Blundstone has been producing boots since 1870. In that time they have perfected their craft, and on occasion, they release new styles to add to their already robust collection. One such style is the 1314 seen above. It is part of the Casual Series, and as such, has a crepe rubber sole instead of the standard sole found on the 500 Series boot. As seems to be the case with every pair of Blundstones I’ve worn, the 1314s were comfortable from the very first minute I put them on. This is not the type of boot that needs to be broken in; it can be worn directly out of the box. The construction is as solid as the other boots, and I’m sure these will last a lifetime. Blundstones tend to be that way – a boot that never wears out and only gets better with age. Blundstone remains close to its roots, and continues to operate out of Tasmania. The consistency of their business practice translates well into the consistency of the boots they make. You can always count on Blundstone for a boot that will wear well and last a very long time.
Sorry, but your information isn’t quite accurate. Blundstones are now manufactured overseas and their quality isn’t close to what it used to be. They off shored years back, leaving a huge workforce unemployed–and a tainted reputation for most Australians. I wore Aussie-made versions for at least a dozen years before becoming sorely disappointed with the company’s politics and the overseas quality. That being said, I’d argue that new crepe sole is a better bet than the 500 series because the sole is easily replaceable when it wears out within a year or so (crepe soles are designed to wear quickly and be economically replaced…)
If you want want quality Aussie-made, chelsea-style boots, turn to Rossi or RM Williiams. The latter will cost you, but they truly will last a lifetime.
Wow! I’ve been wearing Blunnies since the 90’s when I ordered them directly from a shop in OZ. Then it cost about $50 USD delivered to San Diego. First pair of 550 lasted about 10 years. I know they are made in Vietnam but I’ve never had any issues with the quality control. I wore out the sole and that’s certainly not an issue of QC. It was probably related to starting out, and stopping on, my moto. I am currently wearing my third pair purchased in Bend Oregon about 7 years ago and they are fantastic. Love the comfort (even barefoot) and the weather resistance is more than enough after a bit of Nikwax.