Customer Reviews Blundstone BL566 Waterproof Winter Chelsea Boot

First of all, you should know that half-sizes are actually the same length as the whole-number sizes, but wider. They really ought to change the way they convert the sizes to American from the Australian. As for the boots - they are so damn nice. They dress up, they dress down, they got firm treads, they're sturdily built, and they go on and off so easy I'm starting to get annoyed with my lace-up boots. Frankly, I'd like it if this make of boot became the new standard Blundstone BL500 - maybe with a removable Thinsulate liner instead of a sewn-in one and a second pair of regular insoles in addition to the fuzzy ones - so you can use it in warmer weather as well as cold. (And maybe they could just stick with calling all of these boots BL500, instead of giving a different number to every variation in color.)

I am replacing these boots after having worn them for 1 year and 8 months. I am outside a lot. These boots were never waterproof but for the last 6 months if I walk outside and there is dew on the ground my socks are soaked when I come in. I haven’t taken great care of them probably applied a polish 4 or 5 times total. These are comfortable but not for any kind of dampness. The leather is cracking pretty badly. Maybe good for a dry climate.

I have been a wearer of the Chelsea boot style for YEARS, but always buy brands that are a bit more sleek and "stylish" and less expensive. More designer-y that functional. I wear them until they fall apart (about a year, maybe two because I wear them CONSTANTLY) and then replace them. This year I decided to go FULL ON BLUNDSTONE (which I had been coveting forever, but never pulled the trigger because of the cost). Wow! What a difference! Why have I been wasting my time?! The fit was perfect from the moment I put them on (I'm a US women's size 9, which is an Aussie size 6). The sheepskin shearling footbed is worth every penny. And I can tell that these boots will last and last and last! I live in Montana and plan to live in these boots during our cold months (pretty much October-April). I also travel quite a bit and can tell these will be great travel boots for city walking.

I just received my BL566 boots today. And I'm sitting here ensconced with them on my feet. The sheepskin liner is cozy and nicely supportive. (I was worried it would be too warm just sitting inside.) I originally wanted the BL558 and had both the size 7 & the size 7 1/2 shipped to me in order to choose the best fit. They were both very comfortable. (The 7 1/2 was the size that the measurement chart recommended.) Then, to make sure I had made the best choice I checked out the features of the BL566. (I got the recommended 1/2 size larger.) I saw that the boot was marked as waterproof, not just water resistant; that it was Thinsulate@ lined and had a sheepskin liner. (The liner does come out and could be replaced with my orthotics.) I really loved the way they hugged my feet! Living here in Oregon the winters are cold and wet and right away I decided these are the boots for me! Thank you Zappos!

I *love* Blundstone boots. I have three pairs, and I wear them all the time. So when I saw these, I thought all my Christmases had come at once. What's not to love? Everything that's awesome about Blunnies: the comfort, the style, the durability... plus warm and waterproof, perfect for a Philadelphia winter. I went with my standard size. My toes felt cramped. I went up half a size (which is functionally going wider). My toes felt cramped. I went up a full size. My toes felt cramped. Sadly, I've had to let these boots go--it looks like, for whatever reason, I can't get them to fit my feet. Other reviews have mentioned that it takes a bit of time for the shearling insole to flatten down. But, having had bad experiences with other brands of shoes feeling small and never fitting to my feet, I didn't feel comfortable taking the risk. Zappos, as always, have been amazing in assisting me through this process: fast, efficient, kind. And I will definitely be continuing to add to my collection of Blundstones. Just, sadly, not as my winter boots...

Since these boots are unisex, they are bulkier than women's boots. They also didn't quite fit right on my foot. The 8 is too small; the 9 is too big. They seem well made, though, and the footbed is comfortable.

Having never owned a pair of Blundstone’s, I ordered these in my usual size 9, along with 4 other styles... the 063, 558, 1910 & 1924. I also ordered 3 styles of Sorel’s... what can I say?!? It’s a pandemic and I’ve been in a boot conundrum and just so ready to have some great boots on my feet for the rest of this Oregon winter! The Blundstone’s won hands down for comfort... way lighter than the Sorel Chelsea styles, which I do love for their edginess, but had less room for my toes and overall were quite a bit less comfortable. Of the 5 Blundstone styles, it’s been a hard choice between these, the 558’s, and the 1924’s. The 558’s are my favorite for comfort and fit, having the extra glove leather lining and optional extra insoles. Positively dreamy, actually! These 566’s are really lovely, as well, with their fabulous sheep skin lined insole and glove leather lining like the 558’s. The leather looks subtly different on the outside of the boot, though, and I found I prefer the overall look and feel of the 558’s. The bronze glitter elastic on the 1924’s has caught my love for subtle sparkly things in a major way, though, and I’m still unsure in this moment which one will win out. (I wish they made the upgraded version of the 558’s with the sparkly glitter elastic so I wouldn’t have to choose, but perhaps Blundstone will catch on!) And for the record, the 1924’s are just about as comfortable... the difference in feeling is minor, really. So we shall see! The 1910’s are a suede version of the black boot theme, and the leather has a rather rough appearance to it... definitely more rigid and less supple with some rather odd smooth spots. But truly, they are also beautiful and comfortable boots. I now understand why Blundstone’s are getting to be as popular as Subaru’s around this mountain town these days, lol! Entirely wonderful and solid waterproof boots that look great with awesome fit and function!

I wear a 6.5 in most shoes and often size up to a 7 in winter boots to accommodate thicker socks. I have extremely high arches and sometimes the front of boots will wear against the top of my foot as a result. After reading the sizing guide on Blundstone's website, I decided to order a 4 and a 4.5 (US 7 and 7.5) because their half sizes are actually just "wide" versions of the size (i.e. the 7.5 is actually the same length as the 7, but wider). The 7 fit well in length with socks, but as feared, was uncomfortably tight against the top of my foot. The 7.5 is the winner - the extra width provided relief for my higher arches and was 100x more comfortable across the top of my foot. The boots look amazing on and will compliment any outfit. They are a bit stiff out of the box but since they're leather I believe they will need a short time to break them in. The extra sheepskin liner is super plush, warm, and removable so i plan to use it in the winter and replace it with other liners in the summer. Traction is good on snowy, icy Aspen streets and aside from the elastic on the sides of the boot it has been 100% waterproof so far. I am VERY happy with this purchase but I recommend buying at least 2 different sizes to find your perfect fit if you're unsure.

Shoes are great. I looked all over to try these on in a store but could only find the 550s. I was worried the sheepskin would make them too tight. I am a women’s 10-10.5 and the men’s 8 (au 7) fit well. Even better after a couple days of wear. They do make my big feet look even bigger. Having said all that it took 5 days to get them! What happened to Zappos being fast shipping? Given that these are very much full price I could have ordered elsewhere just as easily.

Fantastic boots! They are perfect for any weather, super comfy, you can dress them up or down. You cannot go wrong with these boots.

This is a great shoe! At first wearing this was snug, and I thought they wouldn't fit, but since then they have been perfect. They are true to size, offer a classic look and look great with jeans. They are worth the money.

Great shoe. I am a 8.5 womens... or a 5 in this shoe. Why? Because the half sizes in Blundstone are the same length as the regular size...just wider. I ordered both 8 and 8.5 to prove it. And it is written on the Blundstone website. Save yourself the trouble of returning. Half sizes are wide for women. Regular numbers are regular width. Good boot for walking in snow or slush. Insulated. Waterproof.

THE BEST BOOTS! This is my second pair of Blundstones and I couldn't be happier. I've had my last pair for more than 10 years and the only thing starting to deteriorate is the elastic. They are super quality that you can feel when you put them on. Thick leather, durable stitching, soft and warm sheepskin insoles. I usually wear a women's 7.5 or 8. I returned the size 5 for a 4 in these and they are perfect!

Great boot, love the style. Warm fleece insole. Would be nice if it came with a non-fleece insole for warmer weather though. I wear a 7.5, have bunions, the 4.5 fits perfectly. As other reviewers noted, the .5 means wider. This is wide enough for my forefoot but I don't walk out of the heels, which is frequently the case for me with wide shoes.

Bought these for a trip to Italy after some recent foot surgery and a broken bone. They were a godsend. They were waterproof, had great support and helped tremendously to navigate wet slippery cobblestones. My daughter also has a pair different style and has recommended them to friends traveling. The sizing can be tricky but super consistent. I am an 8-8.5 and run average width. I wore a 5. Same in other styles.

I have fairly wide feet, which used to dance en pointe (ballet toe shoes) so the feet have been damaged and are tender. I generally wear Keen and Brooks, but needed something that could be worn with tights and a dress for a trip to Paris. I had read about Blundstone and wanted to try them. It was tricky, because so many styles look exactly alike. I read a lot of reviews and descriptions. and settled on these because of the waterproof aspect (my trip is in the autumn) and the sheepskin inner sole. One review I read said that the half sizes are not longer, but they are wider, so I went with an Au 6.5. They fit well, although the first time I tried to put them on it was a bit like surrendering one's virginity. How can this big foot fit in that tiny opening? However, using a vertical rather than horizontal approach and remembering the elastic on the sides, on they went. They ate my socks, which were well fitting ankle socks. I tried with tights, and there were no porblems. I got Thorlos Over The Calf Work Socks (which are guaranteed to stay up) and they work very well with the boots, too. Because of my high arch, I need an orthotic when wearing tights, but the work socks make the boots comfortable without an orthotic. Are they worth the money? They absolutely are, to me. I adore the style and the versatility, and the comfort is fabulous once you decode how to achieve it.

Extremely comfortable out of box. Arrived the first day of a week-long rain storm and they held up incredibly. Warm and dry feet for the whole day, took on any puddle I encountered, and was able to laugh at my coworkers with their soggy feet. I'm constantly running around between work and school, and my feet have had no complaints. I'm usually a women's 6,5(ish) and the AU 4 (W7) fits nicely, with a bit of roominess for a thicker sock if I wanted. The lined footbed is great at keeping my feet toasty, to the point where they get TOO warm sometimes. On hotter days I just swap out the sheepskin bed with an orthopedic insole and life is great. Only qualm is that for the first few days the back part of the 'mouth' of the shoe rubbed up against the back of my calf and caused a little bit of discomfort. Wearing higher socks helped remedy this, and after two weeks the irritation is gone. Overall extremely happy with the boots. Comfy, look great and go with everything.

I am so damn happy with these boots! I tried Blundstones before and thought they seemed thin and not up to the task. These are so solid and well-made, lightweight and not to mention-warm! My feet are always cold (nerve damage from years of winter hiking) and I have trouble finding shoes that can keep my feet warm. I can’t recommend these enough. I’m usually a 7-7.5, the 8’s are perfect with room for wool socks. No trouble breaking in at all! Oh- and Zappos sent them so quickly! ??????

These are great boots that get better with wear. The first several days were rough on my ankles as the leather softened, but now there is no issue. The liner is comfortable and provides warmth. So far the sole and leather upper are resisting the rain and snow. It seems like these boots will last long and keep me warm and dry during the winter. Very happy with this purchase.

I have been a Blundstone fan for many years (I have owned probably 8 pairs over the last 20 years) and when I saw the great review for their new winterized boots on the NY Times Wirecutter, it was a no brainer to order a pair. As expected, they fit true to size and they are extremely warm, especially when worn with a pair of my Bombas Merino socks. I have a job where I work outside for extended periods & they are more than up to the challenge. I cannot recommend them enough.

Wore these for several NYC winters. They were the warmest boots in my closet and transitioned seamlessly from galoshes/snowshoe duty to working inside duty. I agree that the wonderful wool insert (non removable) also made them too hot for other seasons. My beef is that the sole crumbled and deteriorated after 5 years. Yes, they had a pretty good run but I also have docs that are 10 and yes *twenty* (!) years old that have no signs of coming apart.

These boots are comfortable and warm with the sheepskin liner and thick socks. I walked 4 miles in them practically right out of the box and did not experience any issues. It was a cold winter day and my feet stayed warm. That being said, for women at least, these are not particularly stylish. They are a unisex design with little embellishments. I wear a woman's size 11 and these boots look big and clunky. I saw them on a woman with a 7.5 sized foot and they looked much nicer. I will keep them for New England's winter weather and forego style for practicality!

I typically wear a 7.5 (women's) shoe, so ordered the 7.5 in this style shoe. I wore it around the house in a regular sock, but found it rather snug, and since I have high(er) arches they felt very tight across the top of my foot. (I run into this in Dansko clogs too and cannot wear them - too pinchy. noted for comparison, just in case you too have high arches and have worn Dansko clogs) There was definitely no way I would have been able to wear these with a wool sock (these are, after all, a winter shoe so winter socks are required). I tried taking the lining out, which does make them fit better, but then you are wearing an unlined shoe that doesn't have the comfort, warmth, and support provided by the liner. I have sent this shoe back and may try to order them again next year a half-size bigger and see what happens.

I like these shoes a lot, but unfortunately after just two years the sole is so depressed that it's extremely uncomfortable to walk in them (even with an insert). This is really disappointing as past pairs of Blundstones I've had have lasted longer. It's a lot to spend on shoes that can only be worn for two years.