Blundstone 490 Boot: Durable, Tough, Not Over-Engineered

When purchasing a boot for every day wear and tear, do you care that its abrasion-resistant outsole has superior traction and that the leather upper is “WeatherSealed” (whatever that means)?

I’m not sure I check for those features when shopping for a reliable boot–no matter what it is I’m doing throughout the day.  All I really care about is the price, comfort and the overall look of the boot.  Once those three line up, I discover new and wonderful features that make the boot unique and different from the rest on the shelves.

Australia-based Blundstone has a boot that meets my standards in the daily wear and tear category: the 490 boot (in stout brown).

From the outside looking in, the Blundstone 490 is a boot with simple features. Its slip-on convenience coupled with its heavy gauge seam stitching is the perfect combination of urban and rugged.

My only concern with these boots is that they might outlast consumers’ opinions of today’s fashion and style—things change over the decade. They will last longer than most footwear options in my closet. Put to the test, the Blundstone 490s would hold up in the harshest “work boot” conditions… and the unrelenting snowy trails of the Rocky Mountains.

After numerous tests in a day-long work environment, I discovered the Blundstone 490 stands the test of time.  The 490 can lead two different lives: work boot and metrosexual boot.

While not waterproof, it can endure almost anything that’s thrown its way—especially with its oil and acid resistant premium grade leather. Splash along the street-side puddles or slosh through the muddy alpine trails, the 490 has all the elements of a workhorse boot, but not ideal for snowshoeing.

The upsweep toe bumper helps extend the life of the boot and features an outsole with the ultimate, all-surface traction system. For the more active warehouse worker who is lifting, standing and crouching, the toe bumper is an excellent feature.

Resting on top of the outsole is a Poron pad in the heel and ball strike zone to offer an extra layer of shock protection. At the end of the day, your feet remain comfortable on the inside while the 490 boot has taken a beating from multi-abrasive environments.

For more information on the Blundstone 490 boots, visit http://www.blundstoneusa.com/grp_tpu.asp.

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