Why Blundstones Are the Ultimate Travel Boot (and Why You Should Never Leave Home Without Them)

It started with a single pair. I was planning a trip through Europe—just me, my Osprey Farpoint 70 backpack, and no space for “maybe” shoes. Over the years, my packing style had evolved into something lean and intentional: every item had to earn its place, layer well, and handle a variety of weather. I usually wore tennis shoes on the plane—great for airports and city wandering, but useless on a rocky trail or in a surprise downpour. That left room in my bag for exactly one more pair of shoes. I needed something I could trust to carry me through train stations, museums, rainy alleyways, and maybe even a spontaneous dinner somewhere that frowns at sneakers. I’d seen Blundstones all over social media, of course—but were they actually worth the hype? I needed a boot that could do it all: durable enough for a cobblestone street, waterproof enough for puddles, and just polished enough to pass for “dressed up.” I bought them on a whim. 

I’ve worn those same Blundstones on every single trip since.

Always wear your boots before your trip.

I didn’t expect to fall for them. I’d tried plenty of boots before—boots that looked promising, only to be retired after one trip. Some soaked through at the first shallow stream crossing (nothing like spending the evening in a hotel room blow-drying your shoes). Others gave me blisters by mile ten or felt so heavy I half-expected to hear someone say, “Okay, Harrison Bergeron, time to remove your foot weights.” And some were just… ugly. 

So yeah, I was skeptical of Blundstones.  And I knew better than to take an untested pair on a trip. You always break them in first—wear them around, soften the leather, mold them to your feet.

They arrived a week before my flight. I wore them everywhere: around the house, on errands, through puddles. I even welcomed a rainy day just to see how they’d hold up. I slipped them on, stepped onto a slick sidewalk—and by noon, I’d forgotten I was even wearing shoes.

No blisters. No break-in period. Just comfort and confidence with every step.

Rain? Puddle? Cobblestone? Bring it.

What makes Blundstones travel gold isn’t just how they feel—it’s how they simplify things. You pull them on. You go. That’s it. No tying, no swapping shoes between activities, no packing extras “just in case.”

They somehow manage to look right with everything—jeans, dresses, airport athleisure, even the nice outfits I pack just in case I go somewhere fancy (which I never do, but still). I’ve worn them to rooftop dinners and through mountain trails. They’ve never felt out of place. I’ve hiked in them, gone to the theater in them, caught trains in them, and—true story—attended a wedding in them.

But the real clincher? How they handle rain. I’ll never forget one particularly stormy afternoon hiking along the windswept cliffs of Cornwall’s southwest coast. The wind was howling sideways, the kind that slaps your hood off your head, and the rain had long since soaked through my supposedly “waterproof” jacket. I made a mental note then and there to retire it before my next trip. But my boots? My feet stayed warm, dry, and unfazed. No squishing, no soggy socks, no misery. I just kept walking. It was one of those quiet, personal revelations—the moment you stop questioning whether a piece of gear is worth it and start recommending it to strangers on the street. That was the day I became a Blundstone evangelist.

After that hike, I cleaned them with a damp cloth and they were ready for my next adventure.

They’ve Aged Better Than I Have

Three years in, they’re scuffed in the best way. Not worn out—just worn in. They’ve molded to my feet. The leather’s softer now, the fit perfect. They carry every adventure with them—every step, every city, every surprise detour.

They’re not flashy. Honestly, they are kind of plain—sturdy brown leather, pull tabs, no laces, no flair. But the kind of classic Chelsea boot look where they don’t need to be flashy. They’re practical, comfortable, and quietly stylish in a way that says, “I know where I’m going. Or at least I look like I do.”

The Best Travel Tip I Can Give You

There’s so much advice out there for travelers—roll your clothes, bring a scarf, don’t drink the tap water, whatever. But if you take nothing else from this post, take this:

Buy the boots.

If you’re headed somewhere new—somewhere muddy, rainy, magical, uncertain—wear your Blundstones. You’ll thank yourself when your feet still feel good after a 12-hour day, when you realize you never needed that second pair of shoes, and when you look back at your photos and see them there, dusted with adventure.

You don’t need the perfect weather or the perfect plan. Just a good pair of boots and the willingness to keep walking.