No Blunder Buying Blundstone

No Blunder Buying Blundstone

Posted by Darius | Philip Morris and Son on 26th Aug 2022

#Blundstone

What are Blundstone boots?

Blundstone boots are some of the toughest, no-nonsense footwear for both work and play available on the market. Blundstones are boots with an ideal blend of practicality, comfort and style all in a boot. There are multiple different styles of Blundstone boots, all with slightly different features (which we will dive deeper into later on) but their most popular styles are classic men’s and women’s Chelsea ankle boots with elasticated side panels, pull tabs for ease of getting the boots on/off and cushioned EVA insoles for comfortable feet all day long. They also include shock absorbing XRD® technology to protect your feet on rough terrains, steel shanks for extra support and enhanced durability and toe springs to help promote energised walking.

Who are Blundstone? 

Since 1870, Blundstone have been designing and manufacturing fit-for-purpose footwear that would withstand the cobbled city streets, rugged farmland and factory floors of Hobart, Tasmania. For 150 years they have been constantly evolving and growing as a company, ever-improving to the point they are now one of the most recognisable boot brands in the world. In the early 1900s, a state-of-the-art shoe factory is built in central Hobart, producing 2000 pairs of boots and shoes per week. Blundstone supplied half a million pairs of boots to the Australian army for World War II. In the 1960s, the iconic Blundstone 500 series is born. In 1986 Blundstone had made its way to Europe and by the late 1990s, these Blundstone shoes were sold in 22 countries worldwide. By the mid-2000s, Blundstone were producing one million pairs of boots annually out of their Hobart factory. 

What are Blundstone’s values?

Blundstone’s island home of Hobart, Tasmania may have changed a lot in 150 years but their ethos and values remain the same. If you ever needed proof of their commitment to quality and innovation, the fact their brand has endured the Great Depression, both world wars and the ever-changing fashion industry is pretty good evidence of it. They are environmentally focused, striving to minimise their environmental impact through proactive management. They do this by maximising their use of recycled and recyclable materials in their manufacture and packaging and by minimising their use of raw materials, chemicals and fossil fuels. They pride themselves on positive employment practices, the quality of materials they use and the skills required to craft their boots. Their main values are: 

  • Family - Caring for and respecting the diverse group who are a part of the Blundstone family 
  • Customer - Meeting the needs, wants and expectations of their customers 
  • Community - Being an active, positive and contributing member of the community 
  • Design – Designing innovative, quality and honest products that are fit for purpose 
  • Integrity – Behave ethically, act with integrity and to minimise their environmental impact 

Why are Blundstone boots popular? 

One of the main reasons Blundstone Chelsea boots are so popular is due to how incredibly comfortable they are. The Comfort Classic XRD® Footbeds are easy to insert and remove and also provide all-day arch support, which provides additional comfort and cushioning. Not only are they comfortable but they’re also widely regarded as very durable boots and are highly praised for their excellent longevity and high quality for a reasonable price tag. Celebrities can have a huge influence on the popularity and trendiness of a brand or product and it is no different with Blundstone boots. Popular celebrities such as David Beckham and Elliot Page have been spotted wearing Blundstone’s and helped their boots to surge in popularity. However, Blundstone boots are more than just a trend, they’ve been around way before famous celebrities were generating hype by wearing them and will continue to be around long after. They are functional first and fashionable second.

How long do Blundstone boots last? 

The official answer from Blundstone themselves is that their high-quality, rugged boots can last anywhere between 2-7 years, although the life of your Blundstone boots is of course dependent on factors such as: 

  • Where will they be worn? 
  • How often will you wear them? 
  • How well will they be cared for? 

The general, unofficial consensus for the durability of Blundstone boots however, is that they can last for around 6-8 years with some people saying they’ve lasted even longer than 8 years. If you’d like to test this theory for yourself, why not treat yourself to a pair ->  https://www.philipmorrisdirect.co.uk/blundstone-co...

Are Blundstone boots worth it? 

Straight off the bat, yes, absolutely yes. Firstly, their excellent durability and impressive comfort is reason enough but we’ve already covered those two factors and we understand, you want more. These boots may feel slightly pricey ranging from £116 to £155 but they earn their value from the fact that they are boots that can be worn daily as not only are they supportive and durable but they really are boots for anyone, anywhere, at any time. You could buy a much cheaper pair of Chelsea boots but I assure you, they won’t be anywhere near the same quality and won’t last as long. Rugged yet casual and stylish, these Chelsea boots can be worn while hiking, as work footwear or just for a casual day out with friends.

Are Blundstone boots suitable in the rain and snow? 

Here in Britain, we always have to worry about the rain but with Blundstone’s, you don’t have to. As leather is a natural material, it doesn’t offer full waterproof protection however most Blundstone boots are water-resistant and the leather should provide protection when exposed to rain and wet terrain. If your boots do get soaked from the rain, let them air dry for a few days and they’ll be fine. They are also suitable in snowy weather thanks to their brilliant traction and warm interior materials. Ultimately, these are all-round boots that can be worn in all conditions at all times and really are, made for walking.

Blundstone styles info

Choosing a style range from Blundstone can be overwhelming and confusing. The classic range, the original range, the Blundstone 585, the Blundstone 500, so many different names and numbers but what do they all mean? While Blundstone also offer Thermal and Dress ranges, their two most popular style ranges are the Original Series and the Classic Series. They are very similar in design but the main differences are that the Classic boots have a wider fit compared to the Originals, they also have a leather lining and additional cushioning in the footbed for added softness. To sum it up, the Classic Series is slightly more premium. The Dress Series are for those who want a little more stylish approach than rugged and want to wear these boots when going out for a meal. The Thermal Series are for those extra chilly days where the Thinsulate® insulation and sheepskin footbeds will ensure your feet stay warm.

How to style with Philip Morris & Son clothing

How to style with Philip Morris & Son clothing The excellent thing about Blundstones is that they are a very versatile boot. They can be worn everyday as casual boots, as work boots and they can be complete a smart outfit to go out in. This makes it very easy to pair them with outfits and they can be worn with just about  anything including jeans, dresses, tops, jackets and more. I think they look best when casually worn with jeans to give off that comfortable yet still stylish, everyday look. The Classics 550 would look great with a pair of Barbour jeans and this fluffy quarter zip fleece from Joules. However if you want to take the summer dress approach on a beautiful sunny day then the Women’s 1671 Chelsea heel boots would look fantastic alongside this beautiful, floral summer dress from Barbour.

Our relationship with Blundstone

Our relationship with Blundstone began about ten years ago when we heard about the quality of their boots, how impressive they were (and still are), and decided to try them for ourselves. It’s been smooth sailing with Blundstone ever since the day we decided to stock them and we are still just as impressed by their excellent boots today. Here at Philip Morris & Son, quality is a huge factor when choosing which brands we do and do not stock and due to Blundstone boots being not only comfortable and stylish but durable and technically excellent too; stocking their products was one of the easiest and best choices we ever made. 

Blundstone is a brand we stand by and highly recommend to anyone who’s yet to experience the exceptional quality for themselves.