Chelsea boots - who wears them? Recommendations please.

[Bucket]

I’m looking for recommendations, preferably with pictures for reference. I’m in the market for a pair of black Chelsea boots. Looking for something refined but with substance. A boot that will look appropriate with a pair of IH & won’t be dwarfed by the weight of the denim, comfortable enough for a stroll through the city, sturdy enough to throw a leg over my vtwin, but also appropriate to wear dining with the better half.
I have a pair of Blundstones that I wear to muck around in the yard, but currently I’m looking for more of a welted sole and not a non-bonded sole.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Peter Mackin]

Trickers every time,,I've got 2 pair,fantastic boot's.

 

[Pandemic]

RM Williams Gardener or Lachlan are the perfect, but overpriced.

You could look at Brisselblack’s MTO boot.

 

[barnabus]

I have two pairs of Clarks Clarkridge Top oiled suede Chelsea boots - one pair in brown and one in black.

They are very comfortable and appear well-made. Chunky sole and a beefy profile that pairs well with heavy denim.

As humble as they are, they're genuinely excellent. I don't know whether it's actually a welted sole, it looks like it but the price was probably too reasonable to expect so.


As an aside; do you feel confident riding in a Chelsea? I'd be concerned that in a "situation" the boot might catch on something and just pull off, leaving me with only socks to keep my feet intact.

 

[Zoro]

I got a pair of RM Williams and really like them. Fit good and good quality, I particularly like that they are made in a single piece of leather, as I quite loathe seeing the stitch on each side under the elastic band on Chelsea boots. I've both dressed them up and down. Of all you've said, I just wouldn't use them for riding (which I don't ride anyway), but otherwise they fit all your other purposes and I doubt you'll find one that does them all.

This said, I don't know if I would fully recommend them today, as I've seen their price has hiked up. I bought them new on a sale for 180€ IIRC and now I struggle to see them below 350€. I've also heard their quality has decreased in the last few years. I see you're located in the US, so perhaps they're easier to find on sale over there than here in EU.

 

[Peter Mackin]

I have two pairs of Clarks Clarkridge Top oiled suede Chelsea boots - one pair in brown and one in black.

They are very comfortable and appear well-made. Chunky sole and a beefy profile that pairs well with heavy denim.

As humble as they are, they're genuinely excellent. I don't know whether it's actually a welted sole, it looks like it but the price was probably too reasonable to expect so.


As an aside; do you feel confident riding in a Chelsea? I'd be concerned that in a "situation" the boot might catch on something and just pull off, leaving me with only socks to keep my feet intact.

Absolutely, for that reason I wouldn't ride with Chelsea boots.i would have lost my foot if I had been wearing them.As i suffered a crushed foot after being sideswiped by a myopic car driver ,thankfully I was wearing daytona roadstars gtx. Ps this isn't an advert

 

[Tom71]

Another vote for R,M. Williams.

Gardener for ruggedness, Craftsman for a more refined look.

 

[Pandemic]

Another vote for R,M. Williams.

Gardener for ruggedness, Craftsman for a more refined look.

And Lachlan to combine both

https://elmofburford.com/product/r-m-williams-lachlan-boots/

 

[Harris HTM]

if you are planning to wear them with heavy jeans then don't go for any dress chelsea's. I own a couple from different brands (Crockett n Jones, Carlos Santos, etc) and they are dress shoes, really sleek profiles. I wear them with tweed pants, chino's and slim light jeans; I once tried them with my 25oz IH, relaxed fir, and they seemed comically small

 

[Tom71]

And Lachlan to combine both

https://elmofburford.com/product/r-m-williams-lachlan-boots/

They are hard to get by here, as RMW don´t sell them here. It´s basically a craftsman with a structured rubber sole, right?!

 

[Pandemic]

They are hard to get by here, as RMW don´t sell them here. It´s basically a craftsman with a structured rubber sole, right?!

The leather is thick and stuffed with oils and wax, similar to the Gardener and with the same synthetic sole - but on the Craftsman last. I got a pair of Lachlans in 2019 and my Gardeners were relegated to actual gardening soon after.

Easily my most-worn boot over the past 5 years - especially for travel that involves a lot of walking while also needing something a little dressy.

 

[Faux59]

Viberg, Nicks, John Lofgren, Grant Stone.

 

[Tom71]

The leather is thick and stuffed with oils and wax, similar to the Gardener and with the same synthetic sole - but on the Craftsman last. I got a pair of Lachlans in 2019 and my Gardeners were relegated to actual gardening soon after.

Easily my most-worn boot over the past 5 years - especially for travel that involves a lot of walking while also needing something a little dressy.

Sounds great!

My oldest pair of Craftmans still has the original, highly stuffed leather. On the downside, it’s a slightly dull colour. It has a leather sole which makes it a little less versatile.
I have a newer one (ca. 5 years or a bit more) with the ‚comfort‘ sole, but it has the burnished leather and overall looks pretty dressy.

I might end up with a Gardener when I find the heart to invest 40% more than when I first biu.

 

[Tom71]

if you are planning to wear them with heavy jeans then don't go for any dress chelsea's. I own a couple from different brands (Crockett n Jones, Carlos Santos, etc) and they are dress shoes, really sleek profiles. I wear them with tweed pants, chino's and slim light jeans; I once tried them with my 25oz IH, relaxed fir, and they seemed comically small

I know what you mean. To my eyes it doesn’t work with tapered cuts, like the IH 555 or the like.

 

[Pandemic]

Sounds great!

My oldest pair of Craftmans still has the original, highly stuffed leather. On the downside, it’s a slightly dull colour. It has a leather sole which makes it a little less versatile.
I have a newer one (ca. 5 years or a bit more) with the ‚comfort‘ sole, but it has the burnished leather and overall looks pretty dressy.

I might end up with a Gardener when I find the heart to invest 40% more than when I first biu.

I feel ya, man. I got my first pair of RMWs while still at uni - back then, they were a local Aus brand more associated with farmers than hipsters. I think I’ve had three more craftsman since then, along with the gardener and lachie. The new comfort craftsman feels a bit too flimsy- thin, dressy leather and a very thin sole (or maybe I’m just more used to thick soled American work boots now?). The gardener and lachie are still my faves, but I feel they have priced themselves out of the market. They are definitely $400 good. Maybe $500 good. But not $700 good.

Oh, and I solved the flimsy sole issue on that only pair this week:

 

[BaslerChrysler]

Viberg Chelsea boots will be meeting the requirements, RM Williams too, and John Lofgren Chelseas. For a dressy profile you can also look into Carmina - super sleek

 

[Pandemic]

I know what you mean. To my eyes it doesn’t work with tapered cuts, like the IH 555 or the like.

The classic and iconic Aussie combination is a pair of brown craftsman and RMW slim ivory moleskin jeans.

 

[Pandemic]

For dressier, I’m a big fan of TLB Mallorca’s mtm programme - I own two of his chukkas on the Arista last and they are superb

 

[Mahagonny Bill]

I picked up a pair of Bucks Raider plain toe chelsea boots from tatra.ca and I highly recommend them. Great fit with no breaking in time required. They look good enough for a casual night out or on a worksite. Here is a video about the company, which is how I found them.