It can be difficult to get platforms right. Sizes: 5.5–11 with half sizes | Material: Leather | Design: Socklike ribbed inset, ¾-inch platform, 2¼-inch heel | Price: $ And Nadine Abramcyk, a co-founder of the salon Tenoverten, describes the 63s as tough enough to “withstand heavy city walking,” too. Emphasis on “everything” - Leimkuhler once brought only these shoes on a weekend trip to Portland, Oregon, that included going to the ballet and hiking up Multnomah Falls. “They really just go with anything and work for everything,” says former Strategist newsletter editor Mia Leimkuhler.

That makes them a great everyday boot for the colder months of the year. But while the 63s are just as functional as other Blundstones - made from water-resistant leather with a durable outsole, leading us to call them some of the best winter boots around - they have a “slightly dressier” appearance, according to Strategist writer Katherine Gillespie. Much of the stock from the well-known brand has a similar round-toed and rugged look. Musician Sharon Van Etten and the Princess of Wales are also on-the-record devotees. Longtime Strategist readers know of our love for Blundstones (or Blunnies, as the boots are known in Australia) many current and former Strategist staffers own a pair. Sizes: 6–11 with half sizes | Material: Water-resistant leather | Design: 1½-inch heel, square-toe | Price: $$ I’ll be wearing them through the winter to test their durability, and will report back with those details soon. And while they’re meant to be hardwearing, they don’t feel heavy. Because of my wider calves, it’s actually the shafts that have needed the most time - though they’ve stretched out enough that it’s easier to get the boots on now. In the end I went for the “double sock” approach by wearing two crews at once, on and off for weeks. I also considered some advice I saw on Reddit about loosening them up with a blow-dryer. Docs are infamous for their brutal break-in period - Dunn recommended rubbing the brand’s Wonder Balsam on the boots, to soften the leather. I think that made a big difference in breaking them in. I requested a pair from the brand in a size larger than my usual, as I often do when buying boots, to account for thicker socks. (Though, you could get the Quad version - a favorite of Elizabeth Tamkin, content director at Kule - if you prefer a platform look.) Fans of the style include London-based broadcaster Pandora Sykes Lauren Gerrie, co-founder of catering company Big Little Get Together and Freddie Harrel, founder of beauty brand RadSwan, who likes their “extra badass edge.” Jenni Lee, founder of sock label Comme Si, compliments their construction - functional, with a silhouette that “looks good even when you’re treading through city slush.” And New York Review of Books marketing manager Abigail Dunn points out that the 2976s are more subtle in the sea of thick- soled Docs. Its 2976s, which have been manufactured since the ’70s, have a real following. Martens was the most-mentioned boot-maker by far. Sizes: 5–11 | Material: Leather | Design: ½-inch platform, slip-resistant lug sole, Docs signature stitching | Price: $$ĭr.

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