In 1853, the Cuthbertson brothers, bound for Melbourne, were blown off-course and found themselves in Hobart Town, Australia. It was there they started their business, making and importing shoes. Since then, Blundstone has spent the last 150 years crafting dependable footwear and establishing itself as an icon of industry and functional form Down Under.
Blundstone boots are no-nonsense, go-anywhere, do-anything legends. Best known for their classic slip-on boots, this season Blundstone has introduced their first shoe. The BL260 has a premium leather upper, stretchy side panels, goat leather lining, and a top stitch durable rubber sole.
Colloquially known as “Blunnies” in Australia, every pair of Blundstone boots, and now shoes, are designed to withstand the rigors of an unforgiving Australian Outback. After all, if they can survive the Outback, they should be able to handle anything you throw at them.
When Blundstone offered our team a pair of the Men’s BL260 slip-on shoes for review, we knew there was only one way to truly put this Australian legend to the test. Send them to the ranch with the following instructions: Break them if you can.
Of course, prior to putting the BL260 through the muck and the mire, our field guru took some time to wear his Blunnies on walkabouts around town. After all, the premium leather upper with contrasting stitch-down construction gives the Blundstone Stout a classic styling that shouldn’t be sheltered in the stalls.
A flexible, elastic fabric (the elastic gore) sewn into the sides of the shoe provide a snug fit, and coupled with large heel pull tabs, the BL260 slides on and off with ease. The tabs come in especially handy, because whether starting your morning after a night out, or gearing up to tackle chores on the stead, your sleepy body can use all the help it can get.
Blundstone’s design team has crafted the BL260 with a gum rubber outsole which provides plenty of traction whether cruising the burg, the boondocks, or mucking stalls in the barn.
And because every day isn’t sunshine and gumdrops, you’ll be pleased to know that the BL260 shoe is surprisingly immune to the elements. Time and again, our field guru was impressed with the BL260’s ability to shed water, keeping his feet nice and dry.
Room for Improvement …
The BL260 introduces the legendary Blundstone durability in the form of a shoe that’s so versatile it lends itself to hours of wear while knocking out errands and chores. It’s that lengthy wear time however which spurred the primary critique of our tester.
After several weeks of lengthy wear, our high-arched tester swapped out the Blundstone removable insoles for a pair of aftermarket footbeds from SOLE to provide more arch support. Not everyone will want (or need) to purchase aftermarket footbeds, yet for those with a high arch it may prove to be a beneficial purchase if you plan on long days in your Blunnies.
Bottom Line…
Our field tester put these shoes through conditions most people will never encounter. The result, the Blundstone 260 remained unphased and unbroken. You may never bushwalk through the outback or visit the Rocks at Sydney Harbour, but the BL 260 Shoes will let your feet enjoy the versatile comfort and function Aussies have revelled in for 150 years.
Manufactured by Blundstone (blundstoneUS.com), the BL260 is available now in leather or suede for approximately $130. The shoe can be purchased from a variety of online retailers. Womens 6 to Mens 13.