If you ask me what Chelsea boots you should buy, no matter the price, I will tell you to buy RM Williams Gardener boots. The reason is simple, it does a lot of things right that its competitors don’t. At first glance, this is shocking. The silhouette is sleek, chiseled, timeless and stylish. This leather is perfectly lustrous and polished for any formal occasion, but will take on a handsome solid feel when worn. Also, the quality is very good. The fully cut leather upper is formed as a single piece of leather on the last, rather than several pieces stitched together, making the shoe both beautiful and durable. Featuring Goodyear welt construction and easy sole changes, you’ll own these Australian-born boots for over a decade.
How can a boot originally made for cowboys become both the best-looking dress boot and the most durable rough-and-tumble boot? Frankly, I don’t know. But there’s no way to top it. The only sticking point? They’ll cost you more bones than you’re willing to pay. Still, the math makes sense given the versatility and durability.
Best Budget Chelsea Boots: Beckett Simonon Preston Chelsea Boots
Material: Full Grain Leather | Optional colors: 5 | Size range: 7-14
For the budget conscious/people looking for their first pair of “nice” Chelsea boots, my answer is simple: Beckett Simonon. Menswear brethren may scoff at a DTC clothing brand that only launches online, but unlike other brands with unlimited marketing budgets and hopes to “disrupt the entire industry”, Beckett Simonon seems content to offer discounts. Make great shoes for the price without soullessly pandering to Millennials. The Preston is a stylish, realistic Chelsea boot that typifies the way the brand operates. It’s made from full-grain Italian calfskin, lined with Vachetta leather, sewn by master shoemakers in Colombia using a repeatable Blake seam construction, and all colors are priced at less than $250.
In other words, this is a Chelsea boot with top-notch looks, Northamptonshire style pedigree, and at least half the price of the competition. But if there’s one thing that would stop most people from buying a pair right away, well, you cannot Get them now. Each pair is made to order, which means you’ll have to wait six to ten weeks to receive it. But you know what they say: Patience is a virtue.
Best All-Weather Chelsea Boot: Blundstone 500 Chelsea Boot
Material: Leather | Optional colors: 6 | Size range:3-14
