Field Mag may receive a minor commission from purchases made via affiliate links.
Anywhere you go, you're bound to see Blundstones. The Tasmanian brand's name, used in the plural and more as an improper noun despite the capital 'B,' always refers to its most popular product: Chelsea boots, typically the Original 500s or revised 550s. The definition might soon broaden though, with the recent (and somewhat quiet) launch of the new Blundstone All-Terrain Clog aka Service Clog.
Available only in black, the All-Terrain Clog is sleek and understated, but this utilitarian aesthetic has long been the key ingredient in the Blundstone recipe. And like it's big brothers, the new mule is made to work—its leather upper is waterproof, its Comfort Air footbed is antibacterial, its midsole has built-in shock absorption, and there's a steel shank for additional support. Also of note is a Vibram rubber outsole for serious grip, molded into a shape that allegedly self-cleans by releasing dirt as you walk in it. Yes chef!
As one might have guessed, all of these features were developed with restaurant, service workers, and other occupations that have people on their feet all day in mind. Thanks to The Bear and a growing media-fueled obsession with food and the people making it, restaurant culture has wafted far enough beyond the kitchen to where "chefcore" is a current trend in clothing. The All-Terrain Clog seems to have arrived at the right time, arriving just in time to give longtime barista mainstay Dansko a run for their money.
The humble clog—aka the mule—itself seems to be having a moment. Clogs helped support Birkenstock's recent $1.48 billion IPO (the third-largest of the year), and Bedrock Sandals' Mountain Clog was so sought after that the company's fall restock of the shoe was hijacked by thieves.
Let's not forget that Blundstone envisioned its all too trendy Chelsea boots for work, too. Like that shoe, the All-Terrain Clog's focus on practicality will likely make it a long-term winner, in and out of kitchens, despite today's current style trends. If you're keen on becoming an early adopter, it's available now, alongside a new Chelsea Shoe ($240) for those who want to hide their heel.
Price: $230
Published 10-17-2023
