Best wellies

[Stato]

Hi all,

I need some good wellies so I thought I'd ask on this topic because you'll know! When I used to ride the go to brand was hunters, but that was 20 years ago now. Is it still hunters or have they been superseded? I'm just looking for a pair that will last a long time; I don't really care what they look like because they'll only be getting covered in mud anyway.

TIA

Dunlop. Super cheap and the most hard-wearing. I put sheepskin insoles in mine to warm them up a bit.

Le Chemeau or Aigle

I’ve always bought hunters but I tried on some joules ones at go outdoors and am converted, they are more comfortable around the calf and warmer, my toes used to go numb very quickly in hunters

Aigle parcours with neoprene lining - they are the most comfortable wellies I’ve ever had. They’re expensive but absolutely worth it. Before I discovered them I went through about five pairs in a couple of years - I tried cheap as chips from the local farm shop, I went mid-range and tried a pair of joules but they were all either really uncomfortable or leaked within months or both. I realised I’d spent more on wellies than if I’d just bought the aigles in the first place!

I second aigle parcours. I've had mine for over 7 years and wear them daily in the winter for an hour dog walk. Just fabulous and worth every penny.

Le Chameau. We are farmers and wear these a lot. I've had mine around 8 years with heavy wear and they are still great. DH has had his probably about 12 years and again no issues. DH likes the neoprene lining but I get hot easily so have the regular lining and just add wool socks if needed

I've given up on expensive wellies and stick to Dunlop. Expensive ones might last twice as long but my latest Dunlop cost £15 which is way, way less than half the cost of Aigle etc.

Another recommendation for ordinary Dunlop wellies. I have put orthotic insoles in mine to make them more comfortable and definitely warmer.

Aigle parcours. If you are going to be wearing wellies for any length of time you need proper footbed support. Basic wellies don’t provide this as I found out to my cost when I developed plantar fasciitis which is excruciating.

Plus the aigle ones keep your toes from freezing and if you get the aigle parcours iso open they have a side zip which makes putting them on and off so much easier.

They are expensive but last a lifetime. Bought mine about 15 years ago and they are like new with a quick wash off.

I wear muck boots. They are neoprene so warm in winter but I do wear them all year round.

Seconding Muck Boots. They are incredibly comfortable, I wear mine all year round, including riding.

i love my Aigle parcours, they are on winter number 4 and still scrub up lovely!

I hate my aigles, they leak, the customer service is absolutely rubbish too. Dh has some le Chameau and they are much better (both the customer service and the actual boot) they got worn daily out with the sheep and are lasting much longer than his previous boots.

Rock Fish are good but this year I bought some cheap plastic type regatta ones in the sale and they’re great. Much more comfortable that dunlops. £16 a pair

Depends on your budget and how trendy you want to look.
Dunlop are the most hardwearing but not particularly comfy. Hunters are crap since manufacture was shipped to China, same with Joules.
Aigle, Barbour and the like are £££
I have a pair of long MucBoot wellies supposedly for extra wide calves - they are neoprene so get very sweaty in the summer but are fairly comfortable for slogging around in mud. However they are very tight around my calf and I wish I had sized up as they are a rather too snug fit around my foot.

Unfortunately le chameau - they're very pricey but I was lucky enough to be gifted some 5 years ago and they're still incredible. My hunters used to barely last a winter.

I’ve just bought my daughter some aigle parcours as she’s had two pairs of le chameau neither of which lasted for a whole winter. I had one pair of aigles that split halfway through their second winter - I got in touch with aigle customer service in France not expecting anything much as they were out of guarantee but I thought they ought to know - they were extremely helpful and sent me a brand new pair which are still going strong now.

Thanks everyone, I don't think I want to go top of the range because I'll be using for walking through fields rather than the heavy use mine used to get when I was working at a stables all day, so I'll look at Dunlop ones

This reminded me of when I was a teenager and my mum refused to spend more than £15 on wellies for me. I was helping at the local stables all day weekends and school holidays then and I think I got through 10 pairs of wellies in 2 years. She finally gave in and bought me hunters (I think they were £60 back then) and they lasted me the next 5 years until I went to university and stopped riding. And I think she still uses them now!

Rockfish Walkabout ones are the kings of wellies. They're neoprene insulated so you never get cold feet. Good for dog walks in ankle deep mud and also mucking out.