Blog

I am in my rocker and these boots Rock!

Thanks for such an amazing pair of boots.

“Just thought I’d take a minute to tell you about my intrepid pair of Blundstone 500′s. I bought them two years ago on the recommendation of some friends of mine and have barely worn anything else since. In the summers I work as a wrangler for a YMCA horseback riding program and for the remainder of the year I teach. I love the fact that I can wear my boots to the barn one day and to school the next! I have taken them on overnight horsepacking trips, worn them to weddings, tromped through muck and manure for two full … Continue reading

Hand-crafty?

Want to learn how to become the next RM Williams? Then come in to any of our locations on Saturday April 17 and Sunday April 18 to enter for a chance to win the coveted Bushman’s Handcrafts book. It’s an all-you-need-to-know for making and decorating leather belts and whips….and all-you-need-to-DO is slip your feet into a comfy pair of RM Williams boots. What style do we recommend? The Comfort Craftsman in Whisky. (yes like the drink- and no that’s not a spelling mistake….we spell it the Scottish/Canadian/Indian way-the way it should be)

RM Williams Contest Winner for March 2010

Congratulations to Lisa Orridge! Winner of our March R.M. William’s contest and now the proud owner of this very stylish R.M. William’s Saddle-Stitched belt with Logo Buckle. Yay Lisa! Continue reading

Concrete Surfing

Even though Lake Ontario isn’t known for its waves and Vancouver’s English Bay gets more cruise ships than surfers, it’s no excuse not to come into one of our stores and get into the surfing spirit. Kustom is a dandy Aussie surf brand, and they make some snazzy men’s and women’s sandals which we carry in both our Toronto and Vancouver stores. Even if you are only pretending to surf while standing on your bed as your friend shakes the mattress to simulate waves, they are a great idea.

UGGs That Let The Sunshine In

Do you want the famed comfort of UGGs in the summer without getting too toasty? UGG makes some terrific men’s and women’s sandals for the summer season that allow you to stay UGG-y while letting your toes see some much deserved sunshine. The Women’s Hamoa, pictured above has a sheepskin lining on the foot-top strap, which is oh so comfy and the Men’s Bennison pictured below is perhaps the cushiest men’s flip-flop in the land.

Icebreaker Sale of Epic Proportions!

We are having a super amazing and entirely exciting Icebreaker sale! Stop by any of our stores to pick up some great deals on Icebreaker product. Our winter stock is now 20-35% off. For example, check out the Men’s Coronet (pictured here) now priced at 147.95–That’s 20% off, my friends.

Do Your Boots Need Some Lovin'? You Could Win!

R.M.Williams Saddle Dressing is a leather conditioner that works wonders on R.M.Williams and Blundstones alike (and on any other leather product for that matter, be it a couch or a handbag). It keeps leather moisturized, which also helps keep up water repellency and makes any pair of leather boots look gooood. Some people think that polish is good enough to care for a leather boot, but that’s not necessarily true. Think of saddle dressing as a moisturizer and a polish as a make-up. It’s more important to keep the leather in good condition by keeping it moist, but you can … Continue reading

Being Safe Never Looked (Or Felt) So Good

For years we have been carrying the CSA Greenpatch™ safety boot, a comfy no-laces alternative to the traditional lace-up safety boot. They have a slip resistant sole, safety toe cap and shank, and Deluxe Poron™ Footbeds. They are loved by people in all lines of work–chances are you’ve eaten a meal prepared by someone who wore these in a restaurant kitchen or you’ve sat in a house built by a Blundstone-wearing builder. Now there is a new kid on the block– the CSA Greenpatch™ in nubuck “Crazy Horse” leather. These puppies will wear in beautifully–when treated they turn a few … Continue reading

Some Sustainable Press

Icebreaker made it into Time Magazine! Click here to read the article about the birth of the brand and how it is influencing the outdoor apparel market. Icebreaker is made from merino wool, a very renewable resource, where many competitors use petroleum based synthetic fabrics to make their apparel. This is just one of the reasons we love the product.

A Summery UGG

Meet the UGG Lo Pro Button, a summery new UGG that is a little bit lighter than its fully sheepskin lined counterparts. It has a light and breathable cotton jersey knit material on the upper and a sheepskin sock liner on the bottom to keep feet cozy, but never ever sweaty. Sheepskin is a natural fibre that wicks away moisture from your tootises, so fear not, you don’t have to give up UGGs for the summer. Another fancy little feature about this newcomer is if you decide to unbutton the boot and fold it over there is a nice pink … Continue reading

An R.M. Addict Is Born

When you love ‘em, you love ‘em. Mike Soroka bought a pair of R.M.Williams Comfort Craftsman boots several months ago, and now there’s no stopping him. He’s already on to special ordering RM clothing and is working on getting a pair of RM custom-made top boots. When he isn’t lovingly caring for his Comfort Craftsman boots or teaching his cat, Pearly, about the quality of the RM brand he can be found writing an entry to Outback Magazine, an R.M.Williams publication out of Australia. He is entering a short story and this photo of his cat to the magazine in … Continue reading

Wool in the Spring! It's a great idea. Seriously.

Is that Sidney Crosby wearing Icebreaker? Nope, although this Icebreaker model does show a striking resemblance to Canada’s hockey darling, it’s not him. But hey, I bet Sidney would love Icebreaker Pure Merino Clothing. The lighter merino garments are not only great for winter layering on and off the hockey rink, they are amazing in summer. Merino wool wicks moisture away from your body and the texture of the merino is breathtakingly soft. Contrary to popular belief, wool in the summer can be an excellent idea! We have some wonderful new Icebreaker additions this Spring including some great printed Ts … Continue reading

Guitar? Check. Blunnies? Check.

Look what book jacket caught our eye in the window of our neighbourhood music shop, Rotate This. Displaying yet another excellent place for Blundstones–the stage.

What's next to your Skin?

Our favourite sock and clothing brand, Icebreaker Pure Merino, is having a cheeky little contest that’s running the length of the olympics. There are still a few days left to enter! – Andria

Swamisz: Australia Meets India In A Shoe

We have some spring newcomers to our Aussie shoe family–the Swamisz sandals! Like our other brands at ABC, they might take some getting used to at first, but once you get them on, you will quickly realize what the hype is all about. Swamisz is an Aussie owned brand and the all natural rubber sandals are based on an ancient Indian shoe called the Paduka–traditional footwear of Swamis and Yoga masters. They keep your foot in place with a yogi-inspired toe plug and a simple support strap that goes over the top of the foot. In true Australian Boot Company … Continue reading

Dusty Boots…..

Today we had a wonderful conversation with an artist who is part of the Canadian Forces Artists Program project. Last year she spent time with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan as a War Poet where she documented- oh so eloquently- her time with the troops. During this time she never took off her old school chisel toe lace up Blundstone Boots (pictured here still dusty from the desert…) Check out her poetic diary on her website warpoet.ca; I did- and I was quickly reminded how lucky I am to be here in the comfort of my peaceful world.

Go New Zealand?!

On Monday night some staff from Vancouver attended the Olympic Welcome Party for Team New Zealand; sponsored by Icebreaker Pure Merino. Dressed all clad in our Canadian gear, our Blundstones, and of course our Icebreaker we headed downtown to get our party on. A great night was had, complete with the traditional Haka dance, a fashion show, some live kiwi music, and of course some New Zealand wine! **Note the giant live merino ram- frightening enough to make a grown man cry.

Jon's Great Icebreaker Sock Experiment.

Feb 14, 2010 “I guess there are parts of the body that simply smell better than feet. In their defense, it must be tough to be enclosed in shoes and socks all day without proper ventilation, especially during these winter months. I wonder if hands, with a similar quarter million perspiration glands, would have the same stigma for odour if they were left to their own sweaty devices? Who knows. I do know that for as long as I’ve been wearing socks, I’ve been wearing the cheap ones. I had no issue with buying an inexpensive pack of tubes, causing … Continue reading

Boxing 'Roo

Looks like the Aussies won this one! Nice work gang! Boxing ‘roo wins fight at Athletes’ Village

The You-Know-What Torch Relay!

It’s coming to Kitsilano via 4th avenue! On Thursday February 11th, 2010 the Torch Relay will be running down 4th Avenue between 7pm and 8pm. Please join us- Australian Boot Company Vancouver- in celebrating and come stay warm while you’re awaiting it’s arrival! Go Canada (and Australia) Go!

Thanks for the West Queen West BIA Link!

Australia Day Eh?

We celebrated Australia Day here in Vancouver on Tuesday January 26th! Complete with Coopers beer, didgeridoo playing, some Tim Tam slams, and snags on the barbie. Check out these pics of the festivities:

Another Blundstone Fan – Chatelaine Magazine Staff

Chatelaine Magazine staff posted their favourite things on their website – and there we were!

Like a Rhinestone Cowboy…..

….or cowgirl! Step right up for your chance to win an RM Williams rhinestone belt buckle complete with the signature Longhorn logo to attach to your favourite belt. Don’t have a favourite belt? Let one of our knowledgeable staff know and we can order you a handcrafted one straight from Adelaide, Australia. Retail price starting at $79.95. How to enter to win? Just try on a beautiful handcrafted pair of boots in any of our Australian Boot Company locations on Saturday January 30th, 2010- you don’t even have to by them! Although we warn you- once you try them on … Continue reading

Thanks to Now Magazine for naming us 'Store of the Week!'

We had a great time with Now Magazine when they came into shot their ‘Store of the Week‘ feature.

Happy Australia Day!

Best Customer Quote of Boxing Week:

” There are only 2 times I don’t wear my Blundstones. In the shower, and in bed.”

Final Day of Boxing Week Sale.

Dec 30th, 2009 is the last day of our Boxing Week Sale. Still a great selection of sizes and styles in all of our favourite brands: Blundstone, UGG Australia, R.M.Williams, and Icebreaker Pure Merino.

Good ol' fashion customer service.

Hi JJ, Once again, thank you very much for replacing my boots for me on the weekend. I have had many unpleasant customer service experiences over the last decade, but every so often we as customers get surprised. I can only speak of two events (one being this weekend) that show you why certain brands/stores will always succeed. Although you replaced my boots, I will be back in the next few weeks to buy another pair. Most likely, my wife will buy a pair of boots as well. Have a great day, Thomas

Our very own Jana Roy on Urban Rush

Check out this video of Jana our Vancouver store manager as she chats with the hosts about the boots we offer at Australian Boot Company – UGG Australia Adirondack, Cardy and Classic Tall, as well as the hot new Blundstone comfort styles 561, 556 and the custest new Blunnie for kids, the Rigger. Jana Roy, Australian Boot Company on Urban Rush

Icebreaker Pure Merino Wool clothing – see why we love it.

All of us here at Australian Boot Company LOVE our Icebreaker clothing and socks. We are a bit obsessive about it. It’s warm, stylish, functional and it’s fashionable. We all wear Icebreaker socks in our Blundstones every day, and it’s a rare day that you won’t find a staff person sporting their favourite Icebreaker top. I personally can be found with Icebreaker leggings on under my jeans every day of the winter. Recently Icebreaker Pure Merino was featured on a Vancouver based show called Urban Rush. Here’s the Icebreaker on Urban Rush YouTube link if you want to take a … Continue reading

Chris plays the Didge at Australian Boot Company in Kitsilano

Stop by Australian Boot Company on 4th Ave and you may catch Chris playing the Didgeridoo. He can’t promise a Christmas carol, but can definitely offer up a kangaroo hop.

Blundstone Distressed – Two Styles in one!

Hey Everyone, Check out these images of our distressed boots – before and after treatment! Pretty awesome, eh? The best part is, if you prefer the treated one, we’ll condition them for free at the time of purchase. Just ask. Admittedly, I bought two, a Chisel Distressed and a Comfort Distressed. I’ll treat the Chisel and let the Comfort go.

Happy Staff, Happy Customers, Happy Bloggers.

At Australian Boot Company, we pride ourselves on our customer service. We believe a relaxed, comfortable shopping environment with knowledgeable staff who wear, use and abuse the product is the key to providing the service our customer needs. We just hired a bunch of new staff for fall, and in chatting with one of them, he said that what he liked about working at Australian Boot Company, was that it wasn’t a ‘sales’ job. It was just spending the day chatting with people who love the boots as much as he did. We regularly joke that on a busy saturday … Continue reading

WIN AN R.M. WILLIAMS WALLET AND KEYCHAIN SET!

For the month of November, enter our draw for your chance to win when you purchase a pair of R.M. Williams boots at any Australian Boot Company location!

Australian Boot Company at the Royal Agricultural Fair.

For the first year ever, we’re going to be at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. We are looking forward to being part of this Toronto institution. It’s been going on since 1922! Drop by our booth and say hi, and if it’s not busy, we’ll happily give your Blundstone’s a polish.

We love Icebreaker Pure Merino clothing, and here's one reason why.

It’s sustainable, and made with integrity – With most of the things you buy, you’re told little or nothing about how they’re made. Icebreaker is different. Here’s some info about their very unique – industry changing ‘Baacode’ program. We have a deep commitment to animal welfare, the welfare of the people who work with us, and the environment. And we have nothing to hide. Your unique Baacode will let you see the living conditions of the high country sheep that produced the merino fibre in your Icebreaker garment, meet the farmers who are custodians of this astonishing landscape, and follow … Continue reading

The perfect knit UGG Boots available now!

Looking for the perfect casual knit boot for the Fall? UGG Australia has two styles available for the luxury-seeking connoisseur. With a colourful knit upper comprised of a soft wool blend that’s also accented with three oversized wood buttons, the UGG Classic Cardy looks great buttoned up, slouched, or unbuttoned and folded down. It’s like three boots in one and is available in Black, Grey and Fig. If buttons aren’t your scene, there’s also the gorgeous UGG Classic Argyle Knit, which combines a classic prep school pattern and cozy sweater knit for the coolest, comfiest, casual look. Available in basic … Continue reading

Our nice customers…

Wow…I ordered my chisel toe boots 4 days ago and they are already here! I have been wanting a pair for ages but could never find the right size in the dealer stores. They fit perfectly, and I couldn’t be happier. The personal note, i.e. handwritten thanks from Casey McNally on the instructions, is a nice touch. Great service, great product, great company. Thanks again. Sincerely, P. Machry 1st time owner, buyer for life.

1 million options??

Our latest RMWilliams made to order boots are turning heads. 1 million options you say? Check out 1 in a million: Tanbark Kangaroo uppers, leather sole and a classic cuban heel. If you look closely you can even see the scratches in leather from where the kangaroo itched his stomach! If that doesn’t help you appreciate where your leather boots come from, I don’t now what will. These beauties were a treat for a customer from his daughter. Lucky guy! For more information or to custom order your own pair visit any of our Australian Boot Company store locations.

Check this out.

http://www.scaryideas.com/content/13853/

Thank you!

Thanks to all of you friends and supporters of Blundstone Canada and SKETCH, we were able to raise over $25, 000 for SKETCH at our 6th Annual Boot it UP! It was a great night with amazingly arted up boots, picture a Blundstone boot turned into a South American Boot of Paradise! Congratulations to all the artists who produced some of the most imaginative and striking boots to date.

Blundstone's Boot it UP! on BlogTO

Good pics and coverage of Blundstone’s Boot it UP on blogTO.

Blundstone's Boot it Up! Thursday Night at Steam Whistle Brewery!

Hope to see you all out at our 6th annual fundraiser for SKETCH! Take a look at the website, and see what’s happening! Tickets still available. $40 in advance, $50 at the door. www.sketch.ca/bootitup You’ll have to come down to the event to find out who took our Blundstone boots, and turned them into this tribute to Canadians. photo by Alex Moore. Featured today in National Post.

Blundstone's Boot it UP! Oct 1st.

Check out this incredible promo vid that Dam 2 did for us!, and then go online to buy tickets! Blundstone\’s Boot it Up! October 1st, 2009

Blundstone Kronan parked outside of Australian Boot Company

Outside of both of our Toronto stores, we park a bright orange Kronan bicycle everyday. It’s a staple on the street, and the queen street west bike is also the staple of amateur photo clubs. Regularly, groups of photo enthusiasts gather round our orange bike and capture the colour and style of our bike. Here’s a link to a recent photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgie_grrl/3939653132/

UGG Boots for Men?! It's True!

Contrary to popular belief, the cozy comfort of a sheepskin lined UGG Australia boot is not exclusively for women! For all you guys out there looking to keep your toes warm this winter, UGG has created the Rockville, a motorcycle-style boot with a rugged, full-grain leather upper and some seriously hearty rubber outsoles. Accented with metal buckles for a rock ‘n’ roll look, the Rockville comes equipped with interchangeable insoles – one in soft leather for warmer days, and one in luxurious sheepskin for those cold nights to come. Available in Dune (shown) or Black on our website at australianboot.com. … Continue reading

Blundstone: Wear in a pair, get $18.70 off

Hey all, Just wanted to let you know about our in-store promotion going on right now. If you wear in a pair of Blundstones, you will get $18.70 off any regular priced adult Blundstones. Just a thank you to all of our regular customers.

When Did Retail Become a Tipping Industry?

Lately over here at the Vancouver store we’ve had some more than generous Blundstone customers! Yesterday during an afternoon rush, a gentleman insisted on tipping our sales staff $20 for her assistance, attention and hard work amongst the madness. She kindly declined his offer as she claimed “I love this job and it’s my reward that you are just happy with your boots and your experience in our shop!” (not only that but she is Australian…and as the rest of the world knows Aussies don’t tip…so she really had not idea what he was offering her…lol) And just today with … Continue reading

The New UGG Wear-In-A-Pair Discount At Australian Boot Company!

Introducing a new promo from Australian Boot Company for all of you UGG lovers out there! Come in to any one of our three retail locations wearing a pair of UGG boots and we’ll knock $20 off the purchase of a new, regular priced pair. They don’t even have to be your own boots – if they’re an UGG product and you’ve got them on your feet, then the discount is yours! New stock is arriving daily in Men’s, Women’s and Kid’s UGG product, so drop on in and have a look. – Casey

Happy Anniversary!

Today marks the 10th anniversary of our IT Manager JJ Mifsud at Australian Boot Company. Congratulations to you JJ! We appreciate your commitment to the boot store! Here’s to another 10 years! – all of us at Australian Boot Company.

Orange you glad you shop on Queen St.

There was a confluence of orange on Queen St. West a few weeks ago. Thanks to Jim for the picture – Andria

The Kids Rigger is here!

Check out our newest style: The Kids Rigger Boot! Our first tall Blundstone kids boot, and the same price as the regular Blunnies. Check it out by clicking here!

Can you fill these boots?

Australian Boot Company is hiring for Fall! We’re looking for energetic, outgoing, part time retail sales people, at all of our locations. If you are interested, please drop off your resume in person. As wel, please include a cover letter stating why you want to work for us, and what skills you bring to boot. Looking forward to meeting you! – Andria

R.M.Williams Boots: Select Styles on sale.

We have a select few styles of R.M.Williams handcrafted boots on sale. Take advantage of our sale pricing until July 31st, 2009. Available instore or online.

Factory Second and Sample Blundstone Boots at Australian Boot Company Queen St!

We’ve just received a whole bunch more factory second and sample Blundstone Boots at our Queen St. store! Please come in and see if we have anything for you! It’s pretty cool to see some of the styles that Blundstone developed, but are not going to make it to store shelves in the next year or so. A Blundstone boot with a zipper? Suede and crazy horse lowriders? Yup! Come see it here. Limited sizes still around.

Blundstones on Sale!

Blundstones are on sale! Check out our deals on discontinued Blundstones styles! Also be sure to visit us instore for more deals on factory second Blundstones. Sale Section Store Locations

If you're not on our email list – here's what you missed:

Kustom Sandals

These awesome aussie sandals are in stock and on sale. Each of our retail stores has a great collection of Kustom sandals for men and women. Kustom sandals are a great basic, that should be on your feet this summer. Not only are they on sale, from 20-35% off, two of the styles are even recyclable: Wear them them out, and pop them in the blue bin when you’re done.

Icebreaker Pure Merino Wool Clothing on Sale.

You’ve probably seen our Icebreaker clothing and socks on our website – but did you know that we have even more selection in our stores? We bring in an assortment of this awesome line that best suits our customer. Until July 31st, 2009, all of our Icebreaker clothing is on sale. 20 – 35% off!. If you are an icebreaker fan, it’s definitely worth stopping by! If it’s not convenient to stop in, give us a call and we can tell you if that particular piece of Icebreaker you are looking for is instock. This is a great opportunity to … Continue reading

SALE SALE SALE

Come one come all to the ABC Annual Summer Sale! We have Blundstone galore of discontinued styles and blemished yellow dots for spectacular prices. Need Uggs for fall? Many discounted discontinued styles to choose from. See you in Vancouver!

Your Boots Winner Announced!

The Your Boots winner has been announced and the contest will be going on for another year! Congrats to Jenn Ghaney on winning a Trip to Tasmania! If you want to enter for next year: Click here!

Summer UGG-in'

Now that the hot weather’s here again, it’s time to break out the summer footwear. This year, UGG has introduced some great styles that are perfect for warm days and nights! The Women’s Layback is a surf-inspired thong sandal with a sheepskin-lined, eyelet canvas upper atop a comfy sueded footbed and a layer of squishy cork for optimum comfort, and is available in classic white or black. If you’re looking for a higher boot, the Women’s Classic Tall Lo Pro is modeled after the traditional UGG silhouette but features the same eyelet canvas as the Lo Pro, unlined and on … Continue reading

The Return of the Classic Cardy

The UGG Classic Cardy style is back at Australian Boot Company! With a colourful knit upper comprised of a soft wool blend that’s also accented with three oversized wood buttons, the Classic Cardy looks great buttoned up, slouched, or unbuttoned and folded down. It’s like three boots in one! Available in last year’s popular colours, Grey and Black, the Cardy is now also available in an eye-catching Fig. Get ‘em while they’re hot! – Casey

Plastic Bag Surcharge in Toronto.

As you many know, every retailer in Toronto as of June 1st is required to charge $0.05 for every plastic bag. Even before this ban, our customers and staff have been very conscious of the choice to take a bag. Many of our customers bring re-usable bags, or simply carry their box of Blundstone boots out of the store. I like to think our customers are always ahead of the curve! We’ve been asking ourselves what to do with the income from this new city bylaw. We wanted to support a local, environmental initiative. So after a bit of kicking … Continue reading

Last chance for Blundstone "Your Boots" contest

Do you love your Blundstones? Would you like to win a trip to Tasmania? Then upload a photo and write a bit about them. For only 5 minutes of your time, you could be on your way to the Cradle Mountains. Blundstones are recommended for navigating the rocky terrain, of course. Click here for more details! Posted by JJ

Blundstone Chisel Toe Boots in the Globe & Mail this father's day!

Blundstones Chisel Toe Boot was featured in the Globe this weekend. Check out this styling photo by Fred Lum in Russell Smith’s Father Day Style article.

Happy Father's Day – June 21st!

Don’t forget about Dad’s feet this year! Maybe replace his beloved Blundstone Boots that he’s been wearing for years and can’t bring himself to part with. Better yet, come in and pick up a pair for yourself at the same time and we’ll give you a free pair of Icebreaker Merino Wool Socks! (You can decide whether Dad gets them or they can be our little secret.) Another option would be to set him up with a stylish pair of R.M. Williams Comfort Craftsman (the ‘dope’ Whiskey colour is going to be featured in the Globe & Mail’s Style section … Continue reading

Blundstone at the Brickworks for Doors Open 2009

As part of the 10th anniversary of Doors Open, Blundstone Canada participated in the opening weekend of the Brickworks. It was a beautiful weekend, full of stories, drumming circles, site tours and boot tossing. You can check out more pictures at our flickr site.

Blundstone – at the Brickworks for Doors Open Toronto 2009

We’ll be hanging out at the Brickworks this weekend, supporting Evergreen. Come by, toss some boots, maybe even win a pair. For directions and details go to Evergreen.ca

Your Boots Contest

Hey there! How about a chance at a free trip to Tasmania?! Don’t be afraid. This is fun. What do you have to lose? Just upload a picture of your boots and a few words about them and your Blundstone boots could take you and a friend to magical Tasmania. To enter click here. Here are some of my highlights entered so far: Scuffed in all the right places Boots Around the World

icebreaker socks: stupidly amazing.

That’s a direct quote from one of our long time Blundstone customers. He came in a few weeks ago to replace his worn blundstones, and we started chatting about socks. As an Icebreaker sock addict myself,** I might have appeared a bit evangelical about the Icebreaker Merino Wool Socks, but he liked what I had to say, and took a pair home with him. He came back today and picked up four more pairs, because he was amazed. ‘Stupidly amazed’ he said. I agreed knowingly. “Welcome to the club”. *For those of you who think a sock is just a … Continue reading

Sam Worthington – Terminator Salvation Star and Blundstone wearer.

Check out this excerpt from the “Daily Telegraph” over in Australia: “There’s a bit of the Aussie macho about Worthington – kind of Russell Crowe, before he got famous – as we sit at a table at his Sydney agent’s office. In jeans, old T-shirt and well-worn Blundstone boots, there’s something refreshingly normal about the man. He doesn’t have the ego associated with being named one of Hollywood’s hottest young faces.” You can read the full article here I scoured far and wide to find some pictures of Sam in his Blundstones, and all I could find was an imdb … Continue reading

and now, some words from our fans…

Have you ever been at home, sitting in front of your computer browsing you tube vids, and it occured to you to google your own name? Well we google ‘australian boot company‘ all the time to see what pops up. This time, we found we had some fans out there! Check out this snazzy reveiw from Dardana at yelp.ca: “I happen to be a fan of the old tyme adage of doing one thing, and doing it extremely well. I really enjoy the notion of a store that is small and extremely specialized; for instance, only selling boots that come … Continue reading

CSA Greenpatch: Safety Fast

Despite being an iconic Aussie Boot style, Blundstone has been making CSA Safety approved boots for the Canadian market since 2003. Who could resist the comfort and durability of the legendary Blundstones in a safety boot? And for our American customers, who might not know what CSA implies: CSA is the Canadian safety standard for work boots and safety boots throughout Canada. It is comparable to ASTM or ANSI, except that CSA’s safety standards usually exceed the standars outlines by ANSI or ASTM. We are always more than happy to outline the specific details between CSA and ASTM/ANSI. Just Email … Continue reading

Bootmobile in the spring.

Maybe you’ve seen the Blundstone bootmobile cruising around Vancouver. Here it is in all it’s spring glory! Watch for it this summer on it’s Vancouver to Toronto journey!

Awesome Aussie Music.

Wow. We were looking into some new Aussie music to play in our Australian Boot Company stores and have been surfing the web for some inspiration. There’s a tonne (that’d be metric) of awesome music out there, and one of the highlights of our search was this guy. John Butler. Wow. Amazing 12 string guitarist. And if you notice at minute 2:16, his footwear is featured. Yup, those are Blundstones. Coincidence? I think not. Anyway, do check him out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VAkOhXIsI0

Happy Earth Day from Australian Boot Company.

Jericho Beach Earth Day 2009

Saturday April 18th was an undisputed success! Evergreen had set the lofty goal of planting 4000 trees in a single day. Last year for Earth Day 1000 trees were planted in Jericho Beach, Vancouver. Not only did Evergreen reach it’s goal of 4000 trees, thanks to the hundreds of volunteers that participated, the trees were planted in less than two hours. Pretty amazing! Blundstone Canada was at the event, as a percentage of every boot we sell goes to support Evergreen. Our booth had a great turn out, hundreds of kids coloured and plenty of boots were tossed in our … Continue reading

Neko-Case – worn out jeans and Blundstone boots

eye weekly April 16, 2009 Eye of the storm With her fiery voice and smouldering looks, Neko Case has long been the sweetheart of the indie-rock rodeo; now, with her new disc, Middle Cyclone, she has the Top 5 album to make her an overground success. The first time I interviewed Neko Case, back in January of 2001, the scene was very much what I expected from a Neko Case interview: we sat in the front lounge of the Cameron House, enjoying a steady stream of bourbon shots delivered by servers with whom Case was on a first-name basis. Interviewing … Continue reading

A poem for 'Heavy-D'.

So I’m walking to work on your very last day And a poem has decided to flow my way Because of the time, short this must be As waiting you are for the coffee on me! All that I wish to say my dear friend Is good luck with what’s waiting for you ’round the bend For now the most important thing you must do Is keep your artistic hands away from the poo! Well this is all I could think of in such a short time Whilst I stopped by Arbutus and froze my behind So in closing I … Continue reading

The Loss of an ABC Legend

On March 31st, exiting through the doors outfitted in his R.M.Williams and Icebreaker, Heavy-D walked away for the last time with a single tear running gracefully down his cheek. On September 21, 1999 Australian Boot Company in Vancouver was blessed with the first day of work from ol’ Heavy-D and nearly 10 years later he finished a shift for the very last time. I’d like to take this blog to share some thoughts, stories, memories and the like about our co-worker and friend Heavy: 1. He absolutely loves to repeat himself so if you see him on the street don’t … Continue reading

Adventures in Tasmania

If you’ve need an excuse to enter the Your Boots contest at Blundstone.ca for the trip to Tasmania – besides the scenery, the air, or the wildlife – then here’s one: the unusual history. A prime example would be the naming of the Hazard Mountain Range in Freycinet National park, and how it came to be named after a wily ship’s captain called Richard “Blackie” Hazard. Story has it he was a former convict who, having served his time, scraped together some money to buy himself a rickety old ship and began ferrying supplies to British whaling camps from the … Continue reading

Barack Obama admires Kevin Rudd's RM Williams boots

Malcolm Farr Melbourne Herald Sun March 28, 2009 12:00am THEY might be new friends, but that didn’t prevent Barack Obama confronting Kevin Rudd on a sensitive issue – footwear fashion. As they sat in the Oval Office this week, the US President pointed out to the Prime Minister that clomping around Washington in elastic-sided boots, as opposed to gleaming lace-ups or plush slip-ons, was a singular fashion statement….more.

Tim Dennis the Rambling Rat

We had an extra special visitor in the store today. His name is Tim Dennis, who calls himself the Rambling Rat. In June 2008, 34-year-old Tim Dennis from southwest Scotland embarked on an overland expedition around the world to raise funds for Street Kids International. Tim sold his house last year to fund his RamblingRat expedition, through which he aims to gain further understanding of the basic needs of people. Throughout his journey, Tim will share the experiences of the local people, cultures and lifestyles he encounters through his website Rambling Rat. We were more than pleased to help him … Continue reading

Tasmania – in a heartbeat!

I just got back from 7 days in Tasmania. If you haven’t entered our contest yet, you should. It is a gorgeous place. The winner of our contest will be going to the Cradle Mountains, an area that I spent three days exploring. Canoeing in dove lake, hiking in the national park, spying wallabies, echidna’s, wombats and tasmanian devils. I’ve posted a bunch of pictures of Launceston (the town you’ll be flying into) and the Cradle Mountain area, on our flickr site. Please take a look! You can find out more about our contest here, and if you have any … Continue reading

Tasmanian Devils – endangered species.

I learned something while I was in Tasmania. The Tasmanian Devil is on the endangered species list, and are expected to be extinct in the next 10 – 25 years. They are dealing with a communicable disease, called Devils Facial Tumour Disease. it’s essentaily a form of cancer that is transfered by contact between animals. Due to a bunch of factors (hunting, roadkill, limited genetic pool) the disease is spreading with little hope of finding a cure. I went to a place called devils@cradle which is studying wild Tasmanian Devils and breeding in captivity. They gave a really interesting tour, … Continue reading

Icebreaker Testimonial down Under.

A month down under and what piece of clothing did I wear the most? My Icebreaker Courtney Zip. It kept me warm on the way to the airport on a mid february toronto afternoon. Wore it on the plane. Used it as a blanket on the overnight train trip from Adelaide to Alice Springs. Used it as a pillow for a nap in Sydney’s botanical gardens. But most importantly when I was in the Cradle Mountains in Tasmania,I wore it on a 5 hour hike in the rain and a thunderstorm. I was slightly unprepared, as I hadn’t brought a … Continue reading

Pulling in Byron Bay, Australia

Casey and i took the bus to bryon bay, where we were picked up by Greg, in the “XXX”. Talk about aussie adventure. The clutch went on the car shortly after he picked up us, so while Casey and I were talking a dip in the ocean, Greg went ‘mcgyver’ on the truck, and attached a piece webbing to the clutch, quite rightly pointing out that you couldn’t do that move on a new fangled vehicle. (new fangled might be my words, not his….). After a dip at Wategos Beach we hopped in XXX with defined roles. Greg drove, I … Continue reading

some blundstone boot pics on the road.

I’ve been in Australia for a few weeks now, touring around, getting a feel for the country, working hard, don’t you know. It’s been pretty amazing. As I mentioned in an earlier post…. ENTER OUR YOUR BOOTS contest. You need to see Australia! Pictured here are Casey’s 550′s out for a stroll at Wategos Beach in Byron Bay. I’m heading to Tasmania in a few days to check out the Cradle Mountain area, which is where you’ll be heading if you win our trip!I’ll be sure to post some updates as I tour around. – andria

Andria and Casey about to Tour Tasmania in their Blundstones

Our store managers Andria and Casey are about to have a treat in Tasmania thanks to Tourism Tasmania our feature Your Boots Sponsors. Here are the trips that Jennifer has set up for them. Resources: http://www.discovertasmania.com/explore-western-wilderness http://www.discovertasmania.com/explore-launceston-tamar-north Day 1 Arrive in Launceston March 11, 4pm Day 2 Drive to Cradle Mountain via Deloraine and Mole Creek Caves Honey Farm Marakoopa Cave and King Solomon’s Cave Spotlight wildlife tour (via Cradle Mountain Lodge) Stay Cradle Mountain Lodge Day 3 Bushwalks Cradle Mountain Spotlight wildlife tour Stay Cradle Mountain Lodge Day 4 Canoe Dove Lake Waldheim Spa Devils @ Cradle Day 5 … Continue reading

Your boots contest.

Hey Australian Boot Company friends, you should seriously enter our Your Boots contest. I’ve been in Australia for about 6 days now, and it is fantastic. Beautiful scenery, people. You NEED to win our trip. All you have to do is email or upload a photograph of your Blundstone Boots in action. Click here for details! . -andria

the hour

I went to see my boyfriend George at The Hour a few weeks ago. Awesome experience, great guests and pretty cool to see how the show was put together. The best part was that a favourite customer of mine was the floor director. I talked to him after the show and he told me how happy he was with his Blundstone boots, and that he never should have bought his second and third pairs, because his first pair (550′s) were so comfortable, he doesn’t ever take them off. – andria

Australian Bushfire Worst in Australian History

Having Coffee with a friend of mine yesterday, I mentioned how I work at Australian Boot Company and have friends in Australia. She asked me if I had heard about the Bushfires and this had been the first I had heard of it. Once finished, I rushed home and read about it on ABC Australia It’s absolutely awful. Over 180 dead and millions of dollars in damages. The best I can do immediately is draw attention to the issue. Red Cross has pledged $31 million and I am pulling out my credit card already. Red Cross accepts donations towards specific … Continue reading

Still Ecstatic: Cuba Gooding Jr. and his Blundstone boots.

» EXPRESS: The film had you dressed in scrubs. What do you put on off-camera? » GOODING: I fly wearing sweats, because the last thing you want to do after you’ve traveled is find an outfit. When I go out to eat, it’s jeans or cargo pants, a T-shirt and a leather jacket. And I like Blundstone boots. They help because my arches are dropping. To read the full article…click here.

Fundraiser serves up fresh take on classic Australian footwear

These boots were made for ogling TheChronicleHerald.ca – Halifax,Nova Scotia,Canada WHEN LIZ RIGNEY said yes to Boot It Up! she didn’t realize what she was getting herself into. The CTV reporter thought she was agreeing to do a story on a new fundraiser benefiting the Learning Disabilities Association of Nova Scotia. She didn’t realize she was also saying yes to creating art out of Blundstones boots that would then be auctioned off to benefit the society that serves children, youth and adults throughout Nova Scotia. Blundstone Footwear, a classic Australian brand experiencing wild popularity increases in recent years, donated 15 … Continue reading

Blundstone, Ugg and Icebreaker On Sale

To make it easier for our online shoppers we have added a new section to our shopping cart for our on sale products. You can find all the online deals we have in one spot now. Save on Blundstone Eh! Boot 494, Ugg Boots and Icebreaker.

Australia Day, eh!

January 26th is just like Canada Day, but with more beer and better boots. Join us instore January 22-26 for Aussie treats plus a free boot shine and take home some free Blundstone Boot Polish with the purchase of reuglar price adult Blundstones. All online purchases of regular price adult Blundstones will also receive a free Blundstone Boot Polish. Good time to treat your feet and wallet to Blundstone comfort and go-anywhere durability.

Holding out on UGG boots.

I’ve been a Blundstone boot fan for years, and since working at Australian Boot Company, have also become an R.M.Williams convert. I have to admit I was holding out on UGG boots though. I wasn’t their biggest fan, I saw them as a bit of a fashion trend, and not every style is all that practical in Toronto’s wet winter weather. But last week, in the deep freeze that was toronto, I saw the light. UGG boots are THE perfect boot for the cold, cold days of winter. Last week, when it was -35 degrees celsius with the wind chill, … Continue reading

R.M.Williams contest winners!

Congratulations to the winners of our R.M.Williams “Try on a pair to win a pair” contest. One winner was selected from each of our stores: Vancouver (West 4th): Charlie Lee Toronto (Yonge): Tony Kawaja Toronto (Queen West): Elva Hook Each of our winners will be taking home a pair of hand crafted R.M.Williams boots with a retail value of $379.95 to $429.95. Congratulations! Elva Hook came in last week to pick up her prize. She had came into the Australian Boot Company Queen Street store to buy some Blundstone boots for her son in early December. While she was in … Continue reading

Valentines Day Gift Ideas

It’ always a hard decision what to get that special someone on Valentine’s Day. On one hand (or should that be foot) you don’t want to buy into the commercialism of February 14 like a sheep. On the other foot you don’t want to leave your lover feeling like you don’t care. What to do? Put your best foot forward and present your Valentine with a snuggly pair of Ugg Boots. If that does not suit your style you might want to consider a pair of RM Williams boots. If you are more of a traditionalist on Valentines and can’t … Continue reading

A comfortable fit for your Blundstone Boots

The slogan for Blundstone Boots in Canada is “Pull on Comfort since 1870.” Before you pull on a pair it is really important that you get the right fit for your foot. Length is the primary consideration when fitting Blundstones. Walk around in the boots and get a sense of whether your front most toe is touching the front of the boots. If they are consistently touching the front of the boots, then the boots are too small. A thumb width (or minimum of ½ an inch) of space between the end of your foot and the end of the … Continue reading

Blundstone Boxing Week Sale Savings and Snow

Another successful Boxing Day Sale at Australian Boot Company on Yonge Street and Queen Street West in Toronto and on West Fourth in Vancouver. Check out the snow in front our shop in Kitsilano. Allot of our loyal customers gave the snow a miss and took advantage of our sale by ordering online. Australian Boot Companies Boxing Day sale continues with Boxing Week savings on Blundstone, RM Williams, Ugg Boots and Icebreaker Merino.

Boxing Day Sale Blundstone, Ugg, RM Williams and Icebreaker

Australian Boot Companies Boxing Week Sale View the Boxing Week Prices We have something for every foot from Blundstone, R.M.Williams, Icebreaker and UGG. Over 25 unisex styles. Kid’s sizes, too. Great selection all week. Sale runs all week. Buy online or visit our stores in Toronto and Vancouver. December 26th – 30th, ALL SALES FINAL. Come save left, right and centre.

Highlights of a crazy day in retail.

It was the Saturday before Christmas, and the day after the first big snow fall of the season. Our Australian Boot Company store on Queen West was full of holiday shoppers, and people realizing that they really do need boots this winter. A family of six was in, the Dad and one son were trying on Blundstone boots, the Mom was looking for Icebreaker socks, and was insisting that another son, who I’d guess was about 11 years old go try on boots. I offer to help him, and we walk over to the wall of boots. He stops at … Continue reading

Blundstone boots really get around.

Blundstone Canada is sending you to Australia. Just upload your photo of your boots to their website for your chance to win! We’ve heard from insect hunters in the Amazon, posties in Penticton, moms, dads and kids in the wilds of Toronto. We want to see your boot photos and where your boots have been, and the winner will be going on a trip to sunny Tasmania, Australia. What can I win?: A trip for two to Tasmania, Australia including The Cradle Mountain Huts Walk – an all inclusive experience for two people 5 Nights – 6 days 2 Nights … Continue reading

Countdown is on!

Oh sure, you probably thought I meant for holiday shopping. Nope, I’m talking about our R.M. Williams contest: “Try a pair for a chance to win a pair”. Contest ends at the end of December. And seriously, for your chance to win a pair of these beautiful handcrafted boots, all you have to do is come into any of our stores and try on a pair. Of course once you try them on, you might not want to take them off.

Australia The Movie

The verdict is in from Vancouver- LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the movie. No it didn’t change my life nor did it really inspire me to make the world a better place, but I left theatre feeling entertained, smarter for learning some history of Australia, and completely in love with Hugh Jackman and his “Drover” character. The beautiful landscape shots, the majestic aborigines, and the fairytale story had me so entertained I had to shake my head halfway through the movie and remind myself I was in a theatre. Definitely a must see and most definitely a must see on the big … Continue reading

Try a pair to win a pair!

Try on a pair, for a chance to win a pair! For the month of December, simply try on a pair of R.M.Williams for your chance to win a pair of R.M.Williams. Ask us for more details. Or drop by any of our stores, for your chance to win! We are the only Canadian retailer of R.M.Williams boots.

Walking Australian Boot Company Ad.

This past weekend I went down to Vermont to celebrate American Thanksgiving with some of my relatives who migrated there. On Saturday we went for a hike in Merck Forest, part of the gorgeous Green Mountain range. As I was hiking up the winding mountain road, I noticed that I was dressed head to toe in Australian Boot Company product, and believe me it’s not just because I work there. I’ve worked in the outdoor goods industry for years, and have had access to every type of performance gear on the market, but my tried and trues, and the favourites … Continue reading

Trackable Pants

(exerpt from The Globe & Mail, Tiyana Grulovic) As sustainability and social responsibility become an increasingly important part of our shopping process, the competition between do-gooding labels to get into our closets gets fierce. Icebreaker, a New Zealand-based company that specializes in snuggly merino thermal undies and long johns, is vying for that coveted space by, well, getting into our pants first. read more

Are Blundstone boots good for winter?

Snow in Toronto! Sure it won’t stick around this time, but it’s here. Last night it fell in that perfectly quiet, giant flake kind of way that signals that winter is here. It’s always a good time at Australian Boot Company at the start of the winter season. Our friends and customers are pulling their boots out of the closet, and some are thinking, “This just might be the year I retire the old Blundstones and go down to Australian Boot Company and pick up a new pair.” For those of you who are contemplating Blundstones for winter, we say … Continue reading

Australian Boot Newsletter Sign Up

With the Christams season on our door step the Australian Boot team is huddling in preparing our November email newsletter and of course our most popular email blast of the year for Boxing Day. ABC really values the people who have entrusted us with their email addresses and we work hard to send out information that has value and is as easy to read as pulling on your favourite pair of our boots. What would you like to see in our Newsletters? New Product information, commmunity events, product reviews, special offers and photos. Please leave a comment and let us … Continue reading

Icebreaker Doesn't Stink

As most of our staff here at Australian Boot Company can attest, Icebreaker clothing is functional, fashionable, and addictive. I’ve been running for years in my Icebreaker gear. Last year I trained for and ran a half marathon, and much to my running partner’s unfounded concern, always wore one or the other of my icebreaker tops. From cool spring runs through the heat of the summer, Icebreaker kept me comfortable and stink free. Check out this article from The Sunday Times about a runner who tested a bunch of different gear, and made his poor wife smell them: Testing odour-eating … Continue reading

Blundstone Boots at Evergreen Brickworks.

Australian Boot Company and Blundstone Boots were out at Evergreen Brick Works this summer as part of Doors Open Toronto. Kids tossed, coloured and painted boots. The winner of the painted boot contest, won boots for her whole family! If you’re in Toronto, make a point of checking out Evergreen Brickworks. It’s a great space that explores the relationship between nature, culture and community. See more photos from our weekend at the Brickworks on our Flickr site.

Bruce Willis aka John McClane in Die Hard

That doesn’t mean he’s ready for a fifth Die Hard. “Maybe when I’ve forgotten about the pain of making Die Hard four,” he quips. He’s pulling his boots back on now, signalling that time’s up. They’re Blundstone boots. “Yeah, I love them,” says Willis. “I have four pairs.” He grins. “Can’t kill ’em.” Just like John McClane. SM Here is the full article from Daily Telegraph

More Lore on Australia the Movie

Hugh Jackman’s Australian boots in the film Australia were custom made by R.M.Williams using Crocodile hide. Here is Greg Cromwell testing it for strength during a tour of the R.M.Williams factory just outside of Adelaide. For more information on the movie Australia visit their official website http://www.australiamovie.com/

Australia the Movie

It has been almost a year since we got the inside scoop on Australia the movie. Jana who manages our Vancover Store, and JJ our Yonge Street store Geek and Manager were visiting R.M.Williams headquarters in Adelaide and we were shown the special boots made for Hugh Jackman as well as other inside bits of information about the movie. If a movie about Australia is half as good as the boots from Australia it’s going to be a block buster. Has anyone seen the movie yet or heard reviews. We would love some more inside scoops.

Casablanca

After watching “Casablanca” my girlfriend and I decided to go on a flight of fancy and take advantage of some employee benefits of working for an airline. We had never traveled together and thought the intense stress of backpacking around North Africa for a couple of weeks would either bring us closer together or we would be single in Europe in the spring time… I had a strict ‘one or none’ rule on the clothing and supplies we were to pack since weight was a concern as all of it would be carried on our backs. The airline also has … Continue reading