Essential winter dog walking kit...

[luckyblackcat]

Having nearly told my DH that I was going to consult with you lot as to what wellies I should buy, I then promptly forgot!I think we should start a recommendation list as to what we have bought that works well for us, what do you think?

My stream of musings....
My Hunters have gone at the ankle only 3 yrs old, my last pair were 10 or so. I think that wearing liners in them, over my jeans pushed them down too much and they went on the ankle flex bit.

DD bought me some Joules ones for my birthday at the weekend bright aqua with chooks on (oh how they would have laughed at gundog training), but I am fat of calf and could not pull them up with my jeans tucked in.

I swapped them for some 'original muck boots' which are really warm and great for winter dog walking (mucking out, feeding chooks etc) although they are a bit on the roomy side so I have to wear extra socks.
Whilst at the feed store, I gazed longingly at the full length waterproofs. I seem to think Bella once posed a dryzabone vs barbour query on here? But I only walk now, no riding, and really they are quite heavy. I've got a standard Barbour - which is a bit sticky and wiffy and I get too hot walking chasing my damned dog.

They had a lighter fabric coat, maybe called Arthur Murphy? aorund £50 looked light and as if it would pack up smallish - I hate it when I guage the weather wrong and have to lug a heavy wax coad around.

What say you dog walkers?

I wear my torn, smelly Barbour for just about everything - there is/was a long dryzabone somewhere but haven't seen it for ages, think I found it too flappy. My boots are tall leather riding/yard boots and much more comfortable for walking miles and miles than hunters, but have been feeling miserable for some time about looking so scruffy every day hope there will be some good tips on your thread for nice winter wear

My legs are now too fat muscular for my beautiful leather long boots.

Since having a dog I have turned into jeans and fleece woman. Well, I was always a jeans kinda gal, but fleeces are just so handy.

I'm sorry you feel mis about being a scruff and hope there are good practical and stylish tips too.

I get dressed for my school run and then come home and change into some ripped/patched jeans and grub around with the animals (well splash around at the mo) until school run time when I change back into something slightly smarter. Drives me bananas.

Hmm. I go walking mainly on roads or farm tracks so find that my hiking boots do the best job. Wellies dint support the foot enough. If we co up into the mountains then I just pop on the gaitors for deep snow.

My sorry excuse for a dog does not like rain so I don't really need a special waterproof jacket. On really rainy days she just goes for a short walk then curls up on the couch.

MmeLindt - is there no mud en Suisse?! And very at dog who likes a short walk then curls up on the couch!

I actually quite like walking in the rain - strange person that I am. You are right, LBC, Mr Bella Santa did indeed bring me a Driza Bone last year but tbh I don't wear it that much I was warned, I know about flappiness etc (although tbh the comments that really put me off were the ones about looking like I was off to Twickenham - that hurt ) It is good and I do wear it if it's tipping down but it's very rustle-y, very noisy.

What I wear all the time is this:

here which is brill and I got mine in a discontinued colour so only £99. I've worn it, washed it, worn it, washed it and it's very good - also very light and quiet.

Boots? Hunters defo aren't as good as they used to be. I find the soles wear out very quickly - or maybe I just walk too far I have some basic neoprene lined Le Chameau ones - way too poncey for my neck of the woods: oh how the farmers must laugh - but I got them cheap on Ebay and they're very warm and the soles seem to last. I also have hiking boots, and waterproof over-trousers, and I fancy some Seal Skinz waterproof gloves for Christmas. Gawd, I sound like I'm going to the Antarctic, don't I?!

Mitchy - what about those waterproof leather boots? I always drool over them - will try to find a link but you'll have seen them I'm sure.

These ones:

here

I'm drooling again. But so practical - some people spend that on heels fgs

I wear these

They are very comfy, the waterproofing works, and they are lined and warm.

everyone has those boots! and by everyone I mean 3 or 4 out of every 5 people at the yard - think they are too £££ for me

these are my ones and almost waterproof except one sprung a leak the other day in v deep mud

Agree about Hunters they're just not as good as they used to be I'm sure. My last pair wore out after 2 years and the new ones I bought the other week seem to have no grip in the wet. This I found out when I went flat on my back when stepping out the front door. Ouch.

Am now looking for boots with good grip. I've got those Le Chameau ones that Bella mentioned as well but do find them too warm for the average English winter day.

Yes am also to be seen in fleece/Barbour combination. There must be an answer to this somewhere!

I LOVE the timberland ones! will they fit over a good muscley calf tho?

I am v v fat of calf and first of all found these which are the most comfy boots I've ever had - they're even more comfy than my walking boots.

And then, partly because I got them cheap and partly because I wanted some even more lux boots I got these. They're warmer, harder to get on (I also have a thick heel to front of foot bit), and not quite as comfy.

But they both fit my ginormous legs - the Aigles fit much better than the Mustos though. The leather boots have a bit of a big wrinkle around the ankle!

sophable I have skinny legs and tolerate them being large on the calves. They also have elastic vents - I'm wearing them now and gave them a stretch and they seem to go pretty wide (actually turns out I can fit not only my woolly socks and cords in, but also my whole forearm ). OK, not very scientific I know, but I'd say they're worth a try on.

I do have a pair of CAT boots for wet weather, they are lace up to the top so fit over my fat calves.

Off to walk the dog now. Sun is shining, don't even think that I will need my jacket today, just a waistcoat.

I really covet an Aigle coat but want to lose the weight first. Will buy one once I do.

I am not horsey at all - am terrified of them but can be found trudging around fields in the pouring rain with the dog almost every day at the moment and these coat and boots are what I wear - although will be getting some of those yummy timberland ones or the saddlery shop ones next!

Coat is warm but not too warm (when it is freezing I have a big man;s north face coat that I think I could lie in the snow in and not freeze) and is also waterproof and looks pretty stylish me thinks and the boots have been through 2 years of walking the dog in the rain and haven;t leaked as yet - I always wear fat face fleecy socks as well though as I have feet that always seem to be freezing - I can feel them like ice blocks under my desk now and have tights and socks on under my boots!

Oh I like those, Mitchy!

And I must 'fess up to a bit of a Timberland habit too.

Staying away from this thread now - too much temptation

well on plus side I have beautiful shiny hair today, even if it is a bit of an odd shape due to disastrous DIY haircut

maybe it just isn't possible to be practical AND stylish - am out with dogs all day pretty much every day and I aim to ride once or twice a day too

perhaps you just can't have it all?

Think that's it Mitchy - it is possible to be fairly stylish (or at clean and presentable) whilst walking dogs. Throw horses into the equation and it doesn't seem to work anymore! Horses = mud. Also riding hats give the worst bad hair days ever.

Do like those boots though.....

I consider myself well dressed if I remember to change out of my jods these days

Helair Gals, been up to the smoke today - will clicky on the links later on.

I want to know where Owls walks her dogs than she can remain stylish/clean/presentable?? We are ankle deep in water round our way! (will be for most of the winter)

Wow I felt spectacularly unstylish in my barbour (although old tis a lovely plum colour womans cut with fleecy faux burberry lining - I keep it zipped up as quite mortified by this aspect of it!)on the Kings Road today! It was tipping it down when I left home and was bright and sunny in London, so I steamed gently in my jacket.

Couldn't get over the amount of real fur I saw out and about as I crossed Duke of Yorks Square shopping arcade.

We have real fur here too, you know!

Dogs found a nice fresh rabbit just last week!

There was a serious methane alert in our house that night

well I always make sure I look like this on my dog walk.

i also have the aigle parcours wellies that daisy linked to - def the most comfortable wellies i have owned, i love 'em!

i did try some hunters in the shop but the aigle ones were much more comfortable. i also quite like the fact that they are not so 'known' as the hunters which you see everywhere (although maybe everyone else has heard of aigle? i hadn't til i saw them in the shop)

Very practical, fruitshoots.

No chance of that trailing in the mud, is there?

Noooo sorry I wasn't implying it's easy to be stylish/clean/presentable, whatever, when walking dogs. Believe me, I have two Labs and know that's not the case.

Just more the cross-over between walking the dogs then going through knee-deep swishy mud to get horses in, groomed, ridden, whilst also trying to stay stylish/clean/presentable, ect., without a shower and change of clothes in the meantime. That's what I think is impossible. Prove me wrong somebody please.

Another vote here for Muck Boots for the chunky-calfed amongst us. I struggle to get most boots up my legs, and need something longer than hiking boots for winter walks and puddles.

I love my Muck Boots - I have warm toasty feet all the time now and also enjoy the extra height I've gained as they do seem to make me very tall.

Still haven't cracked the perfect coat though. Need something windproof this week!

Walking boots do fine for me... if the mud is too deep for them then its too deep for a dachshund . As to the rest... when I'm walking my elegant little chap no-one I talk to is looking at me above knee level so it really doesn't matter!