Most of us in the US don’t think about the weather in Tasmania all that much. And, to be honest, I didn’t either, until I took a 10-day trip to the tiny island state last year and encountered its muddy, rainy, rooty and rocky landscape for myself. Naturally, I tossed my pair of Tasmanian-made Blundstone All-Terrain Chelsea Boots into my suitcase to see how they fared in their rugged homeland. The results were pretty epic.
As a professional travel writer, I get flown to the farthest corners of the world multiple times a year and am often on my feet for long stretches of the day on dirt roads, cobblestone alleyways and random trails. My footwear needs to keep me safe from slips and pain-free for many hours of walking and hiking. Plus, it’s nice if they can pull on and off easily for those notorious airport security lines. These Blundstone Chelsea boots are always the first thing I toss into my bag, whether I’m on a Kenyan safari with Abercrombie & Kent, on a snowy neighborhood walk with my dog or tooling around the bustling streets of Hobart in Tassie.
In the two years I’ve owned these boots, I’ve road-tripped across California in them, taken them on an Antarctic cruise with Seabourn, visited the Alaskan backcountry via Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, endured a soggy visit to Olympic National Park and braved countless late-night dog walks around my neighborhood in Boulder. They excel at every turn.
Let’s get into what makes the Blundstone All-Terrain Chelsea Boots so much more than your average slip-on Chelsea boot.
Whether you’re going out on a wet, 3-mile-long hike or a long winter walking tour of a new city, Blundstone’s All-Terrain Chelsea Boots perform like champs. From their sturdy, grippy Vibram soles to their iconic elastic that makes getting them on and off a cinch, these are the ideal boots for city dwellers and adventure travelers alike.
Both the men’s and women’s versions of the All-Terrain Chelsea Boots are available in four colors (two versions of brown and two versions of black). If you're looking for the brand's unique four-digit IDs, you'll want Blundstone #2055-2058 for each respective color.
What I liked about them
These boots are an iconic staple of mountain town dwellers and adventure travelers who know they might be walking around in a foreign landscape for hours on end. The boots’ durable Vibram outsoles, water-resistant leather and incredible comfort all work to make them my go-to when I’m out and about in any climate.
Superior comfort
As I mentioned before, Blundstone’s All-Terrain designs aren’t your average Blundstone city boots; they’re a collaboration with legendary high-performance rubber sole company Vibram. As such, they have the go-anywhere comfort of a normal Chelsea boot but with a grippier, self-cleaning Vibram outsole. This makes them suitable for short day hikes in addition to long city strolls.
I’ve walked my dog through Rocky Mountain snow and ice in these babies, visited Tasmania’s famous MONA for a day and photographed Antarctic whales from a cruise ship deck in my beloved Blundstones, and I’ve been particularly impressed with the way they’ve never made my arches ache. I have Superfeet inserts in literally all of my other shoes, but these delightful duds don’t need ’em.
The brand also notes that its All-Terrain boots are made with a self-cleaning tread, which I honestly never noticed until I looked back and realized that I’ve never had to clean the soles of my shoes in roughly two years of hard use. Pretty impressive.
Awesome, grippy soles
The brand mentions on its website that its All-Terrain models are specifically designed with an increased ratio of tread surface contact, making them function a bit more like work boots than fashion boots. They’re also designed to be acid-, oil- and heat-resistant up to 572 degrees Fahrenheit, so they can handle your wildest adventures with ease.
I’m a big-time road trip gal, and, not long after I got my first pair of Blundstones, I decided I was fed up with the Los Angeles sunshine and wanted to go to Redwood and Olympic National Park in November. Naturally, it rained the entire time, and these Blundstone All-Terrains helped prevent me from slipping and falling, both in Portland’s soggy streets and on Olympic’s muddy trails.
Elastic on and off
That iconic Chelsea boot elastic wins big points from me here, because I’m constantly pulling my boots on and off to walk my dog, Marla. One of the primary reasons I end up wearing my Blundstone boots nearly every day of my life is because, apart from their excellent comfort and support, they are much easier to get on and off than my lace-up shoes. This is awesome for condo and apartment dwellers like me because I’m in and out of my front door all day long.
What I didn’t like about them
There’s very little that I don’t adore about Blundstone’s time-tested designs, but there are a few considerations potential buyers should keep in mind before opening their wallets.
Ankles need to break in
Maybe I’m spoiled by my many pairs of no-break-in-time hiking boots, but I was a bit surprised the first time I wore my Blundstone All-Terrain boots out in a sundress and low ankle socks, and the shoes’ ankle cuffs cut into my heels, leaving little scabs. This seems to be a problem that goes away in about a month of wear, once the leather softens up, but it is something to be aware of if you want to wear these with no-show socks right out of the gate. The boots in general might feel stiff and uncomfortable, but once the leather finally breaks in, you’ll be a fan for life.
Not a true hiking boot
Though I’ve gone on many easy, 3- to 4-mile hikes in these awesome shoes, and they’ve done a fantastic job at keeping my feet dry in the wettest of wet conditions, I wouldn’t recommend them for much more distance than that.
For a waterproof, zero-break-in-time hiking boot, I’d recommend the Vasque Breeze, or check out our comprehensive list of the top hiking boots on the market today.
How they compare
Yes, these special grippy boots are more expensive than other Blundstones, but that might be worth it if you want an all-around set of footwear that’ll last for upwards of 10 years, according to my die-hard Blundstone friends.
If you’re simply seeking a fashionable (and comfortable) set of Blundstones to wear on short jaunts around town, you could definitely save a few bucks and get the Original Chelsea Boots ($190) or go wild with the brand’s newer lace-up styles ($215).
No matter which Blundstone you pick, it’ll come in much cheaper than Patagonia’s foray into work boots ($369). Trusted outdoor brand Birkenstock also makes a similar style, the Stalon Boots, for just $200, though some online reviewers are unsure of their durability.
Want to save a bit of cash and get a comfortable pair of all-day walking boots to wear around town? Check out Dansko’s Becka style ($180). Or, skip the grippy, comfy outsoles and take advantage of a killer deal on Steve Madden Leopold Booties ($51).
Bottom line
With their stellar shock absorption, water resistance and grippy Vibram outsoles, Blundstone has truly upped its game with the All-Terrain Chelsea Boots. Whether you’re looking for an everyday city boot to get you to and from the office in comfort (and style) or a rugged adventure boot to tackle your biggest travel goals, their superior comfort and durability will last for years and never let you down.
