Is £25 a lot for wellies?

[itsgettingweird]

I've always brought cheap £10/15 Dunlop (or similar make) wellies but find them very wide and not easy for long walks.

The supermarket 'fashion' wellies often rub, wear out really quickly and don't tend to have any ability to keep warmth in.

I've been coveting a pair of pink wellies I've seen in my local garden centre for ages. They are Briers (or something) and have a thin lining as opposed to just plastic.

They are shaped but still sensible width and shape.

But they are £25.

I need wellies as ankle deep mud here!

Anyone experience of this make or of expensive wellies that aren't from supermarkets - are they worth the money?

I wouldn’t go for Hunters - I had a pair which started to let in water as soon as they were out of guarantee. When I spoke to the Hunters people about it, they were very polite, but said that as their wellies were made of rubber which is a natural material, I should expect them to perish and leak!

Last year I bought a pair of wellies from Decathlon which are a nice fit and comfy to walk in. I have Dunlop Puroforts as well, but they have a wider leg so make an annoying flappy noise when I walk, so keep them for farm work.

Who are all the people buying Hunters who have them lasting 10 years 😳 I was pleased I got 18 months out of a pair, they're not known to last!

My wellies coat £160 so that is very cheap. I do wear mine daily to walk the dog and see the horses. My last pair lasted me 6 years.

I dog walk daily.
Where I walk is pretty wet.
Due to feet issues, I need a proper shoe/boot, not a wellie.

I have waterproof walking boots. After afalse start (and money back after 6 months when they leaked) I now have gortex lined leather waking boots. I can wade through water in them and stay dry. They really are properlu waterproof. But they cost £130.

In my research to find them, I discovered that walking boots are expected to last abotu 1,000 miles. I worked out that I walk more than that each year. So in reality, I should expect to replace them every year. These ones have lasted longer than that so far, with no sign of wearing out. The goretex lining has a lifelong guarantee, so as long as th erest of the boot holds up, they shoudl remain waterproof.

I have had my Hunters about the years but I don't wear them daily or anything

Yes having looked at hunters I've decided not to go with them.

They are same material as the ones I saw for £25!

I'm quite enjoying this falling down a rabbit hole of welly research. I would not have said that's how I'd end 2020 (or any year!)

I've discovered I love exploring and walking and didn't realise just how much farmland there is 10 minutes from here (on foot). I've always stuck to old railway line which is muddy enough but it's amazing. And even in summer if it rains it gets really muddy.

Realistically £50 is my top budget.

These are my Decathlon ones. Not pretty, but I’ve had bad luck with pretty wellies, and prefer warm and waterproof! I really like the fit of these on the legs as I usually wear leggings or skinny jeans.

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/g300-warm-tall-wellies/_/R-p-104186?mc=8345669&c=BROWN

If they are for walking you could also consider walking boots

I wouldn't think £25 is expensive for wellies. Especially if you'll use them a lot. I've got hunters wellies think they were about £60 and I don't really know why I bought them think it was when they were "fashionable" think wellies and shorts at festivals 🤷🏻‍♀️ I've hardly worn them too they are in the loft now 😂

[quote Seeingadistance]These are my Decathlon ones. Not pretty, but I’ve had bad luck with pretty wellies, and prefer warm and waterproof! I really like the fit of these on the legs as I usually wear leggings or skinny jeans.

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/g300-warm-tall-wellies/_/R-p-104186?mc=8345669&c=BROWN[/quote]
They are actually nice. I am looking for more shaped as have quite thin backs of feet and legs but the ball of my foot is wide.

Had my hunters for 25 years. They don't make them like they used to.

Hunters used to be great my oldest pair lasted 15 years the exterior rubber started to perish, I’ve replaced them but can’t see me getting 15 years from them as they are no longer British made. Bought myself Dubarry Galaway boots about 8 years ago and every time I wear them I think they are the best investment I’ve ever made. They look shit as I rarely clean them but as so warm and give good support.
I’ve read somewhere that Dunlop wellies are the best relevant to cost and most farmers use them.

@PronkWine

Who are all the people buying Hunters who have them lasting 10 years 😳 I was pleased I got 18 months out of a pair, they're not known to last!

That's the thing - if they were bought years ago, they're probably ok. But since Hunter fell head first into fashion over function, it seems their quality has gone massively down hill.

@AliceinBunniland

If they are for walking you could also consider walking boots

My wellies are much more comforftable than walking boots. I hate having anything tight round my ankles.

My wellies are much more comfortable than walking boots. I hate having anything tight round my ankles.

It probably depends on the wellies and the walking boots you are comparing but worth considering.

Whatever you buy it's good if you can try on properly OP

I wouldn’t go for Hunters either. They are not as hard wearing as other boots I’ve had. I currently have a pair of Aigle Parcours ISO 2. I’m wearing them about 2-3 hours a day, every day and have done for the last 5 years or so. I muck out 3 stables in them, go walking in them, field repairs, everything. I get cold feet and these are neoprene lined. They get very heavy usage - I take them on and off all the time and the inners are not showing any signs of fraying or falling apart. They were not cheap, but given that I’ve worn them more than any other piece of footwear I own for over 5 years, we’ll worth the pounds spent on them!

Love the Vimes quote btw, and sadly it is very true.

I have Dunlop Blizzards which were about 35 on Amazon. They're light, good soles, and fleece lined so great for cold winter morning dog walks.

Just found this thread, glad you didn't fall into the Hunter trap OP. They used to be great, but got loads of publicity when they were seen on the feet of various Slebs at Glastonbury and fell into the same trap as Burberry. Pro dog walker, and very rural. I do have other footwear but I live in a pair of Kanyon leather wellies bought from local farmer's supplier. Warm, waterproof, comfy, good grip on soles, and narrow enough to drive the Doggy Funbus in - my Muck Boots were too wide to fit the pedals safely. The Muck Boots were excellent on the warmth, but not great on grip, and went to welly heaven after I tramped across a stretch of scrub that had been cut back from blackthorn, and tore a hole in them.

Love the Vimes quote btw, and sadly it is very true.
I don't think it is true these days.

I'm amazed at all the hunters lasting years. I used to buy them and they lasted 10-12 years then they turned to the fashion market and moved production to China. The quality plummeted. After getting through 3 pairs in 2 years I gave up on them. Luckily for me when we cleared out the store room at the yard we found a pair of ancient Scottish made ones in my size and no one knew who they belonged to. Now they are mine. I wouldn't waste mo ey on a new pair though.

Get the wellies you want and buy some welly socks for them. Will keep you toasty and also up the comfort factor.

If you want sturdy wellies that will last yous everlasting years, the Dunlop’s or garden centre/builders merchants standard green ones for about £15 will be good. Welly socks will keep them warmer.

These graders centre ones will probably be less sturdy and last less well than the Dunlop’s. Being more expensive won’t make them more sturdy or long lasting. Fashion wellies like Joules, Hunters etc aren’t designed for regular walking and wear over an extended period but are sashimi items.

If you like the wellies and understand they probably won t be long lasting or warm and buy them on that basis, then fine. Buy them and enjoy them for what they are.

The fact £300 can be spent on wellies and some wellies last 10 years is probably a bit irrelevant to the Op who is unlikely to leap from Dunlop’s to £300 wellies when she already thinks £25 might be too much.

I also have Aigle Parcours - mine are about 10 years old, however my daughter has pinched them so got given a new pair for Christmas. They're about £125 or so new. I like the deep tread on the sole, great non-slip walking.

I'd suggest visit a farmers outlet if you can eg Mole Valley Try on a few, they usually stock quite a range eg Muck Boots are about £60-70, they're neoprene lined and quite comfy, and find something you can walk in with a decent sole (deep groves for control in mud)

£25 for wellies are definitely cheap and not long lasting ime.

See. I disagree with the Hunter wellies

I’ve had 4 pairs. They lasted about 14 months. I have horses. So I’m down a yard twice a day. So practically live in them. The last pair ripped the day the warranty ran out and Hunter refused to help. That was the last pair I ever brought. I’ve got a pair of dubarry that I live in. But for me the money is worth it.

I’d go for a pair of muck boots. I had a pair of wolf ones that lasted me over 10 years. Cost me about £25. Plus they are warm!

Joules are awful. Mine ripped within 2 days. Though joules were very good about getting me a refund.

I had a pair of dunlop which were bloody fantastic and cost me £11!!!