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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hunter Wellies are a waste of money?

94 replies

egyptiancotton · 16/12/2018 23:37

My granny always used to wear hunter wellies when we would go on our walks together, and so I thought I'd treat myself to a nice pair. Around £100 so the price of some decent-ish shoes anyway. She has had the same pair, (Made in Scotland era) for over 20 years, and still going strong.

We have an energetic dog who likes to be walked twice a day (Labradoodle), I will do this duty once 30-60mins of walking, 5 days out of 7.

12 months and 2 weeks later, the buckle broke off. Then a week later, they started leaking! So I wrote to them asking for them to be fixed. They wouldn't do anything about it as warranty was 12 months.

For my birthday in March, I was given a new pair, which again lasted about a year and have BOTH split and started leaking.

I make sure to dry them off and remove mud and store them upside down in the boot room.

Has anyone else found them to be a complete waste of money other than now to be a fashion piece, rather than practical?

OP posts:
Happygolucky25 · 17/12/2018 00:21

Oh gosh my daughter (5) has a pair of hunters black glittery ones and she bloody lives in them 😂she wears to to and from school, and parks in all weathers and they have survived so impressed so far !

sollyfromsurrey · 17/12/2018 00:26

Go with Aigle or Le Chameau. Hunters are now made in China and not made of actual natural rubber. They are basically fashion boots now. Not proper outdoor footwear.

DaysOfCurlySpencer · 17/12/2018 00:27

I was going to get a pair but they were so uncomfortable compared to the cheaper ones that I bought those instead, still have them, 18 years on.

ThistleAmore · 17/12/2018 00:57

I love Muckboots - warm, hard-wearing and cope with animals! Aigle are good, too, but v pricey.

Hunters are shit, as are Dubarry, which rot if you use them to muck out in.

Loftyswops988 · 17/12/2018 01:01

I have an older pair of hunters that i bought when they were still made in scotland and they are literally indestructable! the new ones fall to pieces. I also have an aigle pair which are good, a lot thinner but much sturdier than the newer hunter boots if that helps!

Snugglepumpkin · 17/12/2018 01:18

I've got a pair of Hunter gardening wellies with an extra thick pad on the underside where your foot would sit on the spade & I've had them for a few years (more than 5 but definitely not 10).
I probably wear them for a few hours at least 4 times a week, some weeks 7 days a week when gardening & have had no problems with them.

I only clean them by accidentally stepping in puddles or spilling water on them when watering stuff in the greenhouse & I've dug literally tonnes of earth wearing them whilst hardscaping my garden.
No leaks, cracks etc... & still very comfortable.

No idea about their non gardening wellies though.

PurpleTigerLove · 17/12/2018 01:39

Ive had a pair of green Dunlops for years , probably cost about a tenner and still going strong . Kids have had hunter (crap) , joules ( crap) , Boden , Dunlop and aigle . The last three have been the best wearing ones .

speakingtruthfully · 17/12/2018 02:00

Hunter wellies are worth the money for comfort but as they are made from rubber that naturally perishes after a certain time they are not long lasting

However if you value them at circa £100 lasting 1 year that's around £2 per week or in your case 40p per dog walk - your call as to if they are worth it ?

KevinTheYuccaPlant · 17/12/2018 07:20

I would have said Muck Boots, but my friend who works at the local agricultural store says they've changed something in production in the last 2 years and now they're regularly getting pairs back 3-6 months after purchase that have either split across the top of the foot or the lining has worn away and is causing blisters. She recommends Seals, but couldn't get hold of a size 5 pair for me, so I'm currently in Hoggs of Fife, which are extremely comfortable, but as I've only had them a couple of months, can't vouch for longevity yet.

ScribblyGum · 17/12/2018 07:33

I bought a pair of neoprene line Aigles when I got my Labrador. Nine years and many hundreds of miles trod on dog walks later and they are still in perfect condition.

flumpybear · 17/12/2018 07:34

Reading this thread my opinion of Hunters had plummeted! I cannot believe they're just relying on their name now and not quality - they'll be out of business before long - stupid mistake!

Hoopaloop · 17/12/2018 07:39

MUCKMASTERS will see you right.

Hoopaloop · 17/12/2018 07:39

Didn't mean to caps that ^

Theoryofmould · 17/12/2018 07:40

Yep Aigle or ale Chameau are the only ones I'd get these days. I did have some neoprene lined Hunters a few years ago and they lasted about 4 years before the soles just split from one side to the other.
If I'm paying £££ for wellingtons then I expect them to last for years, they're wellies nota fashion item.

StrongTea · 17/12/2018 07:48

Muck boots have a sale on at the moment.

DennisIsABastardMan · 17/12/2018 07:54

I’ve had my Aigles for five years now, still going strong. Would highly recommend, though they are quite slim, my sister couldn’t get them over her calves when she wanted to borrow them!

Squatternutbosh123 · 17/12/2018 07:56

I've got 2 pairs of hunters, short and long and they've been going strong for over 10 years. No splits, no leaks, super comfy and can walk for miles in them

Buteo · 17/12/2018 07:57

My Hunter wellies bought in 1982 lasted over 30 years (and only died because I ripped them with a gardening fork). The rubber was really flexible and very different to the modern ones.

Dollius01 · 17/12/2018 07:58

Such a shame Hunters have deteriorated in value! Am currently wearing my 13-year old pair which are still going strong...

AwkwardSquad · 17/12/2018 07:58

I bought my Hunters from a farming equipment shop about 20 years ago. They weren’t expensive and they’re still going strong. Shame that they’ve compromised their brand so much by going for style over function.

DaffydownClock · 17/12/2018 08:00

The last pair of Hunters I had , probably 30 years ago, were lethal; no grip at all in mud or ice.
Dunlops are brilliant, so what if they're not trendy or posh - I want dry feet and not to slip and slide around.

marvellousnightforamooncup · 17/12/2018 08:01

I can't wear my hunters. The ankle moulding is the wrong shape for my foot and they rub like hell.

Biggerknickersagain · 17/12/2018 08:02

Hunters used to be brilliant for horsey related stuff, lasted ages and although expensive, lasted well. Now they're flimsy and not fit for yard and field work, and probably more expensive! Got an emergency £10 pair from shoe zone when my last hunters disintegrated - still going strong if not the most comfortable! Rather have dry feet though!

lunar1 · 17/12/2018 08:02

Complete waste of money, I bought my SIL some for Christmas a couple of years ago as they do lots of muddy dog walking. They lasted under a year. They really are worth less than a £10 supermarket pair, my children's wellies only give up when they are grown out of!

Spudlet · 17/12/2018 08:04

My old Hunters lasted years, but I've also heard nothing but bad about newer ones. I have a pair from a smaller brand called Gumleaf - they're great. They are neoprene lined and really comfy. I live in them for at least two if not three seasons of the year and they're still going strong. And mine are blue, so not your standard green wellies (they do red and green as well).

Met a fellow Gumleaf wearer at the last shoot I went to, and we were waxing lyrical about them Grin She had horses so hers take a pasting as well!