You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Anything that doesn't leak after a year or so?
anything in proper rubber (or neoprene) rather than PVC. And then store them properly, out of the sun, and variations in temp
Personally - couple of pairs of Aigle. One pair is 10 years old, the other maybe 7. No issues with either
Screwfix site steel toe capped and wellie specific decent socks
Dunlop Purofort Thermo Plus... I've had mine 10 years now, theyre sized big, i'm a 10.5 and my wellies are a size 9.
Bombproof, warm, extra grippy.
Add an inch or two to your height.
Don't go half arsed and only spec the thermo, go full shebang and get the thermo plus.
Aldi neoprene fishing ones, whenever they're back in stock.
£20
What for? At work I use Dunlop purofort thermo safety wellies, worn every day for the last year and are holding up well (tested the safety aspects out this week when a pallet with 1000 kg of grit was dropped on my foot)
At home for walking etc I use Aigle neoprene, had them for coming up to 10 years and they’re still watertight
2nd vote vote for Aigle. Stupid expensive, but warm, durable and grippy. Had my pair over 10 years, lining slightly warn but fully expect another 10 years out of them. Get what you pay for.
I use Aigle Parcours and they are great, they seem to be called P2 now on the Decathlon site.
Standard are £90 neoprene lined are £150. The neoprene ones size about right the standards feel slightly larger so you have room for big socks. They are good for walking for a couple of hours in.
Decathlon's own Solognac wellies seem well made so that is a good cheaper option.
Keeping an eye on this, I'm after some lightweight-ish ones, comfy enough for a couple of hours dog-walking.
I've had these a year or so.
Comfy. Cheap. Haven't leaked.
+1 for Decathlon's Solgnac.
I've had mine for over a year, they're warm and comfy for a couple of hours out with dog.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/r500-warm-tall-wellies-brown/_/R-p-187071
Unlike wife's Hunters which cost the same but seem to be thin cold plastic that's now split
Neoprene P2 Aigle or Le Chameau Vierzonoord (non zip version).
Money well spent.
I have neoprene Aigle Parcours. Comfiest footwear I own. Used daily for dog walking, 5 years old and going strong. Grip is as good as my walking boots. Silly expensive but worth it.
Depends on use. I think I have 4 pairs now. The 'best' are my Muck Boots. Really comfortable, great for winter walks. It's nice to be able to just plough through anything. Pricey but they do occasionally have a decent sale. They are tough enough for this sort of thing but I get out the old school Dunlops for building work. Also have some Husqvarna chainsaw boots which are a good middle ground, albeit a bit specialist. All well used and not leaking.
As we're here discussing wellies, how do you pronounce Aigle?
Bookmarked
Standard STW response - don't get wellies (if it's for walking)
Get a light-ish pair of leather walking boots instead.
Waaaay better for your feet and more comfortable IMO.
, how do you pronounce Aigle?
Correctly.
Ay gul. Hard G
Excellent boots. Stay true to shoe size and you may still need thickish socks.
Don't bother with Le Chameau. We used to sell and recommend little else when they were made in France, but quality control has taken a massive dive since they moved abroad.
grr
edit. thanks scapegoat
Solognac neoprene lined. 2 year warranty.
All the local shoot beaters wear le chem, aigle etc. My Solognac are 4 years old now and everyone else is on their second expensive pair of Le Chem etc.
Also got a set of 2 year old Muck Boots which are great. Not cheap, but not bonkers money.
They get used every day in the winter walking the dog twice a day & still come up if I hose them off & no leaks at all 🙂
Do folk buy neoprene lined and not bother with welly socks? Or do you have neoprene liners plus socks = hot feet in summer?
Aigle have a wider than normal foot so I've discounted them, or should I try a pair?
Glad to hear positive stuff about the Decathlons - I nearly bought some to try yesterday but they look really flimsy? (that said, so do Aigle... they're all very light at <1 kg/boot)!
Very timely thread! I've given up with a couple of pairs Muckboots (Chore model)- they fit me very badly and I'm between sizes with long/slim feet.
I need some for general gardening and the off muddy walk. I have steel toe cap boots for proper stuff, shifting rocks, etc...
I use these (as do most contractors) for work. Steelies though
Decathlon ones are pretty good
Not Hunter based on Mrs Pop's experience- I think they have moved production and durability has dropped- hers have cracked on the top of the foot after just a year using 3 times a week max so now leak like a sieve
Another vote for Aigle.
Have an insole in mine due to flat-ish feet and find very comfy for walking 2-3 hours and likewise standing around for long periods.
Pair well with these knee length Decathlon Hunting socks - don't slip down unlike some Smartwool ones I have.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/900-warm-long-wool-socks/_/R-p-303594?mc=8515806&c=GREEN
Interesting thread and one to keep an eye on, MrsSpud and me both have Hunter Balmorals and they've been great. Hers have just started to develop small cracks after 5 years of solid use walking the dogs. So far mine are fine and they're older, oddly the models we got for a good price all that time ago are no longer made. Looks like it's going to have to be Muck Boots or Aigle for replacments as the reviews on recent Hunters are good.
Kind of asking whats their intended use.
Working on site or walking the dog ?.
Ive a couple of pairs - 1 Dunlop, which cost about a tenner, and the other sailing by Musto, those being soft and flexible, though flat soled.
All slip up and down as you walk in them and its annoying and eventually hurts your feet.
You can get hunting boots that are the same length as wellies, but lace up like boots so they are firm on your feet but totally waterproof toe to to. Not cheap mind, but well reviewed, warm, comfy sort of thing.
Aigle for us....was issued Parcours 2 Vario for work and used them for 5 years until a hole developed and that was literally because my heel had slowly chaffed through the rubber (Actually done a pretty good repair with Stormsure adhesive). Only welly Ive had I can walk 10+ miles comfortably. Managed to pick up a new pair of Parcours 2 Vario for £92 on Amazon before Christmas which I was very pleased with. Would have been happy with the standard Parcours P2 on Decathlon....basically the same as the Parcours 2 Vario but without the buckles
how do you pronounce Aigle?
French company and aigle is eagle in french so roughly speaking air-gler 🤷
Gumleaf - Norfolk version of Aigles, but cheaper and better made https://www.gumleaf.com/
If Le Chameau have taken a nose dive that's a pity. My current pair must be 4 years old and and mint still. In the previous 30 years of my life I think I got through 2 pairs - so about 15 years out of each pair.
Aigle - absolutely, Hunters only if you would happily drive a white Range Rover Sport and holiday in Dubai.
Get a light-ish pair of leather walking boots instead.
Waaaay better for your feet and more comfortable IMO.
The voice of someone who has never owned decent wellies.
There is a world of difference between £10 Dunlop's and high quality, lined and well fitted boots like Aigles
high quality, lined and well fitted boots like Aigles
With the rain and mud here recently, I've been wearing my better aigles (which appear to be parcours2) for long walks, up to about 3-4 hours and 15km. Very comfy. Only slight downside is the left boot twists my lower trouser leg unless I tuck it into my sock. Not the biggest issue in the world to be fair
I do also have decent leather walking boots, but some of the paths have been under a foot or so of water. Right equipment for the conditions and all that.
Le Chameau Chasseurnord neoprene lined for the win. Robust, warm, easy to get in and out of because of the zip. I have been wearing the same pair for years on a daily dog walking basis in winter and they are my go-to.
Not cheap, but if you are using them a lot and in all weathers, they will repay the favour. Probably not worth it for an occasional use, but like many things you get what you pay for (namely warm dry feet, comfort and quality).
Price aside, the only downside is the somewhat 'amphibian' shade of green that they come in, but think of it as a Le Chameau signature.
Nokians ftw. Very rarely used but have been glad to have them in the back of the van on occasion. Wouldn't fancy cross country running in them as claimed but they've coped with a mountain 'run' in absolutely atrocious weather a couple of times.
https://www.nokianfootwear.com/product/finntrim/?color=olive
Can't recommend Aigles. Soles must have air in them and easily puncture. Both mine hiss as I walk and it does my head in. Must have been climbing a barbed wire fence/stood on something sharp. Nothing obvious to puncture them which is annoying.
Seeland Field 4mm neoprene, good value for money
I'm using my dads old basic dunlops. He had them years. I've had them 10. Still going. Still water proof and still not very comfy. For walking the dog through bogs I wear walking boots. So to be fair the wellies only come out in snow or floods. Or if I'm feeling lazy for a quick nip round the block with the dog.
I bought some Gateway "Woodwalker" boots a while back. Seeing as long walks were on the cards due to covid. They replaced some Hunter Balmoral's and are miles better. Similar price to Muck boots but with a much better sole.
Black diamond, the ones with the yellow toe, great for me on site, come up on eBay now and again
I searched and searched for wellies from cheap to expensive and ended up with £26 Town and Country ones that look like Hunters for the simple reason that they fit best. The problem is that as there is no adjustment on the fit other than thicker soles or insole, it doesn’t really matter if your wellies are cheap or expensive. Go for what fits best. I’ve had two pairs of Hunters previously but they eventually perished and cracked.
Le Chameau Vierzonoord (non zip version).
This is what my wife and I got, her because some famous person had some, me because she said they were great and I was tired of wet feet after a month or two with £10-£40 wellies.
Couple of years in for me, 3 years for her and they are still like new, soles have plenty of life, still very comfy and no leaks. Used daily by myself for the big dog walk so can highly recommend. Seem to have gone up in price though, think ours were around £110.
Premier Icon
dickyhepburn
Free MemberGumleaf – Norfolk version of Aigles, but cheaper and better made https://www.gumleaf.com//blockquote >
Wider for the extra toes? (etc etc)
Bookmarking
Wider for the extra toes?
High six!
Re zips, the folks I know here with zip versions have all got broken zips. Zips plus craggy chalk not a good mix!
+1 Gumleaf. Super comfortable and warm (neoprene lined). Never found a pair of dunlop/decathlon etc. that fitted right.
They do look like the price has gone up since I got mine a few years back, but hopefully the Vibram sole works better in snow/ice than the sole on mine, which is the only downside I've found.
Just ordered a pair of those Gumleaf ones, with the zip, look ideal
Viking wellies. I just bought some and they are flat, no heel, e.g. zero drop if you're into that kind of thing. They're only mid calf height mind. Surprisingly warn despite today's 0 degrees.
(The altra shoes of wellies basically ).
I’ve had a pair of muck boots for about 10 years, really comfy, use them a lot, they just started leaking over Christmas. Replaced with the Chore 2k muck boots, which are the new version of what I had. They were about £80
Hunter went pop and became a fashion brand, so did le chem last year. Production got moved, quality dropped etc etc
I got a pair of Barbour Tempest for Xmas and love them to bits! Neoprene lined, thick insulated sole, nicely fitted and so comfy and warm.
Worn them loads since getting them for 2-4hrs and they are just lovely.
I can't speak for longevity but for the price (£79.99 in the sale) I hope they last a while.
Hunter went pop and became a fashion brand, so did le chem last year. Production got moved, quality dropped etc etc
No idea if true but research suggests Le Chameau are still made in Casablanca where they have been since 1949. They did change hands recently though.
In the usual spirit of recommend what you have... Muckboots are great in my experience. Mine are a few years old, no leaks and I'll happily walk 5 miles or so in them. Really warm too.
Keep an eye out for their sales. Pretty sure mine were half price.
I have Hunter Balmoral Field. 1st time I'd spent decent money on wellies and I wouldn't go back to a cheap pair.
Well I tried the Gumleaf ones, and a pair of Aigle Parcours - both too baggy on the heel area and sent back.
I may treat myself to a birthday present of Dubarry ones, free returns too if they are also too big on the heel box .. 🙂
Decathlon neoprene lined. We’re still £70 but have been warm and cozy in the winter North Sea. Wee boy loves paddling in his short wellies so I always have to go deeper than him.
Side feel flimsy compared to old rubber wellies but really warm and comfy.
Out of interest has anyone got on with Percussion wellies?
I researched & asked my kids for some for Xmas as most said true to size, they were to big for me but look well made & were certainly warm in in my one mile sub zero walk, unfortunately I can't send them back as the kids got rid os the outer packaging but I'm reluctant to try a whole size smaller as they will probably be to small.
Why do wellies never come in half sizes?
It is potentially harder to get wellies with just the right fit but I just use sole inserts to improve the fit....in fact the last wellies I had I just took the sole inserts out of a pair of my old Spesh SPD shoes and stuck them in, given they were both the same size there was no cutting down of the inserts. Tried a few inserts from different shoes as insert thickness varied before settling on the Spesh inserts.....certainly worth a try before sending boots back. Can of course just buy new inserts for under a tenner. Or wear very thick socks 😄
I've had the Decathlon 500 neoprene Solognac wellies. Used daily for dog walks through all but summer for the last 3 years. Also fine for walking for a couple of hours as well. Comfy and warm, decent rubber so no splitting