Steel Blue Review: A Comfortable, Well-Priced Blundstone Alternative

Steel Blue is a little-known work boot brand from Western Australia that was new to me until I came across their Hobart Scuff model while researching competitors for my Blundstone 990 review.

After reaching out with a question about the Hobart Scuff’s TPU toe bumper, Steel Blue offered to send me a pair of boots. They did so with no expectation of a review, and without paying me any money, plus it was so long ago that if they expected anything, I’d have definitely heard from them by now. Anyway, the opinions in this review are entirely my own.

This review focuses on the 812967M, the men’s Hobart Scuff Chelsea. (Not their regular Hobart Chelsea, which is a little less geared toward “work”.) I’ll look at the boot’s specs, construction, comfort, fit, and safety features to see if this well-priced boot holds up on the job.

Steel Blue, the Company

Founded in 1995, Steel Blue began in Perth and is now headquartered in Malaga. Both are in Western Australia, where my editor Nick‘s dad is from. Compared to legacy Australian brands like Blundstone (1870) and Redback (1920s), Steel Blue is a relative newcomer.

The company was founded by five men, including current CEO Garry Johnson, with the goal of creating safety footwear that delivered comfort comparable to athletic shoes.

Steel Blue boots are now sold in more than 40 countries through some 350 retail outlets. Most manufacturing takes place in Jakarta, Indonesia, where Steel Blue has partnered with the same private manufacturer for over 20 years.

How I Tested My Steel Blue Boots

As a water treatment plant operator, I treat my boots as essential work tools. I wore these for three weeks at both work and home. That included yard work, walking the dogs, and my regular duties at the plant.

On an average day, I walk 10,000 to 20,000 steps on concrete, tile, and metal grating, with regular exposure to acidic and alkaline chemicals. This is a demanding environment, and it’s one that quickly exposes weak footwear.

Steel Blue Hobart Scuff Specs

Safety Toe	Yes
Slip Resistant	Yes
Electric Hazard Rated	No
Waterproof	No (but very water resistant)
Construction	Direct Attach (not resoleable)
Midsole	TPU
Outsole	TPU
Shank	TPU
Height	6 inch
Country of Origin	Indonesia
Sizes Available	US Men’s: Full 5–15, Half 7.5–11.5 US Women’s: Full 6–17, Half 9.5–13.5

What I like about the Steel Blue Hobart Scuff

• ASTM-rated Steel toe with anti-scuff, TPU toe bumper
• Excellent shock absorption from layers of TPU, Poron, and polyurethane
• Removable footbed for guys who need insoles
• High-quality leather with minimal break-in
• Supportive design well-suited for flat feet
• Heat resistant sole up to 266°F
• Water-resistant (up to the elastic goring)
• Slip & Oil resistant
• Easy pull-on design, no laces to soak in rain or snow

Downsides, but not dealbreakers

• Not resoleable
• Only ASTM rating is for steel toe
• Unclear if boot is ASTM rated for electrical hazards
• Pull-on design is less secure than a laced boot, sometimes advised against for work
• Synthetic heel counter won’t mold to the foot’s shape as well as leather
• Not fully waterproof, especially around the elastic
• PU sole is susceptible to hydrolysis if not worn regularly

Hobart Scuff Construction and Durability

• Heat-bonded “direct attach” sole
• Rating: 4.5/5

I prefer Goodyear-welted boots, but when reviewing work boots for blue collar jobs, Goodyear welts can be seen as adding unnecessary cost to a boot’s production — not to mention the fact that they’re stiffer and heavier than boots like this.

If a boot isn’t Goodyear welted, I expect it to be comfortable, light, and flexible — and the Hobart Scuff very much succeeds here.

The method of construction is called direct-attach, in which liquefied TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is molded, under pressure, directly onto the upper. This process eliminates the need for stitching or glue.

The resulting bond is waterproof, and the boot is water-resistant up to the goring — approximately 3.25 inches from the sole. Sure, the boots can’t be resoled, but I’d expect them to last several years depending on use and wear.

Leather

• Thick, full-grain leather
• Oiled for extra water resistance
• Durable and scratch-resistant
• Sourced from LWG (Leather Working Group), origin unknown

The Hobart Scuff uses five panels of full-grain, premium oiled leather, which I measured at 2.2 to 2.3 millimeters — including an interior layer of foam.

Despite the thickness, the leather remains flexible. The grain is tight, highly water-resistant, and hard-wearing.

I wasn’t able to find country-of-origin information for the leather. According to Steel Blue, all of their leather is sourced through tanneries rated by the Leather Working Group (LWG), an initiative focused on reducing environmental impact. Steel Blue’s sustainability report notes that 90% of their leather comes from ECCO (country not specified) and Tasman Leather in New Zealand.

Sole

• Rubber TPU outsole
• Slip, oil, and acid-resistant
• Heat resistant to 266 F
• Heel-to-toe drop 0.90 inches
• Heel thickness 1.9 inches – with insert
• Toe box thickness 1.0 inches

The TPU outsole is slip resistant, oil resistant, and can withstand heat up to 266 degrees Fahrenheit.

While there’s no formal slip-resistance certification listed, I’ve found the outsole provides excellent resistance to oil, acids, and slipping in real-world use. Remember that as a water plant operator, I encounter a lot of these, and I think these boots would be well-suited for environments like mechanic shops, where traction is critical for safety. (Although you might need the ASTM rating for your particular workplace.)

Steel Blue clearly put thought into the tread design. While it isn’t aggressive, the grip never failed me in any situation I encountered. I’ve walked across oily floors multiple times without issue.

Like the outsole, the midsole is also made from TPU, a low-density material that helps absorb shock while walking and feels similar to the midsole used on the Redback Easy Escape. The construction also features Poron (in the midsole at the heel and forefoot) and an “Ortho Rebound® Footbed” — they’ve used just about every kind of shock absorbing foam I’ve heard of in this boot.

The shank is made from a rigid form of TPU as well: it measures almost 4 inches long and helps to improve stability and force distribution, which might be especially important in a boot with this much shifting foam.

Elastic Goring

You can stand in water without issue up to about 3.25 inches, which is where the elastic goring begins. Australians and Australian boot brands love Chelsea boots for work, but it’s true that they don’t secure the foot quite as well as boots with laces. This may be an issue for your workplace, or it might not.

Comfort

• Rating: 5/5
• Materials, comfort, and fit all work together to make a great boot
• Roomy and comfortable toe box
• Excellent arch support for my flat feet
• Poron, Ortho Rebound, and TPU make for great, runner-like shock absorption
• Removable footbed
• Antimicrobial and antibacterial foam lining

Unlike some Chelsea-style boots I’ve tested in the past, these were immediately comfortable from the moment I put them on. That’s notable given that this is the sixth pair of Chelseas I’ve worn for work: I don’t usually love how they feel out of the box.

The Hobart Scuff has many layers of different kinds of shock absorbing tech, designed to reduce foot fatigue while maintaining consistent support over time. The lining is also made of an interesting material they call “Fresche QuatLock™”, which is intended to reduce stink.

Steel Blue’s breathability claims held up in my testing. I wore these boots on hot days without overheating. I tried them with cotton socks and wool socks to check both heat retention and fit. Even with wool socks, my feet stayed dry.

When it comes to comfort, perhaps the best thing is that Steel Blue boots come with a 60-day return policy. If you’re not satisfied with the comfort, you can return them to the retailer where they were purchased for a replacement or refund, subject to the store’s policies.

The footbed includes a cupped heel with sidewalls measuring about 0.80 inches high and roughly 0.40 inches thick at the heel. It tapers to approximately 0.10 inches in the toe box and includes ventilation holes in the forefoot to improve breathability.

Inside, the boots are fully lined with a breathable fabric and a foam layer measuring about 3 mm thick when uncompressed.

The combination of soft foam and breathable lining is a major reason these boots feel comfortable right out of the box.

Hobart Scuff Sizing/Fit  

• US sizing, true to size
• Models for both men and women – NOT unisex like other brands

Unlike some other Australian brands I’ve tested, Steel Blue uses US sizing, and the fit is true to size. For reference, I wear a 12D in Red Wing work boots, and a 12D Hobart Scuff fits me perfectly. It’s true you usually have to size down with Goodyear welted boots, but it’s not the case with these.

The size is clearly marked on the sole, along with a small dial indicating the month and year of manufacture.

To check fit, you can remove the footbed and place your foot on it as if wearing the boot. Position your index finger in front of your toes — if it fits properly, there should be no gap between the end of the footbed and your finger.

You might be tempted to size these so there’s a thumb’s width between your toe and the end of the boot, but since these are Chelsea boots, I’d recommend you get them snug.

Hobart Scuff Weight

Rating: 5/5

• 3 lbs 12 oz as weighed (size 12 US)

I weighed the boots on a kitchen scale, and they came in at 3 lbs 12 oz, which is relatively light for a steel-toe work boot. They could likely be lighter with an aluminum safety toe, but the weight is still very reasonable.

That lighter weight is another factor contributing to their overall comfort.

Hobart Scuff Safety Features 

• There’s one ASTM rating: for the safety toe (ASTM F2413)
• Outsoles meet OSHA requirements for oil and slip resistance
• ErgoDefender Steel toe
• Molded TPU anti-scuff toe guard
• Plastic shank

The only ASTM rating my boots need for my job is for a safety toe, which (fortunately) is the only ASTM rating these boots have.

The Safety Toe

The Hobart Scuff features a steel safety toe cap called the ErgoDefender, tested to withstand a 200-joule impact. It’s a wider-fitting toe cap, and I found it offers plenty of room.

Indeed, Steel Blue approaches safety-toe fit differently than many brands. Some manufacturers use the same toe cap across multiple sizes and widths, which can lead to poor fit, often forcing toes up against the cap. Steel Blue uses size-specific toe caps, resulting in a more comfortable and properly proportioned fit.

The Toe Cap

The “Scuff” in the Hobart Scuff name comes from the molded TPU “Anti-Scuff” bump cap at the toe. This feature is especially useful for tradespeople who spend time on their knees or working close to the ground, such as plumbers or electricians.

It may be worth noting that the toe cap isn’t a “real” toe cap, in that it’s not attached on top of the boot’s toe to give you multiple layers of toe protection. In other words, the leather ends where the toecap begins.

Even so, the TPU bump cap is more abrasion-resistant than leather, helping protect the toe area from cosmetic and structural wear. While work boots are meant to be used hard, minimizing scuffed leather is still a welcome benefit.

ASTM Certification (M I C EH)

The tag inside the boot lists ASTM F2413-18 M I C EH certification:

• M: Meets standards for men’s footwear
• I: Meets impact protection requirements for safety toes
• C: Meets compression protection requirements
• EH: Electrically hazard–rated, meaning the soles and heels can withstand 18,000 volts (RMS) at 60 Hz for one minute under dry conditions, with no excessive current leakage

Oddly, the Electrical Hazard (EH) rating isn’t mentioned on the boot’s official product page or Amazon page; I could only find evidence of it printed on this tag. That’s probably proof enough, but it’s confusing as to why the brand doesn’t mention it anywhere else.

How Much Does the Hobart Scuff Cost?

Rating: 5/5  

• $200 on SteelBlue.com, Amazon, Shepler’s and The Public Safety Store

Rockrooster is the only brand that undercuts Steel Blue on price for a comparable boot. Based on my experience, however, the Hobart Scuff is noticeably more comfortable and enjoyable to wear. At around $200 (sometimes $190), it’s roughly $25 cheaper than a comparable Redback and $20 less than Blundstone.

Who Should Buy the Hobart Scuff?

The Hobart Scuff is very much a work boot. While it looks good and performs well, it’s designed for job sites — not date nights. The big sole and toe cap won’t look right if you’re trying to dress smart casual.

These boots are well-suited for a wide range of trades, including welders, carpenters, HVAC technicians, landscapers, mechanics, and general tradespeople. Because they’re easy to slip on and off, they also work well as service boots for EMTs.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the Hobart Scuff?

Some job sites don’t allow slip-on boots, so it’s worth confirming site requirements before buying. These boots may also not be a good fit if you need the added ankle support that comes from a laced boot, or if you need more ASTM ratings than a safety toe and (maybe) Electrical Hazard.

Steel Blue vs Blundstone’s 990

The closest competitor to the Hobart Scuff is Blundstone’s 990 (reviewed by me). However, several key differences set Steel Blue apart:

• Dedicated men’s and women’s sizing, rather than unisex fits
• Size- and width-specific steel toe caps for better overall fit
• TPU outsole instead of nitrile rubber
• More comfortable to wear, even more than five similar boots I’ve worn

Final Thoughts

Simply put, these boots check all the boxes for me. They’re extremely comfortable, just as promised, and the steel toe is roomy enough that it’s barely noticeable.

They met — and in some areas exceeded — my expectations. When Steel Blue first reached out, I was skeptical, but I’m glad I gave them a chance.

While Steel Blue is Australian-owned, these boots are made in Indonesia. If that’s a deal breaker for you, it’s worth considering before buying. That said, the value, comfort, and reliability here are strong, and Steel Blue backs them with a 60-day comfort guarantee.

The bottom line: these are excellent boots. I don’t keep every pair I review, but this one is staying.