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As the title really, I need some new wellies for the muddy puddle that Essex becomes over the winter.
Before you recommend your own boots, I need recommendations for childrens sized wellies as I have size 2 or EU34 feet. I wish they'd made it to the magic size 3 but having tried muck boots yesterday in a size 3, they remain stubbornly a size 2 at 55 years old.
I was looking at Grubs or Bogs but open to suggestions, I'd rather not get Hunter as I think they're fashion over function now. Budget is up to £50
Up the budget and get some Aigle neoprene lined which go to a size 3.5 but run small so may just fit? Awesomely comfortable boot for walking and toasty warm..
Aigle but you need to really up that budget and they may not go small enough.
I've just put a pair into semi-retirment after 5 years and I reckon 3000km.
I had hunter which lasted less than 6months so my aigle, although pricey up front, turned out to be better value.
2 pairs of really small ones....
I have some Dunlop purofort thermo pro. Absolutely brilliant and have lasted well over 15 years of work (about £60 in 2010) Really warm. My wife has hunters and they are cold. I don't know if they go down to that size though and they are bulky but super grippy.
https://dunlopboots-uk.com/collections/agriculture/products/fieldpro-wellington-green
I love my Field pro's (with the orange circle near the top), they are designed for walking in and are very comfortable and keep my feet warm in winter.
Haven't checked the website though!
Our kids always had crap wellies and good socks to compensate
My daughter who lives in wellies (groom) swears by Dunlops, especially the fur lined ones for winter. And they don’t come with the fashion premium.
Those field pros look good value and the only size left is a 2! Result OP!!!
My decathlon ones have been superb. Actually comfortable with some sort of memory foam insole. Thick socks and cinched and my feet are warm all day.
Sizing is obviously an issue but i also us surplus army boots. Waterproof leather but not sweaty gortex lined, high topped and perfects when a bit more support is needed.
Google showing Hunter short wellies for 98p over your budget.
Unless your walking through long wet grass, then I don`t like wearing full length wellies. Short wellies far more comfortable .. and yes, they look better (as far as wellies go of course).
*size up in Hunter wellies or you`ll struggle to get them on - and take forever to get them off!
Hogs of Fife 365s, very well made supper comfy not the cheapest but mine have lasted 3 years plus looking after horses daily.
Hunters made 15 or 20 years ago were (very much past tense) excellent- i still have a pair going well, with a Vibram stitched-on sole, soft leather lining, and gussets (oo err missus) on the upper calves for us with large calves. Made by adults in Dumfries, Jockland. I think mine were made there not long before they shut the factory in the usual race to the bottom.
BUT - Hunter these days to me seem to be just cheap Chinese shite badged up and trading on the back of their historic quality. They shut the factory in Dumfries in about 2008. And later sold the tooling to Eastern Europe where someone else still makes other brands. Sad to say I view Hunter in the same heap as stuff labelled as Karrimor, Dunlop, Slazenger etc. Cheaply made Chinese crap badged up to make people think they're still decent.
Anything similar to Muckboots, with the neoprene shaped upper, that comes in your size, basically. I’ve got a pair of Muckboots that must be around 20 years old now. I bought them after reading about them on here from a member who was a farmer and spent his entire day in them, and while I don’t wear mine that often, if the weather turns wet then I’ve got them in the back of the car if I’m going for a walk. I have neoprene boot socks as well which means I can wear my ordinary socks in whatever footwear I’m wearing and just drag the boots out of the car. I’ve done a nine/ten mile walk in them in the past, and they were really comfy.
I bought some fur lined dunlops last year and they're amazing. I HATE wellies but I'm actually looking forward to getting them out again this year.
No idea how small they go though, but my size 9's cost £30 ish.
Sad to say I view Hunter in the same heap as stuff labelled as Karrimor, Dunlop, Slazenger etc. Cheaply made Chinese crap badged up to make people think they're still decent.
You need to take Dunlop out of that list - they're properly built and designed footwear. Pretty sure they're not made in China either.
@joshvegas your army boots sound like what I need. Have you got a link?
There are currently two pairs in circulation. German ones that look a bit special and altberg defenders, brown one.
Neither last aslong as the oldschool army boots i used to have. They may have had a cardboard sole but my god the were great.
Altberg Defender's are decent boots for the cash. Pretty comfy. AKU Pilgrim are pretty decent too. Quite a bit lighter than the Defenders.
Go to Decathlon and you can hopefully try on loads
Muck Boots, in their natural habitat…
This is why they stay in a bag in the back of the car. At least the rain mostly stayed away.
Grubs are solid, but if you're on size 2 I'd say look at Joules or Aigle juniors. My partner wears the kids' Aigles and swears by them for the garden and dog walks.
Altberg Defender's are decent boots for the cash. Pretty comfy. AKU Pilgrim are pretty decent too. Quite a bit lighter than the Defenders.
Akus look like they are gortex? Hard pass.
You'd need to find some in a sale, but I swapped from cheap, cold uncomfortable wellies to these https://georgemudgeshearing.co.uk/products/quatro-sport-wellies - apart from the ridiculous name, they are brilliant. Warm, waterproof, very comfortable as they have a proper arch in the footbed and - so far - very long lasting.
I was back in them for the first time since last winter yesterday and had forgotten how good they were. My wife walks 5km+ every day in hers apart from high summer. Two years old, hose 'em off still look like new.