the customer.

Blundstones aren't fashion boots. They're work boots here in Australia. You will be hard pressed to find any work boot with a goodyear welt in Australia. The prevailing idea is the replace the whole boot before it fails, with another boot which has very little to no break in period. Blundstone, Redback, Steelblue, Oliver, Mongrel and any other brand I can't quite remember all have very much the same range and similar ideology.

Loving this channel so much! Would you do a video on Rapanui?

Been wearing Redbacks (a more comfortable boot I say) for years, made in Sydney Australia since 1925.

I owned blundstones a few years ago but I grew out of them. I now wear Mongrel boots made in Australia and the are comfortable and have lasted daily use for almost 2 years without much wear.

Interesting video. If the Blundstone (and equivalent) slip on boots (such as John Bull and Oliver) are kept reasonably dry and not used on side slopes in wet conditions, they stay reasonably well fitting. Boot dryers are critically important if wearing slip on boots in winter. They can be resoled at least once. They are basically a truck driver’s boot. Yes, they can be used in construction but given that they are very much a flat-ground boot, they are more of an alternative item for carpenters; and useful for maintenance plumbers, who are in and out of houses on a regular basis. Also good workshop boots for steelies, toolmakers, etc.

As an Australian, Blundstones are good but they've got nothing on Redbacks. We kept the best stuff for ourselves 😉

I bought my Blundstones last year because Allbirds simply don't work all year around in the area I live. I absoulutely love my Blundstones, but its worth noting I did buy a more expensive insole to put in because I have a lot of knee issues and need comfort. I gotta say though, I absolutely love them and they've held up really well with my 20,000+ steps a day, prone to random hiking lifestyle. They also just released a vegan verision which is super cool! I just wish they were more repairable!

First hand experience, bought a pair of these a while back and now after only 5 months of consistent wearing I’ve rolled my ankles in them and the back heel rubber is peeling off. Now I’m just looking for something to ACTUALLY LAST.

Koio has had some interesting things they’ve been working on when it comes to tanning the leathers in a more responsible way. I’m not sure if they’re actually doing this or just green washing.

I don’t know how the rest you use your boots but I’m an automotive technician on my feet all day and I have a really bad habit of shovel/drag my feet… yet after years and the leather being beat and stretched beyond imagine, the soles still have some life left. Some of the seam between the leather and sole has started to separate a hair, the leather is pretty porous, there’s a bit of steel toe showing, and my feet basically flops around in the boot with 4 insoles. Very well used after 5 years

You are right! I recently bought some Blundstones knowing that they are no longer what they used to be. Still 100% Australian remained the boots Redback (which should be top quality), Mongrel and Blue Southern. However, it is very difficult to find these Australian brands in Europe with the full range of sizes and buying them directly in Australia is a gamble if you get the wrong size

I dont care how over rated they are they make me feel good when I wear them and I am confident 😌

This a great video but it does leave me wanting more content of this nature. For example, it would quite interesting to learn more about Allen Edmonds, Alden, Viberg, or some Pacific Northwest boot makers like Nick’s or White’s boots.

As an Australian I had no idea Blundstones were sold and are popular in other countries =D

This new channel has great branding and editing 👍👍

I have a pair and I love them to death. Best boot I’ve ever owned. So comfortable.

14 months and loving them. Very comfortable and getting better.

My dad first found blunnies back in the 80's for $50 in a tub at a Tasmanian farm supply store. Since then they have become a global brand.

Blundstone used to be decent when they were still made locally here in Tassie

Spot on video…Bluntstone boots “ are not made to last! “ the leather is not bad, but the soles fall apart ( disintegrate is a better term) and they do not stand behind their product. They've known about this issue and have done nothing to fix it it, and then blame the customer for the problem. Just chucked out my second pair because of this problem, and if allowed I'd post photos showing the damage. The boots cannot be re- soled because they lack a welt. I'm done and glad you brought up Canada West , because I now have three pairs of their boots which should last me the rest of my days. Superior craftsmanship and fully able to be restored and re soled. Better yet made in Canada 🎉🎉🎉.

Thanks! Do you know the Swedish brand Fjällraven ? Would love you to do a video about them!