The One Boot to Rule Them All

4 min read

Shop $195, blundstone.com

Welcome to the Esquire Endorsement. Heavily researched. Thoroughly vetted. These picks are the best way to spend your hard-earned cash.

I’ve been wearing Blundstone boots for over a decade now, and I’ve only ever owned two pairs. The first I won at a film festival in a rare “look under your seat and find a prize” moment where I did, in fact, find a prize. I loved that first pair of boots so much—almost to death.

The second are these suede beauties right here and, guess what, I love them even more. I’ve worn these Blundstones every damn day this winter, and I don’t know what I’d do without them. They are comfortable and all-purpose, perfect for a sort-of buttoned-up office day or playing hooky in the snow. They look great fresh out the box and somehow better after years of wear, tear, and proper care.

My first few months with these boots have felt like a honeymoon love affair. It’s the kind of item that age looks good on. Which you should be thankful for, because once you buy them you’ll be wearing them for at least the next ten years. And if you care to go to a cobbler for new soles, you can wear them for the rest of your life.

More Comfortable and Better Looking Than Anything Else

The Chelsea boot (the broad category, that is) has become so popular because it is design perfection. Easy to slip on and viable in both casual and formal settings, it’s become a menswear essential. This Chelsea boot is Blundstone’s most OG design with a twist. Instead of aged, rustic leather these are finished with a durable waxed suede that, frankly, elevates the whole package to a new level.

The squared off toe gives it a more rugged, outdoors-y style compared to dress-shoe quality of a classic rounded toe. It also gives more wiggle room (literally) for my toes. The thick rubber outsole is insanely shock absorbing, and the EVA footbed insoles are so supportive that even walking the icy city streets feels like walking on air. They are removable, if you need to put in something prescription-grade instead, but personally I can’t see myself ever taking them out. I never thought the most comfortable pair of shoes I’d ever wear would be big ole boots, but here we are with these Blundstones vying for that very title.

Shop $195, blundstone.com

The Resilient, Gorgeous Waxed Suede

Suede is beautiful, almost without fail. But one of the regular issues with suede is its weakness to the elements. Wearing a suede jacket in the rain can just about ruin it. Blundstone’s waxed suede is not going to leave you high and dry—or wet, as it were. Instead, the waxed leather material is highly water resistant and durable against elements of all seasons. Of course, they are only water repellant, and technically you have to re-treat them to maintain the repellency. But honestly…if you don’t they’ll be just fine.

These are suede boots made to hold up to the great outdoors, making them invaluable when going up against rain and the mud. I’ve worn them in all kinds of weather conditions, and they hold up just fine. Most recently, they’ve trekked through the snow, dirt, and slush of the worst winter New York City has seen in years. And when it finally warms up, yes, I am looking forward to taking them on a hike, in the sunshine.

Shop $195, blundstone.com

They Age With Grace

The biggest surprise the first time you slip on a pair of Blunnies is the fit. They’re locked down. As far as boots go, they break in easy as any. Within days of first wear, my pair became snug and breathable, but roomy enough that I never spend a second thinking about aches and pains in my toes and feet. And as time goes by, these boots only get more comfortable. When I slip out of these at the end of the day I no longer reach for the Theragun. Instead, I can kick my feet up ache-free on the ottoman.

Everyday I wear them, my Blundstones look better. They develop that patina, they feel more natural on my feet, they become like a second-skin. The photographs you’re seeing in this story are of the exact pair I’ve been wearing for a few months now. They’re maybe two-percent of the way into their lifespan. Every day I wake up and look at my shoe organizer, I only want to reach for my Blunnies. Not because they’re the most comfortable shoes I own (but also that) or because they’re suited for whatever the weather forecast says (but…also that). I want to wear them because every wear makes them look a little bit better. Every time I put them on it’s the feeling of finding that original pair I won under my seat all over again.

Shop $195,blundstone.com

Photographs by Florence Sullivan