I know this will sound like hyperbole, but I may have just found the perfect pair of boots. They are Blundstone Boots, Super 550 Series, #1316. A pair of boots for every occasion. O.K. that is hyperbole. I mean, maybe if you were wearing a tuxedo you wouldn’t want to wear these, or if you were wearing shorts, or going swimming, but for everything else, these boots are perfect. At least they are for me. I mean look at the red details on that boot. Who wouldn’t want a pair of those? Plus they are comfortable, like walk around Portland all day because your wife had a 10:00 meeting and you can’t check into the hotel until 4:00 comfortable.
I have pretty much worn these boots nonstop since they arrived. Outside of the fact that they are comfortable and well made, what makes these boots perfect for me is how versatile they are. For instance, in the past few months I have worn them to test ride a motorcycle that some guy was selling at the bar, weld up a custom fire pit that my wife wanted for our backyard, stroll around the one hundred plus galleries represented at the Seattle Art Fair*, and read a short story of mine at the launch party for issue #6 of the Pacifica Literary Review. What I’m saying, in a rather long winded kind of way, is that these boots are at home and well suited for almost every aspect of my life. They are a great choice for everyday wear, and their versatility makes them ideal for travel.
If the red and black color combo is not your style, check out the rest of the color options Blundstone offers. A quick word about sizing: don’t get confused by the Aussie numbers (did I mention they are an Australian company?) I’m not used to seeing those, and it’s a good thing they list the U.S. conversions. When mine first arrived I slipped them on and was a little disappointed. They just felt too roomy. I glanced down at the miscellaneous material that was still in the box and found a little note that said something along the lines of “For optimal comfort we make these boots with extra room, if you desire a snugger fit please use the additional insoles provided.” I unpacked the extra insoles, slipped them in and Ta Da, perfection. Those Aussies, it’s like they think of everything.
the good
- comfortable
- well made
- sturdy
- stylish
- versatile
the bad
- your other shoes will feel neglected
Available through Blundstone for $185.00
*The More you Know: Inspired by the Venice Bienalle, The Seattle Art Fair was founded by Paul Allen and had its inaugural opening earlier this summer. For more information you can read this article in the New York Times, or this one from The Stranger.
boring stuff: I was provided with a free sample for this review. This in no way affected the opinions expressed in this review. All images via Blundstone.