Wellies

[DiG]

Hi All,
I am looking for a replacement for my Argyll wellington boots which I have had for about 2 years and found them to be the most comfortable pair I have ever owned. In addition to that they have soles that don’t stick in the mud and are not so heavily cleated that they pick up stones (we have a lot of gravel around and about).

Unfortunately they have gone the way of all things as they could not stand up to the rigours of our smallholding as we have a lot of hawthorn and blackthorn.

Has anyone any suggestions for a replacement that are a bit tougher but still comfortable? I was considering trying MuckBoots - does anyone have any experience of these? They are pretty expensive but I don't mind paying if they are going to last!

Regards, Diane

[oldherbaceous]

Evening Diane, mine do all the things that you don't want them to do, plus they have steel toe caps so you end up getting cold toes, nearly forgot, the left one also leaks.

But i'm sure someone will be able to help.

[Primrose]

I'm not much of an expert on Wellies I'm afraid. Was pretty shocked to see some Hunter wellies in a local garden centre the other day on sale for £75 which seems a lot of money to pay for boots to wear for garden or allotment digging. For the past ten years I've been clomping around in a pair of green wellies which my 16 year old nephew outgrew. I think they were bought from Milletts and have certainly stood the test of time. They don't look very elegant now as they're splashed with fence stain but they're pretty tough,

[lizzie]

I got a lovely pair for Christmas off my son. They are black with skull and crossbones on and so comfy. Got them from Wyndsors and they cost less than £20. Very warm and snug and good grips too.

[Shallot Man]

Primrose. £75 for a pair of wellies, seems like mug's wanted.

[DiG]

Thanks for your replies.

Hi Shallot Man and Primrose - Hunter's are ridiculously priced - I think their market is the people who live in 'up market' rural areas but don't actually do any work ! Argyll's are made by the same people but are half the price - which is still quite pricey (mine were a present).

Lizzie - your ones from Wyndsors sound grand - I'm not sure about the skull and crossbones though.

OH - since yours give you cold and wet feet, perhaps you should be looking for a replacement too

We tend to be working outside all weathers and all year so wellies are an essential piece of kit. All I ask is a bit of comfort and dry feet!

We'll be heading for what passes for a town hearabouts some time soon so I'll try our country store and see what they have on offer, until then I'll just have to try and keep out of the long grass!

[Beryl]

One of our ladies on the lottie bought Muckboots, she walks her 2 dogs in them as well as gardening and found the sides split after only a year. I believe these cost over £100 needless to say she is very cross and has complained to the conpany. Not heard the result yet.

When I couldn't replace my Dunlop wellies I replaced with some from Homebase. Thick soles and comfortable.

Beryl.

[Elle's Garden]

We have Aigles (me) and Le Chameau (Tim). The Chameau are worn everyday and all around our local shoot during the season. We both have the neoprene lined ones and never have cold toes! I have had mine for 3 years now and fully expect another 3 years or so service (being a delicate lady of course, mine don't get overworn ). Tim's are 3 years old now, have done 3 seasons and been in use everyday - costly in the first instance, yes, but they certainly give their moneys worth.

[DiG]

Beryl and Elle - thank you for your suggestions ladies and for the feedback regarding MuckBoots.

Neoprene lined wellies sound like a great idea, standard ones are pretty cold in winter even with thicker socks. As you say EG they are expensive but if they last and fulfil all the other criteria it might be worth the investment. I do have a birthday soon so perhaps I should put them on my list.

I notice from my travels round the web that Hunter now make their 'original' boot with a neoprene lining which might also be worth thinking about although there seems to be some doubt about the quality since they moved their manufacture from Scotland to China.

Thanks again all

Diane

[Monika]

I swear by Nora wellies - between £25 and £35. They are comfy, they last and the shaft stays upright which is very important when you are balancing on one leg, trying to get the other foot into the wellie. Even my OH who often worked on very uneven and rocky ground as a dry stone waller used "Nora's" when he didn't wear steel-capped work boots.

[DiG]

Thanks, Monika.

I will add them to the list of ones to look out for. We are very limited for choice in this area so I might have to try the Internet, however, I'm a bit reluctant to order any without having tried them first.

Never in my days of living in town did I think I would ever be concerned with the relative merits of different brands of wellington boots.

Regards, Diane

[Primrose]

Whilst on the topic of gardening footware, does anybody use Cloggies?

I had a really sturdy pair a few years ago, but sadly they split and the latest models now being sold are not a patch on their successors in terms of durability. I do like having a pair of waterproof slip-ons to keep by the kitchen door for popping out over a wet lawn to the vegetable patch or to do odd gardening jobs in, but can't find anything now which is really sturdy enough for my taste.

The "Crock" shoes arn't much good as they've got holes in them so any socks you're wearing get wet, and Wellies are just to cumbersome for a quick "in and out" expedition. Anybody know of any other footware which might fit the bill?

[Monika]

How about clogs, Primrose, with leather tops and thick wooden soles? Although they are still available here from "cloggers" (having been the accepted workwear to the mills in darker times), I find the more commercial ones more comfortable. You can slip in and out of them very easily and I have walked long distances in them, though they are not easy on uneven ground.

[Johnboy]

Hi Diane,
I do not possess a pair of wellies I rely on good quality fully welted steel toe-capped boots. I don't go wading in them but I can walk through all the puddles and the like without getting wet feet. I found a long while ago that wellies and myself were not compatible and got cramp sweaty feet and the like but with boots they are just perfect for me.
JB.

[Elle's Garden]

I have a pair of cloggies Primrose, which I find great for just pottering, popping down to the chickens on a damp (not really wet) day. For me they fit the bill, but you are right they are not that sturdy as on occasion I have had a rather large blackthorn thorn come up through the sole when walking around the field!

Diane, just re the Aigles in case you are thinking of buying online - I have found them to be quite tight in the ankle. It is not a problem as they don't roll around once on, but they did take a bit of a tug to pull on and off the first couple of times and I always have to use a boot pull or handy step to pull them off. I would say they are great as long as you can try them first because they may not suit. No such problem I believe with the Chameau.