Your favourite wellies? Extra points for slim fitting

Muck Boots. I got a pair in their sale 2 years ago, theyve got like a neoprene patterned bit on the top half which is really handy for stopping hay falling down my boot when doing haynets. Mine are the insulated version so are lovely and warm (but also fine for summer). No splits or leaks at all in them so far as I was suspicious they might not last. I had a Joules summer pair but they literally didnt last the summer.
 
Jambarissa said:
Seems like a good time of year to shop for wellies and my last pair have been leaking for months.

What are your favourites? How well do they last? Any recommendations for skinny legs?

I've worn ariat for ages but needed to buy a new pair every year.
Bought le chameux because they're a slim fit but the foot bed is too flexible for walking over rugged terrain.
Had some success with muck boots in terms of fit and comfort but they didn't last too long.
Had lots of leather country boots but they don't stand up to the mud.

What am I missing?
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Farmers tend to buy ‘Norahs’, tractor tread. Very practical, zero fashion, easy to swill out, not that warm.
I’ve probably killed every welly known to man, spent far too much on the damn things over the seasons, and currently on Goodyears. Won’t do much for your legs, but proving robust!
With a Polartec fabric welly liner / welly sock from Equafleece, or Heat Holder socks, inside.
 
Ive just invested ( well, requested xmas gift ) Lechemeau Vierzons and absolutely love them. couldnt stretch to the insulated ones.. plus easily fixed with fluffy socks, toes not getting cold in these minus snow temps near me for the time it takes me to potter doing my jobs. Hunters getting holes in the exact same place so not going to bother with another of those! muck boots partner had to return a few due to leaking round the fabric bit
 
Aigle every time! I went through 3 pairs of le chameaus in 3 years, then went to a cheap pair which lasted a matter of weeks. My boss kindly bought me a pair of Aigle's when he spotted the holes in the ones I was wearing at the time. They're in a league of their own and so much more comfortable that the chams.
 
Aigle seem to last longest but l’ve invested in Skellerup Quattro which are a little cheaper. They’re quite ‘clunky’ but warm and stable with very good grip.
 
Having had my wellies split twice in 6 months I decided to do my own research and look at wellies that were not top of the range. I needed wellies I could walk my dog in, and walk my horse through streams and rivers in, as I’ve been walking in hand preparing a youngster for ridden work on challenging terrain, and so far many of those 50 plus miles have been in wellies! So my current fit flop wellies (very comfy but not up for the job now) are being replaced. I wanted wellies for year round so not super warm winter lined ones particularly as they would be too hot in the summer.
I did some online research and looked at posts in HHO forum. I decided to opt for boots under around £70 that could be returned free of charge. I road tested them all by walking around the house in them for at least an hour, sometimes with one boot from one company and a second from another, focusing on feel not looks.
I started with Polar boot tall side buckle boot from amazon £27.99 based on a forum recommendation, and yes, they looked good, and had a nice length, but felt flimsy in the sole (no good over rocks) and the of gassing smell was unbearable. But on a budget, I think they would have been OK for lighter use. I compared these with a pair of Ariat burfords on sale at Eleen Douglas tack shop on line- the brown actually a charcoal/navy and lovely – these were around £65 and I like Ariat boots normally. They looked lovely, and a nice supportive sole, but quite rigid, and snug around the leg. After an hour of walking in these, my legs and heel felt like that they would get rubs on them over time. (I since learned that a friend’s Burfords had cracked (both boots) within 6 months- perhaps because of this sturdiness in the front ‘creasing’ area when walking)
Then came the Viking foxy warm rain boot. (£59.68 on amazon). These were compared with the Hoggs of Fife Braemar wellie (£58.45). Both of these felt really nice. The Viking was really warmly lined and comfortable, but a little ‘baggy’ in the mid section when I walked – they kind of ‘flobbed’ a bit which bothered me so I’d have needed to wear jeans and welly socks not just jodhpurs to stop that happening. For people with slightly wider calves and chilly feet these might be perfect. The Hoggs were winning, they looked good and felt comfortable while walking around in them. So far so good- but one more to try…I also tried the Warm wellies Kingswater which, with a discount deal came in on budget. No colour choices (green) with that but I am impressed with a functioning side buckle that you can actually change the calf size with (helpful to prevent hay going down the top), and they had a roomier toe box. They don’t look at chic perhaps as the Hoggs boots but feel warmer, but not too warm. So these two were hard to choose between, but after walking and sitting in the house with one of each on each foot, the Warm wellies felt less like they would rub over time, felt a bit warmer and more supportive, although they do look more like a farmer welly. I also tried on the Grubbs frost line and they were also in contention.
So there’s my recommendations. If you want something a little more stylish, I’d go Hoggs, if you want something for farm use and perhaps have a wider foot, go warm wellies- who have a really nice set of company values to boot (or Grubbs frost line) (pun intended).
Ok, so, I am now off to get a life. But welly research PhD completed, I’m off to play in the mud.
 
Thank you for your hard work, @Fibones!

Was very keen to read your review, as a new, comfy, hardwearing, warmish pair in this price-bracket is what I really need after the last ones, which turned out to be a complete disaster: the buckles came off, my feet were freezing, they've split in 4 places and they're only about 2 years old.

Sadly, they're Hoggs of Fife Braemar ones ... WAAAAHHHHHHHH! 😭
 
I've been wearing Ariat Radcots for years, the insulated and non-insulated. My current pair have lasted ages, they're comfy, not clumpy, you can drive in them and they don't have a stupid strap or buckle on the side to catch on stuff and get messed with by cheeky horses. The insulated ones are perfect for, like, standard winter, but I do miss muck boots when it's below freezing because they aren't really warm. ETA, I buy a spare pair when they're on offer and IMO, bought that way, they seem to be really good value for money wellies.
 
I love Grubbs. The Frostlines get a reputation for splitting (mine at 3 years of heavy use haven't), but they are made from 2 separate materials, so there are joins to potentially split. However they are cosy warm.
The Highlines are made from one piece & have super grippy tractor style sole, but are a teeny bit less comfy. I bought another pair when they were on offer at £40 & stashed them away for when my Frostlines die. They've been stashed for a year now.

ETA I have wee sticky bird's legs & both fit nicely without being hideously flappy.
 
I still haven't found the right wellies 😩

I bought an Ariat pair in October because they were v. cheap, leaked through the little Ariat button thing in the sole. I should have sent them back but cba, it's a small slow leak so I've left them at the stables as my emergency pair.

I tried my Le Chameau again, they fit better than any others but so uncomfortable and unsupportive, I can feel every stone.

Currently in old hunters which have a great sole but wide legs, I'm so fed up with all the hay and shavings stuck to my socks. I'm thinking of blocking the tops off with legwarmers.
 
I’m really pleased with my Quattros. I think the guys who market them originally worked for Hunters, when Hunters were ok. They’re still quite wide but don’t let in as much hay as some. They do come up big though.
 
Mrs B said:
Thank you for your hard work, @Fibones!

Was very keen to read your review, as a new, comfy, hardwearing, warmish pair in this price-bracket is what I really need after the last ones, which turned out to be a complete disaster: the buckles came off, my feet were freezing, they've split in 4 places and they're only about 2 years old.

Sadly, they're Hoggs of Fife Braemar ones ... WAAAAHHHHHHHH! 😭
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I’ve gone with the warm wellies kingsland might be worth checking then out.
 
I've been really impressed with my Rydale neoprene wellies I bought in the Autumn.

£75, slim fitting, warm, great grip and more comfortable than my spendy LC's ... I consider than a win!
 
Dave's Mam said:
I love Grubbs. The Frostlines get a reputation for splitting (mine at 3 years of heavy use haven't), but they are made from 2 separate materials, so there are joins to potentially split. However they are cosy warm.
The Highlines are made from one piece & have super grippy tractor style sole, but are a teeny bit less comfy. I bought another pair when they were on offer at £40 & stashed them away for when my Frostlines die. They've been stashed for a year now.

ETA I have wee sticky bird's legs & both fit nicely without being hideously flappy.
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I’m a big Grubs fan, too. I have an ankle pair of the Frostlines and a standard pair of the Highlines. I’m going to definitely get a pair of tall Frostlines whenever I next need to buy wellies!
 
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