Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill vs Blundstone 500
98 facts in comparison
Based on 161 Reddit opinions. Close race—Higgins MillAllen Edmonds Higgins Mill edges ahead.
161 opinions
Higgins Mill leads by 1pts
VS
Reddit's Pick
77%
B
Based on
197 Redditors
Winner
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
~$550
49 opinions
tldr; American dress shoe/boot mainstay. Recraftable, wide size range. Quality dipped after acquisition.
Check pricesVS
76%
B
Based on
241 Redditors
Blundstone 500
~$199.95
112 opinions
tldr; The everyday Chelsea. Slip-on convenience, decent durability. Not GYW but practical.
Check prices⭐LEA
⭐CON
❤️COM
🔧DUR
📐FIT
52
Points
67
Points
Score by Category
Leather Quality
33%0%
Construction
38%50%
Comfort & Break-in
100%84%
Durability
33%82%
Fit & Sizing
40%50%
Why is Blundstone 500 better than Edmonds Higgins Mill?
- Better durability (82% vs 33%)
- Better construction (50% vs 38%)
- Better fit (50% vs 40%)
- Australian brand
- Slip-on ease
- Weather resistant
Based on 438 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call
Reddit prefers the Higgins MillAllen Edmonds Higgins Mill
Winning by 1 points (77% vs 76%)
Better comfort
Made in Wisconsin
CXL and Weatherproof options
High confidence (438 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 438 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Higgins Mill
7.7/10
197 mentions
Blundstone 500
7.6/10
241 mentions
COMFORT
Higgins Mill10.0/10
Blundstone 5008.4/10
CONSTRUCTION
Higgins Mill3.8/10
Blundstone 5005.0/10
VALUE
Higgins Mill6.7/10
Blundstone 5007.1/10
LEATHER QUALITY
Higgins Mill3.3/10
Blundstone 5000.0/10
FIT
Higgins Mill4.0/10
Blundstone 5005.0/10
DURABILITY
Higgins Mill3.3/10
Blundstone 5008.2/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Higgins Mill | Blundstone 500 |
|---|---|---|
Comfort | 100% | 84% |
Construction | 38% | 50% |
Value | 67% | 71% |
Leather Quality | 33% | 0% |
Fit | 40% | 50% |
Durability | 33% | 82% |
Category Wins
Higgins Mill: 2|Blundstone 500: 4
Head to Head
Higgins Mill: 2|Blundstone 500: 4
ComfortHiggins Mill
Higgins Mill100%
Blundstone 50084%
ConstructionBlundstone 500
Higgins Mill38%
Blundstone 50050%
ValueBlundstone 500
Higgins Mill67%
Blundstone 50071%
Leather QualityHiggins Mill
Higgins Mill33%
Blundstone 5000%
FitBlundstone 500
Higgins Mill40%
Blundstone 50050%
DurabilityBlundstone 500
Higgins Mill33%
Blundstone 50082%
Higgins Mill
77%
76%
Blundstone 500
Higgins Mill77%
Blundstone 50076%
Close race - Higgins Mill edges ahead by 1 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill | Blundstone 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Allen Edmonds | Blundstone |
| Manufacturer | Allen Edmonds | Blundstone |
| Color | Brown | Stout Brown |
| Weight | 4.1 pounds | 2.20462262 pounds |
| Upper Material | — | Premium leather |
Key Highlights
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
🇺🇸 Made in Wisconsin
🎨 CXL and Weatherproof options
🪡 GYW construction, resoleable
⚠️ QC concerns post-2017 acquisition
💰 Best during sales at $250-300
Blundstone 500Winner
🇦🇺 Australian brand
👟 Slip-on ease
☔ Weather resistant
💰 Affordable
📦 Not resoleable
Topic Battles
Higgins Mill: 2|Tied: 0|Blundstone 500: 3
⭐Leather Quality
Higgins Mill winsHiggins Mill
33%
Blundstone 500
0%
⭐Construction
Blundstone 500 winsHiggins Mill
38%
Blundstone 500
50%
❤️Comfort & Break-in
Higgins Mill winsHiggins Mill
100%
Blundstone 500
84%
🔧Durability
Blundstone 500 winsHiggins Mill
33%
Blundstone 500
82%
📐Fit & Sizing
Blundstone 500 winsHiggins Mill
40%
Blundstone 500
50%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
Top Criticism
+14 pts“I’ve encountered problems with ‘off the shelf’ Higgins Mill and other AE products. I’m also not a big fan of how they completely ruin the ‘weatherproof’ cxl, might as well remove the Horween name from that garbage. However, let me tell you that my shell Higgins Mill that they made when I placed an order (7 weeks) is one of the best boots I’ve ever worn. And it’s a damn shame that one has to pay $1k just for them to get the basics correct. Those off the shelf HM should be made just as well as the custom ordered shell pair I received, and it’s garbage that there is such a difference.”
r/goodyearwelt
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Blundstone 500
Best Praise
+43 pts“Blundstones with good insoles. You’d be hard pressed to find a better all-purpose shoe (yes, even for summer)”
r/malefashionadvice
ViewTop Criticism
+5 pts“My blundstones failed and they refused to replace them. My girlfriends failed in the exact same way and they replaced hers. I switched to redblacks, as they are better made and won't fail in the same way. Their service soured me.”
r/malefashionadvice
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Higgins Mill
Blundstone 500
📈Historical Price Data
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
Blundstone 500
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
All-time low: $276.5(2021-04)
Blundstone 500
All-time low: $89(2017-05)
Which is Better?
Too Close to Call
Both products have nearly identical approval ratings (77% vs 76%). Choose based on your specific needs and preferences.
Why Higgins Mill
- 🇺🇸 Made in Wisconsin
- 🎨 CXL and Weatherproof options
- 🪡 GYW construction, resoleable
Why Blundstone 500
- 🇦🇺 Australian brand
- 👟 Slip-on ease
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
19%Positive
Positive
19%Neutral
75%Negative
6%Based on 197 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
36%Positive
Positive
36%Neutral
53%Negative
11%Based on 241 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill or Blundstone 500?
Based on 438 Reddit comments, Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill has a slight edge with 77% positive sentiment vs Blundstone 500's 76%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill or Blundstone 500?
Both have similar approval ratings (77% vs 76%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill?
Reddit users highlight: Made in Wisconsin. CXL and Weatherproof options. GYW construction, resoleable. With 197 mentions and 77% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Blundstone 500?
Reddit users highlight: Australian brand. Slip-on ease. Weather resistant. With 241 mentions and 76% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 438 Reddit comments: 197 about Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill and 241 about Blundstone 500. Data was sourced from Quality Boots community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
161 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 7/21/2026