resoling blunnies?

[myotis]

Does anyone know if there is company (in the UK) that resoles blunnies.

Both soles have split, but uppers have years left in them.

I know I could just take them to the local shoe mender, but it seems the sort of thing that a specialist service might exist (google found just such a service in the UK.

Thanks,

Graham

 

[resnikov]

I take it you mean Blundstones?
I'm looking for somewhere too to get mine resoled. Best boots I have ever had, its just a shame the soles have gone and leak now.

 

[myotis]

I take it you mean Blundstones?
I'm looking for somewhere too to get mine resoled. Best boots I have ever had, its just a shame the soles have gone and leak now.

Yes, I do mean Blundstones, and I have edited the title to make this clear.

Like you I have found them excellent, and happy to buy a new pair, but if I could get them resoled that would be good. I bought this pair "well used" for £10 and have worn them almost every day for two and half years, so there is no shame to them.

Graham

 

[WoodMan]

No idea about resoleing but one thing I can tell you, the new Blundstones will not be as good as your old ones. I have had a few pairs over the years and the quality has fallen with each pair. Still good but no way are they are worth £100. I would be suprised if I get another pair. Glyn.

 

[myotis]

Glyn

I have had a few pairs over the years and the quality has fallen with each pair. Still good but no way are they are worth £100.

Can you explain how the quality has fallen? I have a pair of Rebacks as well, bought on the back of reviews that suggested the quality of the Redbacks was now much higher than the Blunnies.

And yes the Redbacks have thicker leather and thicker soles, but stitching quality seems similar and in practice I wear the Blunnies because they are much more comfortable and much lighter. I use the Redbacks more as a walking/working boot and the Blunnies as an every day shoe/boot, as I never know when I might end up doing some unexpected field work.

Graham

 

[WoodMan]

The leather seems to be thinner and seems to crack where it flexes, rather than getting old gracefully like good leather does, they seem to get worn out if that makes any sense? I have never worn a sole out as the uppers always go first but, to be fair, all of my boots are worn for work/general/everyday and are not cared for that well. The Blundstones are very comfortable, wish I had bought several pairs ten years ago and put them in stock. Glyn

 

[myotis]

Thanks Glyn, that makes sense.

It isn't going to help with the leather but for 2011 they are changing the sole material so it may help the problem that Resnikov and I both have.

When I bought the Redbacks, the sole splitting on the Blunnies was one of the issues raised in forums that pushed me towards the Redbacks. The new soles on the Blunnies are the same material as the Redbacks use.

Its a shame the way quality drops of this way, I'm tempted to buy a pair of Hoggs, more expensive but traditionally built and no where near the price of RM Williams, but I find the Blunnies just so incredibly comfortable.

Graham

 

[AussieVic]

A few years back Blunnies swapped from being made in Australia to China. At that time I think the overall quality dropped a little: the soles started to wear, the leather on the toes scratched quickly and wore, and I think they may have changed the lasts too because the just didn't fit me the same way (perhaps that was just in my head).

Until then I had always bought Blunnies, but since I've switched to Redbacks and I've been very happy with them.

I had never thought about resoling ! I did once have some hike boots resoled professionally, but they didn't last very long. I suspect you need to bite the bullet and get a new pair.

 

[myotis]

AussieVic,

Yes it was the comments in decline in quality after the move to China, that pushed me towards the Redbacks. But having got a pair of Redbacks, I then acquired the Blunnies, and for my feet the Blunnies are more comfortable albeit the Redbacks feel far more robust.

I'm not sure what to do about them now.

Graham

 

[snozz]

I've had 3 pairs of Blunnies in 9 years and wear them everyday for everything. Unless I am doing a serious bit of walking I also use them for hiking. As you say, extremely comfortable. It's the elastic going loose on mine, and a generally scruffyness that has made me buy further pairs, but the oldest ones are still going strong for allotment wear. Never tried Redbacks - will look them up. I got my last pair online for about £80. None of mine have issues with the soles splitting, although the tread has worn down on my oldest pair. Don't know what to suggest other than another pair!

 

[Soundmixer]

Blunnies are about all I wear these days. The steel toecap version is the business.
I got all mine from

http://www.downunderboots.com.au/

The price is better and the shipping is really fast (Melbourne to the UK in 4 days!)
Some of my Blunnies have worn out at the seams, some on the sole, but I am hard on them. Never heard of a resoling service though which is a shame.

Cheers

 

[myotis]

I got my last pair online for about £80. None of mine have issues with the soles splitting, although the tread has worn down on my oldest pair. Don't know what to suggest other than another pair!

Yes, I have found them for £80 with free carriage on line, and I suspect that resoling would be close to buying a new pair anyway. I just hate throwing things away if they can be repaired.

The American place charges $65, and even if there was somewhere in the UK, charging the same sort of price you would still have the postage . http://www.myshoeman.com/blundstone_shoe_repair.htm

Graham

 

[myotis]

Blunnies are about all I wear these days. The steel toecap version is the business.
I got all mine from

http://www.downunderboots.com.au/

The price is better and the shipping is really fast (Melbourne to the UK in 4 days!)
Some of my Blunnies have worn out at the seams, some on the sole, but I am hard on them. Never heard of a resoling service though which is a shame.

Cheers

How much does this work out at?

They are £80 a pair with free carriage here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Blundstone-51...Men_s_Shoes&hash=item3f07904f4d#ht_2309wt_882

Graham

 

[AussieVic]

Comfort is King !

I just checked on http://www.blundstone.com/ and they have a UK distributor; why don't you try them ? See what they suggest. Failing that, you could try taking them to a bushwalking shop and see if they can recommend a good repairer.

 

[myotis]

Comfort is King !

I just checked on http://www.blundstone.com/ and they have a UK distributor; why don't you try them ? See what they suggest. Failing that, you could try taking them to a bushwalking shop and see if they can recommend a good repairer.

Thanks, the UK distributor is in Italy it seems with an Italian only web site, but according to the repair site I linked to earlier, the official line is that the soles can't be replaced. I think I've resigned myself to buying a new pair, as they are also getting a bit scruffy anyway.

Graham

 

[sasquatch]

I didn't realise the quality has gone downhill, I've got a pair I bought in 97 or 98 that never get worn anymore. Still in great condition, looks like I might have to dig them out tonight and see if they still fit. I tried Redbacks and Blundstones and definately preferred the Blundstones for work everyday in 1997-8 but that's a long time ago and things can change I guess.

 

[AussieVic]

All opinions are subjective. If you have a pair and they work for you, then you are on a winner.
That age would be the "good ones" IMO anyway !

 

[Soundmixer]

My last pair of Blundstone 500s got a hole on the left foot round about where the big toe would be. The leather stretched and parted from the sole unit. I've never had that happen before so I wrote to Downunder boots and they are talking to Blundstone.

In the mean time I didn't want to be bootless so I bought a new pair from Shoeland.co.uk, only this time I bought the 550s and in a half size which is wider but not longer. Sixteen hour delivery too!

The leather liner make a real difference and the leather seems slightly thicker. They do seem to be more comfortable than the 500s. the wider fitting rocks too. And the best bit, they are the same price.

Just a Blunnie fan and no affiliation with shoeland or Blundstone.

 

[Vibrant]

I'd recommend taking a look at Rossi; another Australian boot similar to Blundstones. I've thrashed the hell out of mine and theyre still going strong. Only thing is I am less of a fan of elastic sides as I get older (rolling the ankle is a bummer). Plenty of other styles to choose from of course.
http://www.rossiboots.com.au/catalogue/catalogue_details.asp?prodID=32

 

[mrcairney]

Ha, I too was going to recommend you check out Rossi. I had two pair I used for work when I was in Australia, really good. Can you believe I LOST them (I'm a bit of a nomad...)