Countryside: Wellingtons and gardening shoes

[acatcalledjohn]

We are moving to the countryside and as such the topic of appropriate footwear has cropped up, in particular for gardening. Looking for wellies and more summery slip on easy clean keep by the door type shoes/mules. Whilst I can find articles online rating brands, I thought it better to ask the MN Style & Beauty hive mind for first hand experiences and what I should look for in a welly.

Having looked already I'm liking Muck Boot and Le Chameau. I understand Hunter is more of a fashion brand now rather than an actual practical welly in terms of quality?

Size 8 (and DP size 11)
Normal calf/foot widths
Budget around £100 (I typically buy in a sale)
Gardening/mucking out chickens

Le Chameau are brilliant. I can actually walk the dogs in them without scrunching my toes, as they have a proper supportive sole, and you can tighten or loosen the legs so you don’t get the rubbing/loss of circulation/flapping issues. They keep your feet properly dry and warm, too. Mine have seen me through a winter on a filthy livery yard, and I’ve not had cold feet once - the lining is lovely and soft and warm.

Muck boots are great, too, but heavier and less comfy to walk long distances in, in my experience. They last forever, though.

Aigle clogs are great for slipping on and off for the garden/hanging out washing/going out to the bins. They last ages.

https://www.outdoorandcountry.co.uk/shop-by-brand/aigle/aigle-clogs.sub?utmsource=google&utmmmedium=cpc&tlid=Cj0KCQiAq-u9BhCjARIsANLj-s2xAyTXhDWHctnFFzi1rUQVwLSBzQl8bCSd42jBJNnnQg7ShTYrYIaAqOqEALwwwcB&gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAADROmV9TaimSrEmRRvJnsra8bCEQL&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq-u9BhCjARIsANLj-s2xAyTXhDWHctnFFzi1rUQVwLSBzQl8bCSd42jBJNnnQg7ShTYrYIaAqOqEALwwwcB

Le Chameau or Aigle Parcours for wellies. You get what you pay for.
Hunter/Joules are shit

Aigle are great! I bought a fur-lined pair of aigle wellies during lockdown and they are still comfy and warm for wet and muddy weather.

Le Chameau for wellies...but you won't get them for £100.! However I fully expect to die before my wellies do tnd they are SO comfy. I walk the dog in all weathers and have an allotment and can spend all day in them , they really are that comfy (neoprene lined ones).
Dry and taking out the bins..I wear Crocs

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like stretching the budget is worth it (we can, just wanted to avoid spending loads when already hammering savings with a house move which won't complete this side of the stamp duty increase). DP likes the look of the Muck Boots, I seem to gravitate more to Le Chameau. The Aigle clogs are a great suggestion, and look good value too. I'll consider Crocs as well, that never even occurred to me.

I've got aigle boots for walking and they are amazing- never get cold feet and last for years if you clean and leather treat them occasionally. I have a pair of crocs by the back door and short muck boots for gardening/warmer days walking.

I walk absolutely miles in my Le chameau wellies. Don't touch hunters!

Oh yes, and crocs by the door 😂

Gardening is the same in the countryside you don't need special gear just because you are within sniffing distance of a silage pit.

I tend to garden/chicken tend in my scruffy gardening trainers or garden centre own brand rubber clogs. Often in my PJs. Our favoured welly brand is Dunlops from the agricultural stores. See also any leather dealer/Chelsea style boots. Farmers are 'tight as fuck' and won't pay money for poor quality. It won't come with a fancy brand name though.

Muck boots are good but I'm personally not a massive fan for reasons I'm unable to really explain.

Hunters are cheap crap with an expensive label

If you want 'countryside fashion' for outside the garden though then look at Schoffel, Dubarry, Fairfax and Favour , Le Chameau Barbour etc

Get your wellies from wynnstay. That’s where mine are from. Good enough for a sheep farmer

Check out merry people boots, I bought some last year and they're really comfortable and have a good grip. They come I'm cool colours too

Le Chameau are very popular but now made in China. DH thinks the quality is not quite as good. I wear Ariat neoprene wellies. The classic welly in the countryside however is your basic Dunlop. But they ain't pretty!

Gardening is the same in the countryside you don't need special gear just because you are within sniffing distance of a silage pit.

If only we had a garden that wasn't mostly patio, whereas we are moving to a place which we viewed when wet and when I say the garden left serious muck on our shoes I am not exaggerating. A neighbour was gardening at that time and her wellies were freshly caked too.

"If you want 'countryside fashion' for outside the garden though then look at Schoffel, Dubarry, Fairfax and Favour , Le Chameau Barbour etc"

I don't particularly care for any fashion, countryside or other. I want decent and lasting wellies, and have noticed that Le Chameau typically gets good reviews. That they look nice on top of that is simply a bonus.

Go to your local farm shop and get a pair of neoprene wellies that fit your feet.
You will probably also need a boot jack, comfy wellies are a pain to get off.
Cheap rubber clogs for by the back door and a good pair of waterproof walking boots.
At the end of the day you need warm comfortable feet.

https://www.moleonline.com/wellingtons

Aigle for wellies, I can walk, garden, muck our etc in these in warmth and comfort. Le Chameau are great but unnecessarily expensive. Not keen on myck boots. Too clunky.

I have "backdoor shoes" for by the backdoor....but those are mule type and no good for gardening.

Gardening - old trainers normally if not too wet. Or wellies for the heavy stuff.

Excellent plan. I went to our local farm shop (farm supplies, not fruit and veg!) and they had multiple brands of wellies, and were very happy for me to try on numerous pairs and walk round the shop. I ended up with muck boots and have been very happy with them and walked miles in them. Good grip and a supportive sole. Yes, I agree, a boot jack is a good plan as they can be a pain to get off if they fit well enough not to slide around. Everyone's feet are different and what fits one person, may not fit you.... As for "beside the door slip ons" I have an old pair of Crocs....

Great suggestion about the farm shop, thanks! I will research some in our current area as well as our new area to see where to try before we buy.

I have neoprene lined Percussion wellies which are a gamekeepers brand and they are bloody brilliant! I've had them about three years and were £80ish, really warm and comfortable to wear but not sweaty when it's hot but you still need wellies. They have a gusseted side too. I have absolutely lived in mine and used and abused them and they still look pretty much good as new. You can get them online I but I bought mine from the local farm supplies shop.

If you have blackthorn, don't get Crocs. The thorns go right through them.

I'm planning to plant a few if not already there, so that's ruled out Crocs

The Le Chameau website says they're made in Casablanca, Morocco.

Well wherever they are made DH has reported a reduction in quality standards. He had to replace them more frequently so has switched to Aigle and is very happy.

My Ariats though are the best. IMHO

can you recommend anything that's thornproof?

I've been eyeing up some of these for walking the dog- I like the shorter lengths!