Wellies. Which ones?...So confused.

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Annagain

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After hearing bad things about 'new' Hunters, I bought a pair of Ariat Mudbusters about 2 years ago, which I really like and have said so on here too. They have now split at the side, which I'm a bit disappointed about as my old Hunters lasted 6 years.

I've done a search to see if there are any other makes that are worth a try and most people seem to say their various makes of wellies have lasted about two years. Is two years about as much as you can expect these days?

If so, should I stick with the Ariats or try something else? I was thinking about Muckboots as a friend tells me they're really warm, but a lot of people say they're slippery and the soles wear down quickly. Which model is the best?

Is it worth buying a more expensive pair or do they wear just as quickly? Was thinking Le Chameau or Aigle but I have quite wide calves so would need the gusseted ones which are more expensive.

I wear them to walk the dog and muck out in the winter, but hardly at all in the summer, so something warm would be nice, but just something that lasts would be top of my list!

Will someone make up my mind for me please?
 
Hi i think the ariats and hunters are both made in china now and dont have the quality anymore. i bought ariat mudbusters last year and within 8 weeks they started to leak-and as they have a years guarantee ariat replaced them but i wouldnt buy them again, i had hunters before that and the soles were really thin, my sister has le chameau and finds them great so maybe would be worth the extra money?:D
 
I've been disappointed by my hunters which I got last winter... they are bloody uncomfortable & push on my achilles. I was v disappointed as my old ones (still in use) are like a pair of comfy slippers!!

I don't know about any of the other more expensive brands but I'm generally a big aria fan!

As for Muckers, I've always like Mountain Horse and found them comfortable but they aren't so good as wellies when the mud is waist high like it is right now!!
 
My muck boots are fab! Not for summer though as they are warm.

Don't get the tyne ones, they are the equine ones but useless grip. Instead get the Derwents. They have great grip and I ride in mine with no problems.
 
Ive got La Chameau all tracks which fit my wide calfs (they dont have a gusset, may be worth a try) ... . love them, were really comfy straight away. Had the cotton lined ones 3 years now and they are as good as new. Was so impressed I bought some neoprene lined ones too, which have kept my feet toasty warm over two winters. Definitely worth the extra investment.

I too used to be a Hunter fan but my last pair split within a year.
 
I have been through every pair of wellies known to man (hunters/le chameau/ariats etc etc) - I dread to think what I have spent on them over the years!!

After having gone through my last pair of muck boots in less than 6 mnths (soles lost all tread and spent the autumn falling on my butt!), I decided to stop buying expensive ones.

Therefore I invested a total of £7.99 on a pair of bog standard 'Dunlops', which have done me grand all winter. The soles show no wear and no splits anywhere - the only downside is that I have had to invest in some very good thermal socks.

At that price I would happily replace them every 6mnths, but can see them lasting a lot longer.
 
I bought a pair of Superlite 500 boots at the end if last summer and they are just amazing - not the normal equine wear but fantastic! They are neoprened lined and are quite ridged which make them very comfortable. I'm on my phone so can't put a link on. Worth checking out as I walk 15 miles a week with the dogs and I'm up the yard daily and they still look like new.
 
I have had my Hunters for about 8 months now, I have to say I'm happy with them so far. I must be a bit bonkers because I think 2years for a pair of shoes is quite good, considering they get zero tlc and the worst of the weather thrown at them!
 
My Le Chameau neoprene ones have done 2 winters so far (and thats in Cairngorms) and show no signs of wilting. (unlike Hunters which lasted 3-4 months per pair max). I am on the farm all day every day and so they get very hard wear but they are amazing (the LeCs)

£95 a pair but they have worked out cheaper already than the cr^&*y Hunters! AND the Hunters werent neoprene lined so I have stayed toasty warm for free!
 
I had Ariat Mudbusters, they lasted about a year.

I replaced them with some cheap Dunlop wellies for summer, and some Just Togs Mudruckers for winter. I got the riding style boots and wear them for riding, walking and mucking out. They are very warm and comfy too. But, I think they must be leaking a bit because my socks are damp after a long day if I've been bathing/hosing.
 
Have given up with expensive wellies, bought a pair of Caldene wellies at the end of last month, am taking them back to the shop tomorrow as they are starting to perish and split, I think I will stick with cheap wellies from now on as they seem to last a lot longer
 
I bought arias about 2 mrgs ago. It took them less than 2 weeks ( being used about 6-7hrs) to be destroyed. I took my waterproofs off from over them to find the colour has changed from the original bluey green to bright green - only around the angle to mid foot area. Not good enough from an expensive pair of boots! Will be going back to the trusty dunlops for my next pair!
 
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