Wellies v Dubarrys (or more likely, Dublin River Boots as they are cheaper!)

FestiveSpirit

FestiveSpirit

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My rubbish Hunter wellies have sprung a leak again, and I just refuse to buy another pair cos they are such appalling quality now :(

I cant decide whether to go for a pair of cheap'n'cheerful wellies, or save up for something like Dubarrys/DRBs? Are they more comfortable, and do they stay waterproof if you wade around the yard in them all the time?
 
I've had 2 pairs of river boots, both pairs the lining split in and I couldn't get my foot in or out, and that was with just a few months of use
How about Le Chameau wellies? depends what you want them for really
I wade about in my Ariat Grasmeres and ADORE them, toasty warm feet and so comfy
 
No leather boot will stand up to as much standing in puddles as a rubber welly. So althought the leather ones have some degree of waterproofing or repellency i personally wouldnt use them through mud like i do wellies
 
Gazey - I bought these in about October last year

http://www.equestrianclearance.com/matchmakers/harry_hall_willow_boots/index.html

I have worn them every day to turn out/muck out/walk the dogs in and they are fab!! :DThey have kept my feet warm (have fleecey lining) and dry through the rain, mud and snow. When they are covered in mud (like now) I just hose them off and leave them to dry. Every now and then I give them a really good scrub with a brush as well and put leather dressing on the leather foot part and spray the nubuck bit with some suede/nubuck cleaner.:)

Am going to buy another pair for spare for when they finally give up!! :eek::DThey are mid calf height but if you look on EC they also do a 'long' pair - a girl at the yard has them and really likes them - she had the Rydale version before and they died in about 3 months - she is a groom so wears them everyday to.:)
 
Nope Dublin River boots most certainly wont survive wading around in mud. They survive the occasional submergence if you look after them & treat them with waterproofing stuff. They are waterproof enough to survive dewy grass but thats about it. I looked after mine & only wore them to events etc but they only lasted a year.
 
I won't ever buy another pair of Hunters either. I would get a cheap pair of rubber boots and don't expect them to last forever. I do have a pair of Dubarrys but keep them for best as they look tatty very quickly (Way overpriced IMO)
 
teddyt said:
No leather boot will stand up to as much standing in puddles as a rubber welly. So althought the leather ones have some degree of waterproofing or repellency i personally wouldnt use them through mud like i do wellies
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Really?! I do with my Dubarrys! :D I've even paddled in the Thames with mine!! :o

I love my Dubarrys so much! I use them for all the horsey jobs, for coxing, dog walking, beating etc etc. Plus they are so warm that once you'd had some you will never want to go back to wellies. Mine have been going two winters, hundred of hours of use, and although they look worn, they are completely waterproof and going strong.
 
My Dubarrys are knackered due to a combination of wading through knee high mud slop and me not taking good care of them! Whereas my Le Chameau have coped superbly with whatever is thrown at them, feet, legs etc have stayed bone dry and all you have to do is wash them off. Buy your Dubarrys/Dublin boots to potter about in, buy Le Chameaus for the serious work!:D
 
slinkyunicorn said:
Gazey - I bought these in about October last year

http://www.equestrianclearance.com/matchmakers/harry_hall_willow_boots/index.html

I have worn them every day to turn out/muck out/walk the dogs in and they are fab!! :DThey have kept my feet warm (have fleecey lining) and dry through the rain, mud and snow. When they are covered in mud (like now) I just hose them off and leave them to dry. Every now and then I give them a really good scrub with a brush as well and put leather dressing on the leather foot part and spray the nubuck bit with some suede/nubuck cleaner.:)

Am going to buy another pair for spare for when they finally give up!! :eek::DThey are mid calf height but if you look on EC they also do a 'long' pair - a girl at the yard has them and really likes them - she had the Rydale version before and they died in about 3 months - she is a groom so wears them everyday to.:)
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Thanks very much for all the suggestions everyone but SU has just got my vote :D This is just what I would be using mine for, my part of Gloucestershire seems to be 99% mud at the moment so I need something which will stand up to that :D

Now, just got to find £60, maybe a BF would come in useful sometimes....:p
 
my dublin rivers have been fab - got them last june time and have been fab through this winter. I wear them with two pairs of socks one normal and one thermal when it was snow, rain etc and they have been fab through thick mud.

Also ride in them all the time and they were amazingly comfy after a couple if wears. Defo recommend them
 
another one for the Ariat Grasmere, they are amazing. Waterproof, warm, AND seriously comfy!! also you dont get damp feet like you do with wellies, yuk. Yr right though Hunters are awful for leaking after only a handful of uses I wont ever buy a pair again.
 
I love my Dublin River Boots - they're so warm in the winter and have stayed really waterproof, but the lining of the sole came loose after only wearing them a few times and when I contacted Dublin they told me they were sorry but weren't much help (I don't live near where I bought them from so I wasn't prepared to drive miles and miles just to get them sorted). Such a shame as I love them dearly, but don't think I'll be buying them again in a hurry.

However, for wellies I'd recommend the Joules ones - mine have lastes years and are still waterproof and the soles on them are still really good. I love them and definitely think they're better than other wellies on the market (and they look nice too).
 
I totally agree about Hunter Originals being utterly appalling quality now, and IMO are not rural or equestrian wellies anymore. They have now become fashion statements and are only made to withstand occasional use for people who go to a music festival once or twice a year!

When I was younger, everyone wore hunter originals and they lasted around 5 years of everyday hard usage, but I reckon the quality changed about 7 years ago, and all of a sudden I wasn't getting any more than a few months before they split, and every pair I bought was the same.

So... after spending several years with wet feet and vowing never to buy hunters, and not really liking the others, and also finding all the river boots etc, are just not practical for wading through ankle deep, wet fields every day, I splashed out on a pair of Hunter Balmoral neoprene ones, and was really pleased. They do what a wellie is suppose to do.

They are darned expensive but I've had the same pair for 2 years now and they're still brilliant. They also have a better sole, so are not as slippery as the hunter originals. I practically live in mine, so was worth the extra money.
 
My Dubarrys have started leaking :(. I've had them just over a year but they weren't used all winter, or summer when it was dry. I didn't pay that much for them so not overly bothered (and I didn't look after them at all). I can't find wellies that last over 6 months without leaking :confused: - hunters, muckboots, toggi wanderers, harry halls, joules, dubarrys - all leaked :(
 
My dublins only lasted about 6mths :o but I did wear them about 7hrs a day and they were abused :rolleyes: :D That said, I would never have another pair :/

I have my £12 dunlop wellies (brought from Badminton about 8yrs ago after foolishly going there in flip flops :p ) for trudging through muddy gateways and other welly-killing tasks and they do the job perfectly :D and I have Le Chameau neoprine lined wellies, which are perfect for those days when it is so cold the whole world has frozen solid -and for going anywhere that requires posh wellies of course- :rolleyes: :p :D

I ride in toggi augusta joddy boots and chaps day to day but will compete in my long black leather boots when I eventually get competition ready :p :D
 
Le Chameux wellies every time, my doing horses pair have just died, after about TEN YEARS!!! incredible quality, really good at keeping my feet warm & dry, & are great in every type of weather, wouldn't buy another make of wellie for serious work, tbh, wouldn't buy another make of wellie full stop!

Also, they fit like a proper boot, rather than the slopping about feeling you get with other wellies
 
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