IN THESE days of impatient consumers and instant gratification, it has become something of a fading tradition to have to “wear in” a pair of Blundstones, the hard-wearing Tasmanian work boot. 
Many farmers, tradies and other outside workers swear by the traditional 500 model boot and are only too willing to take the time (and blisters?) to get them into the comfort zone. But, as the fame of Blunnies spread, more city folk wanted to wear them and, well, who’s got the time to run-in a pair of boots? I’ve got jazzercise in 10 minutes.
So, in a bid to keep the 300 cobblers down in Hobart even busier, Blundstone has come up with the NEW 561, a boot for the modern, cashed-up, time-poor, soft-footed suburbanite consumer. And the designers seem to have hit the mark.
Same classical look of the iconic style 500, but with added glove-soft weathered oiled 2.5mm thick waterproof nubuck suede, a more flexible sole, a footbed with the gun shock absorbing material under the heel and — wait for it — kid leather lining. The queue starts here …
So confident is Blundstone, it has adopted a three-second rule for the new boot. That’s how long it will take most people to realise the boot is already comfortable and doesn’t need to be be worn in.

Recently Blundstone discontinued the famous tug shoe and introduced a new replacement, the Blundstone Clog. Not everyone wants to wear a summer,flimsy, flip flop with no support. Now, I can have the same legendary durability and comfort as the iconic Blundstone boot, but in a casual summer clog.

Many medical professionals feel that summer sandals are notoriously ‘bad’ for your feet. However, clogs have an added value of protecting our toes, providing arch support, and most of all, some well needed fresh air circulation for those of us with sweaty feet! In fact, many brands of clogs are marketed specifically to professionals who spend a great deal of time on their feet, such as nurses, doctors, hairdressers and restaurant chefs.Making us feel oh so good on our feet has been a manufacturing creed for Blundstone. The Blundstone Bl511 stout brown (top) and the Bl512 black (bottom) are weather sealed, oil and acid resistant, with a dual-density polyurethane sole. Compression molded EVA midsole for cushioning and flexibility. The dry wick lining prevents moisture to keep your feet cool and refreshed on any hot summer day. Of course, I also like to wear mine in the fall with my favorite thick comfy socks.

Take a break and slide into some comfort! Blundstone All Leather All Weather Clog starts at $130.

FIT FOR FIRE AND ICE published by National Geographic: To test the hottest innovations in cool weather clothing and footwear, we headed to Iceland, the epicenter of harsh Scandinavian weather, for the perfect seven day trip.

Jonathan (Top)
The bright yellow Patagonia Spraymaster Jacket ($249; www.patagonia.com) is stretchy, waterproof, and breathable. It hides Horny Toad’s long-sleeve La Paz Tee ($28; www.hornytoad.com) and tops Lucky Brand Relaxed Bootleg Jean ($114; www.luckybrand.com). His boots are the timeless, weather-proofed Blundstone 500 ($145; www.sugarriveroutfitters.com), while the shades are Oakley’s
wire-frame Crosshairs ($145;
www.oakley.com).

Did you know many online websites claim to carry Blundstone, but in fact they really don’t. Each e-retailer presents an array of styles sold at what they claim to be bottom line pricing, and “in-stock”. After you, the consumer, selects a style and makes what you thought to be a quick purchase, they email you, several days later only to say, “Blundstone is backordered.” Why?
Because several online websites do not own a warehouse or carry stock. Stock is “dropped-shipped” directly from the distributor. This “drop-ship” process can cause several delays to what you hoped would be a quick purchase.Our process is completely different. You select a style from our assortment (just a little toot! - largest onthe web), checkout, and whaala your new Blundstones are shipped immediately. We also hand inspect each shipment for quality assurance. Don’t believe us? Then listen to what a few of our customers have to say:
“This was the best online experience I’ve ever had! They really know how towow their customers at Sugar River Outfitters! Other companies should take lessons from them. I don’t know why anybody would buy Blundstones elsewhere…(I had waited a month and never received my order from MyShoeStore.com.They had charged my credit card but never responded to emails and their phone numbers weren’t in service. I hesitated to order Blundstones online after such a lousy experience.) But both of the orders I placed with Sugar River Outfitters arrived next day despite a snow storm! I sent back the boots that didn’t fit and received email confirmation the very next day that my return had been received and credited. Once again they restored my faith in online companies. Their customer service and shipping can’t be beat! I’d definitely shop here again” E.Barnhorst NH
“I received my boots fast, in the right size and color!” M.Riordan NY
“Immediate acknowledgement, fulfillment and swift shipping.” A. McGehee NM
“Great service and fast shipping. Product arrived in perfect shape” A. Lum WA
“My item shipped the very next day after my order was placed, and was received the followingday. Always love fast delivery!” T.Martin VA