Please tell me that Hunters have had their day

[rookiemater]

My 2 year old purple flowery wellies have bitten the dust and all I seem to see these days are ladies in Hunters. At first I thought they were rather cool, but then absolutely everyone had them on and they seem a bit well I guess ubiquitous is a kind way of describing them.

So today I had the choice between buying a madly designed pair of replacement wellies at £18.99 or the Hunters at £65.00. I went for the former as did not want to be trend victim but then realised that cheap wellies may not last long and perhaps they would have been a good investment.

Anyway long story short question are Hunters a wee bit ostentatious for the snow?

I was recently recommended Barbour wellies, apparently Hunter quality has gone south and at £65-£70 they are now a fashion item...

Barbour were £45 and much better made - so I was told in the shop, which sold Hunter, Aigle & Barbour....

DS1 has Hunters and they have lasted pretty well. He does live in them though. In the winter in the country it's pretty much all that we wear out of doors. I wear mine in the summer too . I like the look of muckboots but most of the styles aren't waterproof all the way up the leg which isn't much good for knee deep mud or wading in streams .

Ahh mmecholet now I have seen a few people wearing Barbour and thought they were more stylish and discreet than Hunters, and now it seems cheaper too!

rookie thats me, I am verhhhhh stylish and discreet..

which are hunters? i wear some of my dad's old green wellies, hoping I have not inadveretently fallen into a trend here

Arf @ Jajas

Exhibit One; hot pink mock croc Muckboot Just screams countryside

Yeah, yeah.. I'm imagining a pink fur trimmed wellie sock too

I've got an old pair of hunters, classic green. I agree the old originals are great but the new ones are cheaply made and just a fashion accessory.

recently got Hunter Argyll boots from this place- recommending as got next day last week whilst still waiting for other parcels from weeks ago service brillant- boots fab - having only had cheap wellies in past these different league- normal hunters too skinny for me and twice price- grip is amazing.

www.discountwellies.co.uk/ProductDescription.asp?Product=Argyll%20Wellingtons

Hunters are really excellent IMO. I had a pair when I was at school (20 years ago) and uneathed them recently from my Mum's attic. I've been wearing them for the last few weeks (mine are decidedly un-ostentatious green tatty ones) and they are so much more comfy and warmer (I don't know how) than the cheapoid wellies I've been wearing. Whe this pair bites the dust (which may be quite soon...there are some perished patched in the rubber) I'll be getting another pair of Hunters. I don't care if they;re fashionable or not, I just like comfy dry feet!

uneathed = unearthed

sparklyjules - just read your message

what do you want them for? I have a pair but for wearing in fields with horses, so a work pair not fashion accessory

They are very decent wellies, got staying power when wading through muddy fields.

If it for walking dog type thing think of a pair of Dublin or Toggi boots, pretty waterproof and warm.

Boots are used for tramping through snow filled streets. Have already bought cheap pair, but boy are they cold, might have a look at the other options.

Been looking at Derwent Muck Boots as an alternative to Hunters as they seem to have good reviews, but just wondering will they fit over my chunky calves and also over socks/jeans?

I bought myself a pair of navy Hunters about a month ago, and having always sneered at anything with a logo I have to say that I am converted. They are absolutely wonderful, don't slip in the snow and haven't come off my feet since the snow arrived. I wear them shopping, walking the kids to school, driving to work across the moors and everything inbetween. Muckboots look too much like the things we used to muck the horses out in 20 years ago, so unless you actually have a horse..

OK, I will shut up about the Hunters now

Yes apple, they will stretch . My calves were 47cm diameter until recently and they fit over calves, thick socks and jeans. They will stretch further than that.

To get them on I fold the stretchy bit in half then you can tuck jeans etc in and unfold them back up. Am sitting in mine in kitchen so I can help shopping delivery man with stuff down death trap drive.

Nope don't have a horse and closest thing I ever get to a horse is driving past one (in a field) at the end of our lane. Perhaps Hunters then after all...

Thanks Wynken, they sound great...do you own a horse by any chance?

Not sure what to buy now. Not bothered by labels or 'trend' or anything, just want my feet to be warm. Was going to go for Huntress wellies (for wider calves) with Hunters cable socks but will have a re-think.

Yes I only wear my joules wellies with a cath kidson pinnie and a an Emma B (is that baby spice?) tea cosy on my head.
Actually, my Joules wellies have just sprung a leak so not happy at all. I only bought them in October. They are lovely and comfy for wide feet, but not impressed that they have a hole in the heel. [Grrr!]
I bought them with Lewis's vouchers and there isn't much choice in wellies there so it's going to have to be a replacement pair or wet feet.
Would love muck boots though, but would have to try them on first.