Blundstone vs Redback’s Work Boots: 3 Months of Jobsite Wear

I’ve spent years wear testing different work boots, and this might be my most… Australian review yet.

From the nation that pretty much only wears Chelsea boots we have two companies that have really focused on making the Chelsea work boot: Blundstone andRedback.

Both brands make boots that are more geared to casual wear, but I’ve spent the last several months focusing on the models they describe as made for demanding work: Redback’s “Easy Escape” and the Blundstone’s 490s.

If you’re like me, you want to know everything about boots before spending money on them, so we’re breaking down the style, design, construction, cost, and comfort.

Redback vs Blundstone: How to Decide Right Now

It’s possible that I enjoy writing about boots a little too much — which is to say, this is a pretty lengthy review — so I put my findings up top for you here.

Both Redback and Blundstone…

• are lightweight
• were easy to break in
• have great shock absorption
• work well for my flat feet
• have a degree of resistance to electrical hazards
• have steel toe options
• have oil, acid, and slip resistant soles
• have a removable insole you can wash when it’s stinky
• are very water resistant but not technically waterproof
• easy to take on and off
• can’t be resoled
• are squeaky when wet
• offer less support than boots with laces

Reasons to Buy Redback Instead of Blundstone

• It’s $30 to $50 cheaper
• It’s made in Australia instead of Asia
• You don’t need ASTM ratings; while the Redbacks exceed OSHA requirements for oil and slip resistance and have an electrical resistance rating of up to 1,500 volts, they don’t officially have ASTM ratings

Reasons to Buy Blundstone Instead of Redback

• You need ASTM ratings: Blundstones boast ASTM F2892-18, but Redback has none
• You prefer boots with a steel shank, which improves the stability and can reduce foot pain for some people
• You need a boot that’s heat resistant up to 572 degrees; Redback doesn’t mention heat resistance

How I Tested These Work Boots

For several months, I’ve worn the Redback Easy Escape boots three to four days per week (I wrote a dedicated review here) and I’ve worn the Blundstone 990s for four weeks (full review here), which was long enough to understand what I like and dislike about them.

As a water treatment plant engineer, I walk between ten to twenty thousand steps every day and I often encounter chemicals on the floor, so the fact that both of these boots have chemical, oil, and slip-resistant soles is great. I also wore both pairs at home, including morning walks with my dogs and yard work like mowing or moving stones.

Blundstone vs Redback Safety Boots – First Impressions

The Redback and Blundstone boots are very similar in style, construction, and materials. Both are Chelsea-style slip-on work boots with three pieces of oil-tanned leather, a polyurethane (PU) midsole, and a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) outsole.

Whether you’re getting the 490s or the 990s, the Blundstones are slightly more expensive and have a steel shank, which some guys find to be non-negotiable for limiting foot pain. (Others don’t notice — especially younger guys!)

Most Blundstone boots are made in Thailand, China, Mexico, India, or Vietnam — my pair was made in Vietnam. This doesn’t mean the boots are poor quality, but it does make it surprising that the Redbacks are a little cheaper.

Redback vs Blundstone Construction

Both have direct attach construction, so they can’t be resoled. However, both boots are known to last many years of wear, and they cost less than resoleable boots.

Redback Easy Escape Construction

Redback uses direct-attach construction to bond the upper to the sole by applying molten liquid TPU under pressure. This process creates an extremely strong bond without the need for screws, stitching, or glue. After months of wear, this area shows no signs of failure.

The boots feature double-stitching for extra strength and durability. The black-on-black color scheme of the leather upper and stitching creates a very cool and stylish look.

The backstay cleverly hides the heel counter between itself and the middle leather panel, preventing your heel from rubbing against an exposed counter. The clean double-stitching shows a thoughtful design.

Blundstone Work Boot Construction

Like the Redback boots, Blundstone uses direct-attach construction and cannot be re-soled. Blundstone also uses double stitching at the seams for added durability, which is important for work boots.

Unlike the Redback, the Blundstone backstay is attached to the middle leather panel with a single stitch. This can be a weak point and lead to early failure, a concern reinforced by complaints in a Blundstone Reddit group. Additionally, a single arched stitch for the heel counter is visible on the outside of the boot, which I find less aesthetically pleasing than the Redback’s design.

Redback vs. Blundstone Leather

• Redback: Black Oil Kip, fully chromed and oiled leather
• Redback: Thick at 2.5-2.8mm
• Blundstone: Oil-tanned, Stout Brown leather
• Blundstone: Also available in Black (model 491)

Redback’s leather is a 2.5-2.8mm thick Black Oil Kip, fully chromed and oiled. The heavy oiling and chrome tannage make the leather extra moist in a way that resists water, cracking, and scratches.

I’ve worn these boots in various conditions, including around water and chemicals, and my feet have stayed completely dry. Redback is transparent about sourcing its leather from Australia and New Zealand, which is a good sign of quality.

While Blundstone doesn’t say the leather is chrome tanned, it definitely is at this price, and it has the same appearance and feel as the Redbacks. Like the Redback Easy Escape, the premium leather is also resistant to both water and scratching.

Blundstone makes its boots in Thailand, China, Mexico, India, and Vietnam. They have staff on-site to ensure quality control. My boots happen to have been made in Vietnam.

Redback’s Sole

• TPU Thermoplastic Polyurethane outsole
• PU Polyurethane Midsole
• No shank
• Shock Resistant

The outsole exceeds OSHA requirements for oil and slip resistance. It’s a noticeably clear layer that is slightly soft and squishy to the touch. I can confirm its performance: I’ve had no issues with slipping on painted concrete floors in a water plant, even when wet. I’ve also walked across greasy kitchen floors in restaurants without any problems.

The midsole is made of polyurethane (PU), an air-filled foam that makes the boots both lightweight and durable, enhancing comfort. The boots also include a removable insert with an antimicrobial fabric layer on top of the foam for even more comfort.

Shank

Redback’s boots don’t have a shank. The defined heel is short, at only about 0.20”, and the space between the start of the heel to the front section of the tread is under two inches long. This matters because a lot of guys find shanks more important in boots with big heels than boots with more flat soles.

I haven’t noticed a difference in the feel of the boot without the shank compared to the Blundstone, but again, some guys can tell if there’s a shank even in wedge soled boots.

ASTM Certification

While Redback doesn’t provide an ASTM certification for these boots, they claim they can withstand shock to above 1,500 Volts. This information was on the spec sheet provided to me directly by Redback via email.

Blundstone Boots Sole

• TPU – Thermoplastic polyurethane outsole
• PU – Polyurethane midsole
• Steel shank
• ASTM certified F2892-18
• Cushioned heel pad

The outsole of these boots is slightly less squishy to the touch but still softer than other soles you might find on boots, like a Thorogood wedge, for comparison. I found no noticeable effect on comfort regarding the slight difference in the sole vs. the Redback boots.

Steel Shank

Unlike the Redback, the Blundstone boots have a steel shank. This helps stabilize the boot, keeping the heel and forefoot from moving independently of each other too much.

Again, guys who value shanks would be more likely to want one in the boot with the more prominent heel — that’s the Blundstone.

As mentioned previously, I’d used these boots while walking on flat concrete floors. I didn’t notice a difference between not having a shank in the Redbacks and having a shank in the Blundstones.

Safety

The soles have ASTM F2892-18 certification. This means they are “Constructed or manufactured with electric shock-resisting soles and heels capable of withstanding an application of 18,000 volts at 60 Hz for 1 minute, with no current flow or current leakage in excess of 1.0 milliamperes under dry conditions.”

ASTM F2892-18 also means they’re puncture resistant, dissipate static electricity, and have a lower risk of igniting volatile chemicals

Redback Boots Fit and Sizing

• AU/UK sizing
• Order your US size in the AU/UK sizing
• Zero break in

Redback uses AU/UK sizing, but they provide both AU/UK and US sizes on their website. I typically wear a US size 12, but my Redbacks are a size 12 AU, which is equivalent to a US 13. They fit me perfectly in length and are slightly loose in width. All half sizes in this style are the same length as their whole-size counterparts but in a wider fit. The brand offers US sizes 3-15 and half sizes 5.5-12.5.

To check for a correct fit on both the Redback and Blundstone boots, kick your foot to the front of the boot and see if your finger fits between your leg and the inside back of the boot.

Alternatively, remove the insert, stand on it, and place your index finger in front of your toes; this distance should be the space between your toes and the front of the insert. With my normal white cotton socks, the boots are a bit loose, but they fit perfectly with thick wool socks.

Blundstone Boots Fitting & Sizing

• AU/UK Sizing
• Order true to US sizing: my size 11 AU boots fit like a 12 US.
• Zero break-in
• Available Sizes: Full sizes 5-14 and half sizes 5.5-11.5 US.

Unlike the Redbacks, I found the sizing to be true to fit. As mentioned, I wear a size 12 US, which equals 11 AU (and 11 UK), and I found the 11 AU was the right move.

Due to the lack of retail locations near me, I drove about 80 miles to the nearest location to test-fit a similar pair before ordering.

Again, slip-on boots are notoriously more difficult to size than laced boots. The Blundstone boots’ sizing system is similar to the Redbacks’ regarding half sizes: sizes go up at full numbers, and half sizes only increase in width.

At first, I found the fit of these boots slightly more snug than the Redback boots. However, by the end of my two-week testing period, the feel of both boots was nearly the same.

Redback Easy Escape Price

• $125-$185

Blundstone 990 Price

• $140-$225

Final Thoughts Redback vs Blundstone Boots

When all is said and done, these are very similar boots.

I prefer the Redback boots because they’re made in Australia and are $40 cheaper. If there were a huge difference in features between the two boots, perhaps I could see paying extra, but there isn’t in this case.

The biggest difference is that the Blundstones have a steel shank, so if you benefit from the additional stability and durability or like a shank, that might matter. If you need to show your boss that your boots are ASTM rated, Blundstones are also the pick for you.

For my job and my use, it didn’t really make a difference, so in my case, I’d just opt for the cheaper boot.