The Best Chelsea Boots Tested by Our Editors Include Dr. Martens, Blundstone, and Ugg

Others We Tried

Hunter Original Chelsea Insulated Boot: We loved the high-quality construction and ease of cleaning with these Hunters. They also have very reliable traction, which is ideal for the rainy conditions they are intended for. However, the boots take a long time to break in, and we felt like we were paying for the brand name rather than the design. 

Quince Suede Chelsea Boot: Quince is a hot spot for budget-friendly, high-quality pieces, so we were excited to try these Chelsea boots. We found them quite stylish, supportive, and affordable, but the break-in period was a bit inconsistent, and we weren’t confident that they would last past a season or two of wear.

Soda Pilot Lug Sole Low Heel Chelsea Ankle Bootie: These Soda ankle booties are trendy and have a cool lug sole style, but after testing these for a couple of weeks, we found that the material was a bit too cheap for our liking and they aren’t as comfortable as they look.

What to Know About Chelsea Boots

Material and Function 

When shopping for Chelsea boots, you’ll want to consider the material of the shoe. “High-quality materials usually indicate that the shoe will last you a long time,” says Scratch. “The best material for Chelsea boots is leather or suede.”

However, the material used for the boot sole is equally important, according to Styless. “Boots with a rubber sole guarantee extra protection for the boot,” she says. Finally, considering function is also a good idea, explains celebrity wardrobe stylist Lunden Olin. “Function should always be a priority because no one wants their shoe falling apart after wearing them for a long time,” he tells PEOPLE. 

Comfort and Fit

Like material, prioritizing comfortable pairs of Chelsea boots is equally wise. Since you’ll be walking in them, you’ll want to select a pair of boots that don't strain your feet. To find a comfortable pair of Chelsea boots, Styless recommends paying attention to the sole. "The most comfortable Chelsea boot has to have a perfect sole,” says Styless. “This way, it does not irritate your foot when rubbing against the sock.”

Comfort also depends largely on the fit. And, according to Neely Woodson Powell is the founder of  Charleston Shoe Company. “Chelsea boots should fit casually, comfortably, and effortlessly.” They’re a boot style that you should be able to break in (if necessary) and wear for years and years, so choosing a pair that fits well is key.  

Reviews

Reading through user reviews lets you see all the ins and outs of the shoe before you buy, so you’ll know what to expect. “Shoppers should check online and see the reviews before buying Chelsea boots,” adds Styless. “This way, shoppers can be comfortable buying boots without regrets.” Pro tip: Pay attention to Chelsea boots with higher star ratings and plenty of user reviews — these usually indicate that the shoe will be a good match.

Behind The Scenes

To find the best Chelsea boots, we scoured the internet for top styles across a range of silhouettes and price points before narrowing it down to 11 top picks to try out. From there, our team spent two weeks and over 237 hours putting these selections to the test, carefully considering comfort, fit, quality, support, and value. 

• Comfort: When testing Chelsea boots, we first considered the overall comfort of each design, including whether or not the boots were comfortable right out of the box, what the break-in process was like, and what kind of cushion the insole offered (if any). 
• Fit: As with any shoe style, fit was also super important to us during the testing period. We slipped each pair on and took note on how they fit overall, whether or not they were true to size, and how the fit held up during the two-week period. 
• Quality: Chelsea boots were initially designed with function in mind, and while many have become more fashion-forward over the decades, we still wanted to find options that were stylish and high-quality enough to last. With that in mind, we made note of any signs of wear and tea throughout the testing period.
• Support: Chelsea boots are by no means a running shoe, but they are meant to be worn while walking miles so they need to be comfortable and supportive. With this in mind, we considered the different support features offered and what they actually felt like when we slipped them on and walked around for miles (seriously — we traveled 76 miles during this testing period). 
• Value: We’re all for investing in a good pair of boots, if the quality is there, so we also made a point to score each shoe style for their overall value and whether or not we thought they were worth the price point based on the above factors. 

With all of these pillars top of mind, we carefully reviewed our notes and compared each shoe style tested to determine which shoes were worthy of our best of list. 

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Jessie Quinn is a contributing writer for PEOPLE and has written for publications such as Byrdie, InStyle, The Spruce, NYLON, and more. When covering the best Chelsea boots, Jessie carefully reviewed the testers’ insights to learn more about their experiences with each style selected and how well the boots held up during the two-week testing period. She also connected with shoe expert Neely Woodson Powell to learn more about Chelsea boots and what to consider when shopping for the best designs. From there, Jessie compiled the PEOPLE team’s insights and organized their experiences into this best-of list. 

Courtney Leiva is a contributing writer for PEOPLE and has written for publications such as The Daily Beast, Buzzfeed, HuffPost, and more. Courtney spoke with fashion stylists to learn more about how to choose a pair of Chelsea boots and what standout features to look out for as you shop.

What Is PEOPLE Tested?

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.