Wellies? 'Country boots'? What would stylish but practical MNers choose?

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

Hello stylish ladies,

I need a pair of WARM but stylish boots for the winter. DP and I do a lot of walking (sometimes 'proper' walks for which I would wear walking boots, but more often just around the local area when I would like something vaguely stylish) Last year I got a pair of cheapie wellies and they were rubbish; I only wore them once or twice because my feet were sooooo cold. This year I want to invest in something that will keep me warm but also look okay. I'm willing to pay a bit more money, but they'd need to last a few years, be totally waterproof and suitable to wear in the snow/ice.

Am considering wellies or country boots

Any thoughts? Experience of those boots? Suggestions of others?

Thank you!

These from Clarks might fit the bill as they're a waterproof boot.

Saw them in store today and they looked pretty good.

Ooh, I quite like those and there's a Clarks just down the road so I could see them in person & try them on rather than ordering 'blind' online.

Hunters are great. I've had a red pair for many years, and the grips are good on the sole for icy conditions. I would of thought you could get a pair for less than the cost in your link though.

The metallic ones are lovely!

I've the Hunter neoprenes and they are fab - I'm never buying unlined wellies again. I was paddling in the sea in them last week.

I wouldn't call them particularly stylish though.

I bought some aigle wellies on the suggestion of a mumsnetter. Smart, warm and adjustable . Better than hunters IMO.

these twinkly?

(and yes, I've seen cheaper Hunters & County Boots, they were just the easiest links to find)

I live in hunters and my dubarry boots in winter. I don't think you can go wrong with either that you've linked.

I have thermal Wellies I bought about 3 winters ago still going strong. Bought under duress when we got snowed in in the lakes but such a good buy. The make on them is "country estate". So warm!

I think they look much nicer, but do 'County Boots' protect you from snow / mud as well as wellies would? (I'd never even heard of them until googling 'warm winter boots' today)

OOh, the Durbarry's look good (posh!) but are out of my price range, even on ebay. I'm off to the lakes next week toddlerama so may wait & see what they have up there.

I have the same boots as your links,the neoprene hunters are fabulously warm,sometimes too warm when the weather is unseasonal,I also have the sherwood forest dalton boots & again these are fab

I would not be without either pair,both get tons of use but the daltons are really comfy for walking anything over an hour,much more so than hunters

I really want some dubarrys but the bank account keeps sayying nooooooooo

Dubarry's are just fantastic. I justified that if they lasted 10 winters then they would be practically pennies per wear.....got them last year and have never had such dry and toasty feet.....despite living in one of the snowiest parts of scotland last winter!!!!!

Stop tempting me with the Durbarry's

Are the Dalton's waterproof cricket? Would they withstand snow?

cheap version of Dubarry boots here £85
Don't know about quality though
Although recommended on Horse & Hound here

Fleece liners plus any wellie from Millets.

Or Dubarry (try a scratchcard?).

I can't think of anything in between.

BTW: my Dubarrys are in their 4th winter of fairly hard use.

If you want really good wellies, you need Le Chameau.

Yes my wellies are the aigle parcours vario ones.

I swapped them for my hunters which I didn't rate.

Came on to say dubarrys but see you're already discussing them!

Argh, these votes for the Durbarry's are seriously testing my willpower!

I have the 'ranger' boots from this site, and was impressed with the customer service as well as the brilliant boots. They're really hard wearing and are into their second winter of hard use and show virtually no wear (apart from scuffed toes from lack of attention on my part). The sizing is pretty generous, so maybe size down if you're between sizes. Adjustable back means they can be made big for tucking bootleg jeans in, or smaller for skinny jeans. And not totally and utterly unstylish as far as country boots go. Am generally rather pleased with them.

Saying that, if you can stretch to Dubarrys, do. The quality is brilliant, they are expensive enough that you can demand a refund if they die any time in the next couple of years, and they are fractionally more stylish than most winter boots.

erm... this site

Atruth yes the daltons are waterproof & yes they do withstand snow,I just respray mine with the stuff sold in the local countrywear shop

But but but I really want dubarrys

These look warm if you win the lottery :)