I wear wellies a lot.
And I mean A LOT.
Growing up I wore them so much that I had a lump on my foot (the same as my dad) so we both went to the doctor and he decided that it was just a massive callus on both of our feet!
The callus is no longer there but I still wear them every day and lately I've been getting frustrated.
They all seem crap.
Cheap pairs don't last me long so I splashed out and brought some Argyll wellies.
My verdict on these?
Still crap.
They've lasted me six months and now they've split on the seams so I get a wet foot and the top is all pulling apart.
Another set I've had is a cheap pair.
These split at the back from normal use (I can understand if I spiked them with something).
So I'm trying steel toe caped Dunlop wellies this time and see how they fair.
Who else wears them a lot and have you come up with a good make that will last through daily use?
My son and daughter in law both use expensive hunter 'wellies' up to 4 hours a day and are only on their second pair after a few years.
ReplyDeleteI just buy mine now from the village shop Dunlop wellies cost me £12 my last ones were expensive and split at the foot seam, there is nothing worse than a wet foot :-)
ReplyDeleteI go through 3 pairs of wellingtons a year. Then I try to think of useful ways of using them: rubber gate hinges, a knife holder outside nailed near the tap for use on the veg plot and around the smallholding. I think a lot of bought products are made of crap these days.
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ReplyDeleteI was a Hunter wellie fan for years, but to be honest, now I prefer Dunlop. They may not be as 'posh' looking, but they're (imho) better all round. Also they're a bit cheaper, so I don't mind if I have to replace them slightly more often. DH wears the steelies version and he loves them, he doesn't get too muddy very often, but he does lots of stuff with motor oils, and they don't perish the way some others do!
ReplyDeleteAs an alternative, 'Screwfix' do some 'Site' safety wellies for about £17 a pair, may be worth trying out!
I like you wear wellies most of the day and really need a comfortable pair for walking in. I love my neoprene lined Aigle wellies but even these only last 18 months before splitting where my toes bend! Not what you would expect for over £100 a pair! I don't spend a lot on other clothing so these are my "essential" indulgence! I'd love to find something similar that lasts longer - cheaper ones have lasted even less time!
ReplyDeleteSame problem with them splitting here, I just buy cheap ones as the expensive ones don't last. I have also started only wearing them when I have to and that helps. I don't wear them in below freezing weather as they can't handle being cold and will split for sure then. I think they don't put good rubber in them anymore.
ReplyDeleteLovely Hubby wears Muck Boots, tall ones for Winter and deep, wet jobs and shorter ones in Summer and for less mucky jobs. I have some of these ready for action but my last pair of cheapo wellies are lasting and lasting and lasting, and I'm not relegating them to the scrap heap until they do give up the ghost.
ReplyDeleteI gave up on the novelty Joules, Laura Ashley and garden centre wellies after the first couple of years of self sufficiency and now it's just cheap ones from the Farm Supply shop with sheepswool liners the make them more comfy.
I have riggers. last for yonks
ReplyDeleteI have had a pair of these Viking brand boots that have lasted over 20 years of use and abuse with no splits or visible wear. I highly recommend them.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vikingfootwear.com/en/mens/rubber/sport-ii#39
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Like you Kev I'm in wellingtons much of the day everyday. I went upmarket recently and bought some Hunters. Very comfortable to walk in (so good for walking the dog) but they lasted less than 6 months. Back to cheap Dunlops.
ReplyDeleteWe buy cheap ones, we buy expensive ones - doesn't make any difference! Tthe exception is some blue-with-pink spots that were given to me by a friend for my birthday - she is a bit of a yummy granny so I guess they were expensive and they are still good. We also wear rubber shoes a lot in the veggie plot, as do many French. Very good in summer actually.
ReplyDeleteWe buy cheap ones, we buy expensive ones - doesn't make any difference! Tthe exception is some blue-with-pink spots that were given to me by a friend for my birthday - she is a bit of a yummy granny so I guess they were expensive and they are still good. We also wear rubber shoes a lot in the veggie plot, as do many French. Very good in summer actually.
ReplyDeleteI go through wellies at a ridiculous rate, my last cheap pair lasted two weeks. I've had £5 pairs and £100 pairs and they're all crap. I had one pair last about two years, I keep meaning to dig the carcass out and see who made them,the problem was they were from a catalogue with no outward identifier.
ReplyDeleteThe second cheaper wellies look like the ones I have. I get through two pairs a year. They always split somewhere!
ReplyDeleteI wore wellies a lot as a kid and I had those callouses as well, on the tops of my feet around the ankle! Anyway, back to boots. I have Hunters but I don't really like them, they're just too thin and your feet freeze in them in the winter. They also have a funny little heel which feels a bit wierd, I prefer flat soles. They were bought for me by the other half as he thought I'd like to look posh like everyone else round here, but I don't, and couldn't give a stuff what they look like. They're for summer use only if desperately needed! So, my recommendation is Muck Boots. Expensive but well worth it. Tough as old boots as they say and come in variously insulated forms. I have the ones recommended for fisherman who are standing in cold water all day and they're brilliant in freezing weather. My only complaint is that they're a wee bit heavy, but then so are Dunlops. All the farmers and nature reserve wardens round here wear them. (Muck boots that is).
ReplyDeleteMuck boots are the absolute best, pricey yes, but they will last and can take abuse.
ReplyDeleteI have exactly the same problem too. From the comments above the answer seems to be a toss up between buying cheap ones and accepting they won't last long and investing in some expensive ones and hoping they will!
ReplyDeleteI bought mucks I like them
ReplyDeleteI love wearing my wellies. I need them 5-6 times a week. Most of my boots get holes within 6 months. From spring to autumn I wear my leaky ones. I like the noise from inside when I get water in them.
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