Customer Reviews Blundstone BL500 Original 500 Chelsea Boot

They lasted a good number of years of moderate wear, but the soles decided to disintegrate & chunk off. If you look online, this seems to be a common problem. Not sure I'd buy another pair.

Love these-- however I have pretty flat narrow foot and just was too loose, like my foot would flop around. I tried the 8 and they seemed too small and the 8.5 was wide. After a little research it seems true that Aussie half sizes are just wider, not longer.

I have been wearing Blunnies forever. Since they are no longer made in Aussieland, the quality is just not the same. It had been many years since I bought a pair, they still fit nice but the leather quality is not so great. Within a couple of weeks, I have torn a small piece on the leather on the toes of each foot. The leather is just not very thick. A good shoe but not what it use to be!

Did not fit at all. My instep just wouldn't fit the shoe. I put wide in the search, and these boots came up. They should not be marked as a wide shoe.

These shoes should be bought for your size if you wear a thick sock. It's tricky because they stretch out over time. My size eight is at least a half size bigger now and I can no longer wear it without my Smartwool hikers. Perfect for cold wet weather, but I bought my new pair a half size down to wear with a crew sock in warmer weather. Totally waterproof when oiled and last forever if you keep them conditioned. I've had my original pair for almost ten years. Sole is amazing.

I bought the 500's two weeks ago and am just ok with the boot. Great look with skinny jeans and great for a rainy day. I wear a 8.5 or 9 women's and bought these in the AU 6.5 and they fit well. A little on the wide side, perfect for thick socks. You will want to wear a thick sock because they rub on the back of your ankles a bit. Not too bad or blisters, but I do notice after wearing for several hours. They are hard inside and little arch support so maybe an insole would help with cushioning. The stout brown color is very dark so it's perfect with brown or black clothes. Overall, I'm glad I bought them and am enjoying them, but not exactly as awesome as I thought they'd be. I tried 3 different sizes before I chose the 6.5 and Zappos customer service cannot be beat! They were great with returns and exchanges and I love the overnight service!

For the price, I am really happy with the fit, comfort and style of the boot. In all these categories, I feel like I got what I paid for - rare with shoes lately. My one complaint is that I had the shoes for about three weeks before the toe on one of the shoes began to scuff and get fuzzy in such a way that made me question the quality of the leather being used. Scuffs ordinarily shine/buff out if a nice leather. These feel more permanently scarred. Bummed about that. For those who suffer the same foot shape: I have a pretty wide/high-volume foot that need great comfort and support to last the day. On that front, I'm happy with the purchase. If, though, Blundstone is going to continue selling them as "rugged" as marketing suggests, they need to go with a thicker/higher quality cut of leather.

Really nice casual boot for kicking around, walking around the city. Unless you have a very narrow (narrower than D) foot, size up a half-size from what Zappos recommends. Build quality is mediocre but somehow these seem pretty tough. The leather is so-so quality that definitely doesn't stand up to better offerings, but it seems durable enough. Treated with nikwax it becomes virtually waterproof. Not as comfortable as the Blundstone models with a kick-toe and extra midsole. Overall a decently useful, stylish, multifunction boot that should really retail for less. Don't hike or walk long distances in these or your feet will be sorry. Pair with nice jeans or chinos.

I ordered these boots about two years ago now. While the boots are incredibly comfortable, the outer layer of leather began to fray and scuff in the first few months. Since then, the leather on the toes have been scuffed and worn completely off. I ordered these boots on a recommendation from an Australian friend, but they have come nowhere near living up to their hype.

2 stars because I love Blundstone boots, but, Beware: The color of THESE boots is not as it appears in the Zappos picture. The true color was black with a brown gusset. The picture appears as brown boot with a reddish gusset. Go to the Bundstone website for a true color picture.

CONS. (1) Difficult to put on...elastic collapses as I try to get my foot into the boot. (2) The stiff leather bites into my ankles, front and back as I walk...probably would get better as they get broken in, problem is I don't think I could wear them that long, painful! (3) Nearly impossible to get off! I though I might have to call my neighbor to assist but I finally was able to slowly and painfully leverage them off. (4) Despite my difficulty in getting them on and off, they were loose and sloppy inside. Additionally the footbed felt hard and uncushioned. PROS: Sturdy boots, traction sole. I liked the style in the photos, but find it big and bulky and far too stiff to wear. All in all, this boot was such a disappointment to me. I'm struggling to find something positive about it.

I wanted to love these boots. I've always loved the way they looked and finally bit the bullet. Well, to get them on, it required by wife pushing while I pulled. The boots were so stiff and almost impossible to get on. Finally, when they were on, they were too big in the foot. I'm not young enough to wait until they are broken in. Sadly, had to return them.

Inexpensively constructed compared to other boots I’ve purchased. Not built for comfort or labor. No lining, cheap flimsy insole....etc. But they look great.

Meh. I was expecting better quality for the price and the legendary Blundstone "ruggedness." These things wouldn't last through more than a couple Midwest winters. The leather upper is okay, but as other reviewers have noted, by the time you get it broken in, the soles are going to be worn down and not replaceable. I was actually surprised at the so-so rubber used for the sole. It has molded treads, but it's not particularly rugged material. Likewise, the removable synthetic insole was very flimsy. There's nothing on the footbed to "break in" and it wouldn't get more comfortable with wear. I don't think I'll shell out for the leather-lined version. I am going to look elsewhere for a good chelsea/work boot with vibram soles or similar.

I agree with the Top Critical Review. I love these boots. They were my comfy do-everything throw-on boots for years, but the longevity of the soles suck compared to the uppers. You can't re-sole them. It really sucks having to dump a pair of boots where the uppers are in excellent shape, just because the soles crumble as they dry out. Ugh. I've moved to Red Wing with welted construction. I'll have them for a lifetime.

Loved the boots, very comfortable and stylish...but after about two or three years of very light wear, mainly in the office, the soles began to literally crumble. That's disgracefully poor quality for a boot that costs this much.

So hard to get on and off - would have been better with a size zipper. Also felt very small. The leather top on the back of the leg digs in badly too.