Blundstone Thermal - Men's Review

The Blundstone Thermal is a top-rated winter boot that stands out for its classic urban style and comfort. It provides decent performance in our other testing metrics, but if you need a burly boot for deep snow and cold temperatures, there are better options out there.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

The Blundstone has 200 grams of Thinsulate from the instep forward around the toes and a fuzzy sheepskin footbed liner to provide protection from the cold temperatures. The ankle and heel section has no insulation, but there is additional leather in this area to provide comfort. These boots are cozy enough for cold winter days in most urban environments, but if you venture into frigid climates where winter temperatures are regularly below freezing, you'll need to find other footwear for extended outdoor work or winter hiking.

Weather Protection

The outside of the Blundstone is made with genuine leather treated with a waterproofing agent to prevent them from absorbing moisture. For this reason, they are quite effective at keeping your feet dry in slush and shallow puddles. The waterproofing is necessary to prevent moisture from seeping in and making the feet cold and wet. Each side of the ankle area has an elastic panel for easy on and off which is water resistant and helps to repel moisture. In previous models of this boot, water was able to enter at 3.25 inches. Upon testing the boot this year, we were able to submerge the boot in water up to 5.75 inches before our feet got wet. The full shaft height checks in at 6 inches from the top of the heel to the top of the shaft. Six inches is fairly low for a winter boot, meaning snow can sneak in at the ankle opening. This is a major reason we recommend the Blundstone for city use, where trudging through deep water or deep snow is less common than in the mountains or country. Over time, the leather will likely start to absorb water and require the application of treatment just as you would with any leather footwear.

Comfort and Fit

Everyone we know who has tested or worn these boots raves about how comfortable they are. Their comfort comes from an excellent fit combined with a flexible, forgiving design. That said, those who like their comfort to come from thick foam padding may be a bit disappointed. These boots are not designed with a thick insole and squishy sole to absorb bumps, but they perform fantastic on long walks and commutes. Considering that they are made almost entirely of leather, we have been very pleasantly surprised that they require no break-in period and are perfectly wearable for long walks in the city straight out of the box. The fit of the Blundstone is pretty standard for a boot, which means that the length is spot on for the size, and there is a bit of extra room to accommodate thicker socks or allow for some foot swelling with prolonged use.

Traction

The outsole of this boot is made of molded TPU rather than the more typical rubber. We found this compound firm and durable but not soft and sticky like some Vibram rubber compounds. These boots also don't feature any additional ice-gripping technology or rubber compounds that are more prevalent in winter boots. The lug pattern is not very aggressive compared to most of the competition, with a primarily flat surface accented by channels. While the resulting lugs are sharp-edged, they aren't very deep and have far more surface area than negative space. We've found designs like this are good for hard surfaces and tend to be quite durable, but they don't bite into the snow all that well. While reasonably effective, we can admit that the traction on slippery winter surfaces afforded by this boot is a bit underwhelming.

Quality of Construction

This leather boot is susceptible to scratching or staining like any other leather product. The stitching between leather panels is redundant, and the pull-tabs are solidly attached. The leather upper also feels solidly attached to the rubber sole, and the elastic panel is very tightly woven. Our main concerns for construction quality come from the susceptible nature of leather to scratching, cutting, and staining, but all leather products require regular conditioning and maintenance. We used these boots a lot during the testing period, daily, in fact, and haven't seen any indication of problems or excessive wear.

Should You Buy the Blundstone Thermal?

The Blundstone Thermal is a stylish, comfortable, and convenient winter boot that will excel for style-minded city dwellers. If you need to protect your feet from the snow and slush you may encounter around town and prefer not to wear a large winter boot, these are your best bet. However, we don't recommend these boots for those who live and work in deep snow every day as they are more easily infiltrated by cold and snow compared to the other options. As you might expect, with high-quality construction and genuine leather material, these are not the most budget-friendly boots. That said, if you are in the market for Chelsea boots, these are the best out there, and if they are within your price range, we think they are worth it. Since we use these on a regular basis, we think they are solid boots that you will be happy to wear for many years.

What Other Winter Boots Should You Consider?

With a high price tag and limited usefulness outside city sidewalks, the Blundstone is not the most versatile winter boot. If the cold weather has you outdoors for chores or fun, then The North Face Chilkat V 400 is a better bet and can keep you drier, warmer, and with more money still in your wallet. If your winter needs lean more toward chores and outdoor work, then the Muck Boot Arctic Sport Mid is a potential option with impressive comfort and easy slip-on design with a lower price tag. If you want to save money and anticipate winter hiking in your future, then the Merrell Thermo Chill Mid might be more your speed. And if you want more warmth and weather protection, but don't want to sacrifice style, the UGG Butte is your best option.