Blundstone brown elastic side boot, V cut

This is a brown elastic-sided work boot from Blundstone, made from thoroughbred full grain leather with a herringbone elastic gusset on each side. The V cut upper is the detail that sets it apart: the cut reduces how much stitching sits on show, so the boot reads as a more refined, tidier style while keeping the square toe shape.

It sits in the non-safety part of Blundstone's work boot range, so there is no protective toe cap. What you do get is a boot built for long days on your feet, with XRD technology in the underfoot zone for impact absorption and a polyurethane midsole for cushioning. The outsole is a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) compound that resists oil, acid and organic fats, and a steel shank runs through the middle to keep the flex point where it should be.

If you want the slip-on convenience of an elastic-sided boot with a look that suits a worksite or somewhere a bit smarter, the full listing and current sizing are on the Done Right Safety product page.

Deciding if it is right for you

The first thing to settle is the safety toe question. This boot sits in Blundstone's non-safety range, so it has no protective toe cap. If your site or role requires a safety boot, this is not the one. If a toe cap is not mandated and you mainly want a comfortable, hard-wearing leather boot, it fits the brief. The brown leather and V cut upper also make it a reasonable pick where appearance matters a little more than usual.

Think about the underfoot package too. The XRD technology and polyurethane midsole are aimed at impact absorption and cushioning, and the steel shank is there to keep the boot's flex point under the ball of your foot rather than letting it bend in the middle. That combination suits people who spend the day standing or walking on hard surfaces.

Getting the fit right

Elastic-sided boots rely on the gusset, not laces, so the fit through the heel and instep matters more than usual. You want enough grip at the heel that the boot does not slip when you walk, with the elastic doing the work of holding it on. Because the footbed is fully removable, you can take it out to dry it or swap in an orthotic if you wear one. Confirm the size range and any sizing notes on the Done Right Safety product page before you order.

Care and getting the most out of them

Full grain leather lasts longest when it is kept clean and conditioned. Wipe off dirt, let the boots dry away from direct heat, and use a leather conditioner now and then to stop the upper drying out. The TPU outsole already resists oil, acid and organic fats, but checking the tread and the elastic gussets for wear from time to time will tell you when it is time to think about replacements.

These are like-for-like, same-type work boots from the same non-safety end of the range, so the comparison is genuinely comparable rather than across different product styles.

If the brown leather and a cleaner, less industrial look are what you are after, the V cut 659 is the natural pick. The Blundstone Executive 787 covers similar slip-on ground but in classic black with a dress lean, so it suits roles that want a smarter boot. The King Gee N Force K27184 is the outlier here: it is a taller 8 inch boot with zip entry, more ankle support and a listed standard of AS 2210.5:2019, which makes it the choice when you want height and coverage rather than the low, refined elastic-side cut.

All three skip a safety toe, so none of them belong on a site that mandates protective footwear. Among them, choose on look and entry: brown refined slip-on (659), black dress slip-on (787), or a higher zip-up boot with more ankle support (K27184).

On paper this is a sensible non-safety boot for someone who wants Blundstone's leather and comfort underfoot without a toe cap. The full grain leather upper, XRD underfoot, polyurethane midsole and steel shank are all aimed at all-day wear, and the V cut detail genuinely changes the look by keeping stitching tucked away. The TPU outsole resisting oil, acid and organic fats is a useful, concrete point for anyone working around those substances.

What the listing confirms is the materials, the construction and the comfort features. What it does not list is a safety standard or rating, which is expected for a non-safety boot, so do not read any protective certification into it. It also does not spell out the size range or width on the facts we have.

Before ordering, check the size range, any width or fit notes, and confirmation of the colour and finish on the Done Right Safety product page or the Blundstone datasheet. Those are the details most worth verifying for a slip-on leather boot, since fit through the heel and instep is what makes or breaks an elastic-sided style.