Wellies.

Dale.

Dale.

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Dale.
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Don't be alamred, I know I'm Welsh and I shouldn't really be asking about wellies. :LOL:

Also, whilst not strictly photographic 'equipment' they are an essential part of my kit.



Story goes like this. A few years ago, I bought a fairly expensive pair, they were about £110. Within a year, they started to leak, so I took them back and got a new pair. Same thing happened and I lost heart. I still use them, they're fine in mud or shallow water but anything over 4 or 5 inches deep, it seeps in. Not ideal for standing in a river when it's -2.

So now I want to put that behind me and I'm looking for recommendations on a decent pair, must be waterproof of course but also, I wouldn't mind some cold protection. That was a selling point of my last pair, they were labelled as 'Frostline', which should speak for itself but my feet did get cold in them. I don't expect toasty toes, just not frozen ones.

Anyway, moving on, recommendations for wellies please. I don't mind spending decent money if they live up to their promise.

TIA.
 
My muck boots split after just over a year, currently got a pair of hogs of fife, so far so good
 
I've had a pair of muck boots for around 7 years. They've been great and keep my feet warm. I can walk for miles in them too.
I wouldn't hesitate to get another pair if I needed too.....
 
Hunters, ( sadly in administration it seems since June but still available ) or Le Chameau for me, with the latter having the slight edge IMO
 
I've had the Dunlops mentioned above for 5 yrs or so, boot has never failed as such, the fleece liner has feel apart, but they've had a hard life.

Sole isn't the best in mud or on wet stone though!

(Mud round here is clay based)

I keep looking at the Muck boots.
 
Muck boots are over priced crap in my opinion. I had some which were something like £140 and within a year they were split and leaking and I only wore them occasionally when out in the winter doing photography.

My wife had a pair of Aigle Parcours 2 ISO which she swore by so I bought a pair myself.
Had them a couple of years now and they are still like new. Comfortable even for long walks, warm, waterproof. Couldn't ask for much more.
 
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I'm on my second pair of the Dunlop boots now. The first were still okay after about 5 years, aside from the smell...... but that was my own fault anyway! I got a welly full of Welsh river water and didn't dry them out properly.
 
Dale. said:
Don't be alamred, I know I'm Welsh and I shouldn't really be asking about wellies. :LOL:

Also, whilst not strictly photographic 'equipment' they are an essential part of my kit.



Story goes like this. A few years ago, I bought a fairly expensive pair, they were about £110. Within a year, they started to leak, so I took them back and got a new pair. Same thing happened and I lost heart. I still use them, they're fine in mud or shallow water but anything over 4 or 5 inches deep, it seeps in. Not ideal for standing in a river when it's -2.

So now I want to put that behind me and I'm looking for recommendations on a decent pair, must be waterproof of course but also, I wouldn't mind some cold protection. That was a selling point of my last pair, they were labelled as 'Frostline', which should speak for itself but my feet did get cold in them. I don't expect toasty toes, just not frozen ones.

Anyway, moving on, recommendations for wellies please. I don't mind spending decent money if they live up to their promise.

TIA.
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I would have thought that Baaaarber wellies would’ve appropriate!
Actually I have some and would NOT recommend them
 
I always found the French Aigle or Le Chameau a better shape for walking and one of them had wire embedded in the sole which gave a better grip on rock. Pricey though, Hunters less good for me. Muck boots good for warmth, Never had a wellie leak But then the sloes always wore out before the upper. Oh, I did have Muck boots that were cut on barbed wire but there’s a product for repairing that.

I notice farmers always seem to wear ’unknown’ make basic wellies (from farm suppliers no doubt) and seemed more than capable in them — I guess it just come from practice.

I always found walking boots better than wellies in the winter and in the summer when I spent a lot of time in shallow water old boots with holes in them which let the water out were best.
 
sphexx said:
Le Chameau a better shape for walking
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Actually I'd agree with that, having walked over many miles of rough, uneven and sometimes hilly slippery ground.
They have a better grip than any others I've tried.

Also the adjustable tops are an advantage if you have "thick" calf's
 
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Really hard to find wellies that are comfortable, let alone warm! Waterproof is pretty much a given though! If possible, visit a place that stocks lots of brands and styles and try them on with your usual wellie socks on.
 
I've had a pair of aigle wellingtons for about 20 years which have been worn at least once a week, and often 5 times a week.

But if I was buying again, because I always try to buy British, I would look at Rockfish, but I have no experience of them

rockfishfootwear.co.uk

About Us

We are a family-owned business, based on an organic farm in Cornwall. Established in 2003, we are specialised in producing sustainable and eco-friendly wellingtons and sneakers. Inspired by the Cornish coastline, leisure hunter’s and the mucky farmland, our wellingtons are made to last long and...
rockfishfootwear.co.uk rockfishfootwear.co.uk
 
A vet/farmer I used to know wore Le Chameau as he thought they were the best for all-day use. He could afford them as he and his wife ran a chain of veterinary surgeries and the farm was a hobby.

I have a £20 pair of green wellies from a now defunct discount shoe chain........
 
Thanks for the tons of recommendations, plenty of food for thought.

So far, 2, possibly 3 options are in the running. I'm sub £150, so Le Chameau might be out but we'll see. Muck Boots are in the running but they are kind of samey to my current Grub Boots which makes me worry about them leaking again.

The others would be Rockfish or Aigle but nothing is decided yet.
 
AH the problem could be easily solved by what used to be called drainpipe trousers. So with them on and a light tap on the head any hole in wellies would not matter.
See me always trying to be helpful.:headbang::LOL:
 
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Dale. said:
Muck Boots are in the running but they are kind of samey to my current Grub Boots which makes me worry about them leaking again.
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I've heard people praise Grubs after using Muckboots which had split.

The best wellies I've ever had were a pair of steel toecap Dunlops. Surprisingly comfy they were. These days I only wear wellies if I need to paddle deeper than ankle height, so my Muckboots are lasting well.
 
I just wear cheapie wellies and get the next size up then put in insoles
they are then comfy enough to walk in and warm
have got a few pairs one lives in the car one at the allotment one at home and a shorter pair if I’m not expecting to go into water
 
I have a pair of vibram soled Sealand boots which are great but they split and I have repaired them.
Mine have been used in salt water too.

What I now know is I should been treating them with rubber footware are treatment.

Treat rubber wellies to protect them.
 
I wear wellies a lot and cover quite a lot of miles in them, I've tried everything from cheap to expensive and by far the best ones I have come across which I have stuck with are Dunlop Acifort

They grip your ankles well so you don't get your feet moving about causing rubbing whilst walking, they have steel toe caps which holds the boot away from your toes stopping you getting cold toes and also have a plate in the sole making them fairly solid. They generally last me a year to 18 months but that is with extreme use and are fairly cheap. They have ribbing on them so when scrambling over gates rocks and what not you get good grip. The one extra thing I would say is the size variation between boot styles and brands is terrible so you need to find some in a shop and try them on then stick with what you know to fit.

https://www.dunlopboots.com/boots/acifort/_item/dunlop-acifort-ribbed-full-safetyThese are them
 
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Protect expensive wellies with this or similar
www.fishingmegastore.com

Seeland Rubber Footwear Care Neutral One Size – Glasgow Angling Centre

www.fishingmegastore.com www.fishingmegastore.com

If you have leak or tear it can be repaired
www.stormsure.com

Boot, Shoe & Wader Repair Kit

The Stormsure Boot, Shoe, and Wader Repair Kit is a comprehensive solution for quickly and effectively repairing all types of boots and footwear. This kit combines the strength of Stormsure Flexible Repair Adhesive with the convenience of Tuff Tape patches and a sandpaper piece, providing...
www.stormsure.com www.stormsure.com
 
alfbranch said:
Protect expensive wellies with this or similar
www.fishingmegastore.com

Seeland Rubber Footwear Care Neutral One Size – Glasgow Angling Centre

www.fishingmegastore.com www.fishingmegastore.com

If you have leak or tear it can be repaired
www.stormsure.com

Boot, Shoe & Wader Repair Kit

The Stormsure Boot, Shoe, and Wader Repair Kit is a comprehensive solution for quickly and effectively repairing all types of boots and footwear. This kit combines the strength of Stormsure Flexible Repair Adhesive with the convenience of Tuff Tape patches and a sandpaper piece, providing...
www.stormsure.com www.stormsure.com
Click to expand...


You know, I never gave trying to seal my current wellies a thought. Might be worth a go.

Cheers Alf.
 
Dale. said:
You know, I never gave trying to seal my current wellies a thought. Might be worth a go.

Cheers Alf.
Click to expand...

Not for leaking boots, but one can buy electric socks or maybe put hand warmers in the boots if you are mainly standing around in the water. I’ve never tried this for boots so maybe it’s rubbish!
 
I own more wellies than i do going out shoes and ranging from chest waders to short ankle ones, i have had expensive ones that lasted no longer than cheap pairs so tend to just buy cheap ones nowadays and replace, i like neoprene wellts than rubber they dont rub my calfs ss much
 
Le chameau ......I've been wearing mine for 15 years and they are like the day I bought them plus they are like slippers to wear . Expensive but with 15 years use and easily another 15 that makes them look more of a bargain
 
Not tidy repairs but they work
 

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I spotted these boots on a (news?)feed advert.....

Crispi Sport Highland Pro boots
Damned expensive but interesting anyway.....???

Various UK outlets offer them so not adding a linky.
 
Box Brownie said:
I spotted these boots on a (news?)feed advert.....
Click to expand...

I can't wear normal wellies, end up with cramp
I've been wearing similar to those for years, present ones are Toggi and probably nearly 10 years old now
As long as you look after them, clean the mud off and give them a a rewaxing with leather proofing wax
they stay waterproof and comfy, I spend a lot of time in wet, muddy places at this time of year and they have never let me down yet
 
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