hunter wellies - worth it or not?

[way2serious]

I have been coveting a pair of pink Hunter wellies but have read mixed reviews. Are they worth the money and will they last? If not what else would you recommend? I would like pink if possible!

DD has purple ones. They are ok. Quite comfortable for her (she has wide feet) but like boats on me. Quality wise, they are reasonable, better fitting and less "sweaty" than bog std wellies but there's no denying that you are paying a shitload for the fashion kudos of the name.

I only got 12 months out of mine before they started leaking. Apparently I made the mistake of walking on pavements in them (even though I needed to walk on pavements to get to the fields) and wearing them too often. I have friends who have had theirs for many years but I think they are now made in China and not Britain and the quality is reduced. If you are wanting them just to look fashionable in I'd say go for it, the fit is great and they are comfortable, but if you are wanting them to walk your dog in, just get yourself a pair of Dunlops for a fraction of the price.

What mom said. Used to be great, now are worth a fraction of what you pay. It really is a shame as it's just down to greed that an excellent product is now no more than a fashion accessory.

If your budget runs to it Le chameau are the dogs when it comes to wellies!

Don't get them
I got the shorter pink ones in time for CarFest last year.
They are faded, perished and I expect them to start leaking anyway now.
They are not kept in direct sunlight,they have just aged extremely badly

Dubarry or something similar would be a far better if you are looking for something kind to your feet, well made and that can go anywhere

I've just got some from T K Maxx, they were £39.99 for some short ones. They had a reasonable selection, but no pink ones, however check your local shop. Wouldn't pay £70+ for them though.

My bright red ones are comfy but have faded really badly.

Crap quality for proper wear, ok for poncing in.

I wouldn't recommend Hunters - not any more.

They used to be very good but recently that has changed as mum says. We know a lot of people who have all had the same experience, and in our own family have bought three pairs in the last year all of which have already split or leaked and had to be thrown away.

Hunters used to be good quality and last for ages, but now you only get a few months out of them. Presumably they have changed manufacturer/supplier and set out to make a quick buck. It's a great shame, throwing away their reputation (and people's money) to produce still comparatively expensive, but shoddy, goods.

Oh dear doesn't sound too promising! I will have a look at some of the other brands you have suggested.

Mine started leaking the second time I wore them. Shame as they were so comfy, but really not worth the money. Luckily I sent them back and got a refund.

No no no no no.

Shite quality since being made in China.

Unless you only want them for fashion purposes in which case I am sure they will be lovely.

polishes Aigles

They do have a guarantee though; I swapped my perished pair and the new ones have been fine.

Definitely not worth it, pandering more to the trendy than the sturdy agricultural trade these days.
Get to an proper farmer's supply place, that's where you'll find decent, hard wearing wellies at a fraction of the cost. They even come in green as well as black these days.

yep another no here, they are quite comfy, but I Have found that the grippy sole has slipped somewhat, I was bought them for work. I think anyone with a big calf would struggle with the leg size too

No. My experience is that the sole is hollow and they wear out really quickly. Are they maybe designed for horse riding and not actual walking?

£9 green Dunlops much better value. Go on for years.

Won't last very long at all, leaked and heels wore down very quickly, looked nice though.

They used to be fab and last years but now are a load of rubbish. I've gone through about 8 pairs in the last 10 years which all leaked in some form or another. That said, I muck horses out every day so they do get some testing.

I recommend Le Chameau ladies All Tracks for dog walking, the soles are loads less slippy too, I've had my current pair almost a year and it is a novelty to be able to walk in a puddle instead of avoiding them!

Aigle are great too but if you want real comfort Ariat have a new version out that have the same soles as their riding trainers and are the comfiest things ever.

I live in countryside and spend a lot of time walking and horse riding. Everyone round here swears by Le Chameau, Aigle, The Muck Boot Company.

The only people I know who have Hunters are fashionistas from London who think they are great but in reality they only wear then twice a year when it snows

If you buy Hunters you are paying for the name. Go for one of the brands I have mentioned above if you want something to last you rather than a fashion item.

Oh and my local TK Maxx is full of Hunters at the moment if you do want them.

I got a pair of hunters in t k maxx last year and wore them every day twice a day Nov-April to walk the dog. I found them so comfy I even ditched the walking boots and wore them on longer walks (and was v smug when wading through deep puddles).Wore them in the snow and they kept my feet toasty with thick socks. Am I the only person who has had a good experience with Hunters recently? Did I find one pair of super-boots somehow?

Hunters are pants, will crack and fade within a year. Le Chameau are amazing. Go for them.