Can You Hike In Blundstones?

Hiking is the type of activity that does not require many skills or gear but requires hikers to have good shoes. You risk feeling uncomfortable during your trip and injuring yourself without good shoes. Since anyone would want to avoid injury, a pair of proper hiking boots are the first thing to invest in when you start hiking.

Among all companies that make regular and modern hiking boots, there is one called Blundstones. They are known for their fabulous shoes that look good, are comfortable, and are not expensive. These are only some of the reasons why people try hiking in them, but we are here today to see if that is a good idea or not.

If you want to learn more about Blundstones and their ability to act as hiking boots, stick around for this guide!

What Is The Blundstones?

Blundstones is the name of a famous shoe manufacturer that creates various types of shoes. Including Chelsea boots, sneaker boots, work boots, lug boots, dress boots, lace-up boots, and vegan boots. This Tasmanian company started in the 1800s and has since been strong thanks to its quality shoes, footbeds, socks, and boot care products.

Hiking In Blundstones (Pros & Cons)

While Blundstones are great shoes and are known for their impeccable quality, they are not a good fit for hiking trips. You will need proper hiking boots to get the best experience during a hike. Hiking boots offer all qualities needed to stay comfortable and protected during hikes. Still, the same qualities cannot be found in regular shoes, running shoes, or the Blundstones.

If you want to hike in Blundstones, you should know that the trip needs to be short, whereas the trail should not be too demanding. Rocky and rooted trails are not suitable for Blundstone shoes.

Still, some things make these shoes better than some other boots you will come across. For now, let’s look into the pros and cons you are most likely to encounter when you get a pair of Blundstones.

Pros

Here are the most important pros that might convince you to get a pair of Blundstone boots:

• Great look – even though there are various Blunstones boots, most are made with high-quality leather that looks expensive. They have an elastic panel that makes the boot look even better. It looks like a functional, sturdy shoe but is also suitable for urban areas, regular walks, running errands, etc.

• Quality construction – the original Blundstones were specifically designed for factory workers, so they needed to be durable and sturdy, with quality construction. Even today, with their water-resistant upper and thick sole, Blundstones are shoes with outstanding construction that will last for years.

• Waterproof – even though this does not apply to all Blundstone shoes, most of the boots are made with waterproof leather that will always keep your feet dry. Waterproof boots are also great for hiking or when you need to walk into streams.

• Durable sole – several Blundstones boots feature a rugged tpu outsole, whereas you can also find cushioned midsoles on most models. These quality soles are okay for rugged terrain but not the best. After all, their soles are not as thick as the ones on proper hiking shoes.

You can find other qualities on Blundstone boots, but for more information on them, you need to check out the different models. You can do that on the company’s website.

Cons

Here are some of the cons of Blundstone boots:

• No arch or ankle support – Blundstones boots have a great upper made from leather that is water resistant, odor resistant, and has anti-microbial properties. While all that is good, the upper does not offer good ankle support. In many models, there could be better arch support as well. These properties deem the boots bad for serious hiking trails.

• No traction – Traction is also essential when hiking because it makes you feel safer and more secure while walking on rocky terrain. If you wear Blundstones on a trail, you will see that you get little to no traction. The company should work on giving the shoes a good grip to make them more suitable for hiking.

• Poor breathability – The poor breathability on the shoes will leave you with sweaty feet that will make you uncomfortable and could even lead to a cold. It would be best if you had a good pair of hiking boots with excellent breathability because that is the only way to keep your feet warm while also keeping them from sweating.

So, these Tasmanian-designed boots are a good option for hikes but are far from the ideal shoes for hiking. You should invest in professional hiking shoes if you plan on hiking regularly.

Some Tips For Hiking In Blundstones

Whenever asked if Blundstones are good for hiking, I say that they are not really - unless you know how to make them good. After all, a good hiker knows how to make any shoe comfortable enough to reach the trail's end. So, here are some tips you can use to make your Blundstones good enough for a hike:

• Always wear socks – you should never wear Blundstones by themselves. Always pair them with socks that extend above the ankle. Make the socks as thick as possible for hiking trips, while you can wear regular socks for less demanding walks.

• Break them in – this is a rule you should remember for all kinds of shoes. Never go hiking, not even for light hikes, with shoes you have never worn before. Make sure you break the boots in before taking a trip. Even then, protect your feet with Band-Aid and thick socks if needed.

• No uneven terrain - Try to stay away from uneven or rough terrain. When hiking with Blundstones, take flat trails that are less demanding.

• No lengthy trips - Blundstones are not the best for long hikes, but they will be good enough for shorter trips. So, try to use them only when you know the journey will not last more than a couple of hours.

Are Blundstones Good For Walking Long Distances?

Blundstone boots are not suitable for walking long distances. They do not offer good arch and ankle support, the footbed in them is not that comfortable, and the inside of the shoe can create friction between the material and the foot. So, this all makes Blundstones unsuitable for long-distance walks.

I should also mention that you want to skip wearing them on winter trips. They perform better in warm weather because of the type of soles they have. In contrast, the company does not make all models fully waterproof. Suppose the company gives the boots better traction and waterproofing in the future. In that case, they might be suitable for winter trips too.

Wrap-Up

When choosing the right shoes for hiking, there are many factors to consider. Still, the most important are the arch and ankle support, lightness, comfort, durability, waterproofing, breathability, and traction.

Most models of Blundstone boots have only some of these factors, but others are missing. So, they are not suitable for any hike – only some less demanding hikes on flat roads and in warm weather. If you want a go hiking in other conditions, you would be better off using professional hiking shoes.