All Purpose Boots (that fit like Blunnies)

[Ceylon_Star]

My Blundstones are my true all purpose boots. I ride in them, wear them to run errands, and wear them to feed and clean paddocks for 30-something horses at work monday through friday. Sadly my current pair are falling apart after less than a year and I am not too keen on replacing them with more sub-par blunnies…

Problem I have with paddock boots is that lace ups and zip ups tend to rub my heel/tendon I like the elastic gussets of the pull ons because they offer flexibility and allow me to get my bad ankle (with and without brace) in and out comfortably. I like the wide fit of Blunnies because they offer a bit of wiggle room and air circulation in summer, and leave space for wool socks when temperatures drop.

I do wear goretex hiking gaiters over my boots for work to keep hogfuel out of my shoes, so a slightly looser fitting upper isn’t an issue.

Being able to wear the new boots to ride is a bonus but not mandatory. Biggest thing is comfort, wiggle room, and durability.

I wear Men’s 7 Or Blundstone 5.5.

[SolarFlare]

Redbacks are very much like Blundstones but they are still made in Australia and are supposed to be great quality (like the Blunnies before production got moved to a cheaper country).

I was across from a booth that sold them at the Royal last year so got to hear all about them

http://www.redbackboots.com/

[sprite]

I have a pair of mountain horse that are blunnie-style that have held up very well, although they don’t get the workout that yours do :). Gusseted, pull on…I’ve been very happy with them!

[billiebob]

[QUOTE=SolarFlare;8178699]
Redbacks are very much like Blundstones but they are still made in Australia and are supposed to be great quality (like the Blunnies before production got moved to a cheaper country).

I was across from a booth that sold them at the Royal last year so got to hear all about them

http://www.redbackboots.com/[/QUOTE]

These! I can kill a boot like nobody’s business and I can get at least a year out of my Redbacks. For comparison purposes, I’ve killed a pair of Ariats in 3 weeks and 2 different pairs of Blundstones in about a month. Redbacks are so, so, so comfortable. I wear a women’s 11 US and usually get an 8.5 (or 8 if that’s what’s on sale).

[McVillesMom]

Rossi boots. Very similar to Blundstones but still made in Australia and great quality.

[Ceylon_Star]

Thanks folks! I’ll look into both Redbacks and Rossis!

My last pair of Blundstones lasted nearly a decade of hard use, but these ones are crap in comparison! The soles are currently held together with shoe goo because apparently the way the boots are made they cannot simply be resoled. Such a pain!

[Mango20]

Check out the Dublin Venturer, too.

[msj]

Another vote for Redbacks.

I used to wear Blunnies but when my last pr. died and I had read on COTH that they weren’t what they used to be I switched to Redbacks and have been very pleased. I think I’m on my 2nd or 3rd pr.

I don’t mind a zip up but hate a lace up boot. Mind you I have no ankles left from heaven only knows how many times I’ve sprained/broken both ankles and should probably buy the lace ups for extra support but I just hate to lace up and then unlace.