The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: Notasausage on January 12, 2016, 07:40:41 pm
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Well, after 20 years my well used Hunter wellies sprung a leak over Christmas and I now need to invest in a new pair. I understand Hunters are not so good any more and am looking for recommendations. I'm told Le Chameau or Aigle Parcours are worth a look. I'd like some warm ones as they are mostly used when it's cold (on the basis that mud=rain=cold!) so thinking neoprene or lined. If they're going to be costly they also need to be able to last several years. Suggestions please!
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I've just got a pair of Dunlop Prufort as recommended by VSS, after years of having Muckboots, and I like thema lot. I found the Muckboots very slippy and I always had wear at the heel that aused a rough bit that wrecked socks (and heels on occasion).
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I wear neoprene and rubber boots from Muck Boot Co. I think they cost about £70 when I got these a few years back. They are sturdy with a nice thick sole, so protect you from ground cold, and have a deep tread pattern. Mine are purple which is a plus point (my favourite colour ::))
Two slight drawbacks - they don't have steel toecaps, and are close fitting so they don't slop about but sometimes they are hard to get off, but that's solved by using a boot jack.
I haven't found the problems with Muck Boot that Rosemary has.
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I can show you the scabs. And I loved my Muckboots - had loads of pairs because they are warm and stretchy and accommodated my well developed calves (which Hunters never did) but I could hole a pair of socks in a week.
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Another muckboots fan here too :)
Mine kept my feet lovely and toasty in freezing Ireland over Dec and coped completely with the floods we got (up to knees and beyond in places) with no leaks and no cold feet.
I do find them a bit snug to get on and off but again thats a plus imo :)
Mine were from ebay and were a bit cheaper as a less wanted color (a weirdish blue) and are supposed to keep you warm well into the minuses
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Did I read this right 20 years old wellies. I've tried them all and am lucky if any pair lasts me a year, I do a lot of work when wearing them because that's what there for maybe it's the size 12 that does it lol.
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My muck boots (avon 'model') just failed and i've bought aigle parcour iso 2 as a replacement, about £50 more expensive but thought worth a go. I think they've got better grip but obviously the muck boots were a few years old already so difficult to compare.
I definitely wouldn't have non-neoprene though, so pleasant in the cold.
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I have Ariat ones. I love them because they have an insulated insole so my feet don't freeze, the sole is the same as their standard boots so is very supportive for my feet and they have lasted ages.
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Another Dunlop Purfort fan here, they last like no other I've tried, especially when you have cattle. (And I am trying not to take the huff that Rosemary clearly never listened to me singing their praises over the years! :huff: ;) :D)
I wear two pairs of socks (one thin one thicker) and knitted slippers over those, no need for neoprene, enough bulk that nothing moves around (especially as I tuck my trouser cuffs into the socks) and toasty warm. For those who don't want to knit slippers, there are Bama Welly slippers, which are thin but very warm, and can be left on the feet all day, like the knitted slippers. That way it's no big deal putting the wellies on or off.
BH is a big fan of the knitted slippers too, and wears them all winter to keep his feet warm inside his Bulldog wellies. At least when we have a winter, that is. ::)
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The issue with wellies is really what shape and size feet and calves you have. I have narrow ankles and calves but wider feet ....hunters too narrow ... Most other we!lies far too wide at ankles so slip up and down. So still searching for the right boot (and the left one ! :roflanim: )
Don't you find the proforts heavy?
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I have dunlop purforts. You soon get used to the weight, especially if you also wear steel toed workboots. I would have got le chameaux but they did not fit :( as I have some le chameaux long leather boots and they are soo comfy.
You really have to get to a shop and try the different makes on to find what will fit you.
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My son uses Nora Max and my daughter Bekina Pur - both are warm and have worn well. My Muck boots are more expensive but I think Englebert Strauss, the German workwear manufacturers, are now doing a cheaper lookalike.
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Bekina StepliteX - lightest safety boot I've ever worn. The are warm enough all year for me but they also do an insulated version too. Has a truely non-slip sole too.
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Dunlops all the way-hated Muck Boots with a passion (sweaty, slippy things) and I think Hunters are way over priced for the quality which is shocking really.
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I have the Purforts without steel toes and they are light as a feather; it's one of the many things I like about them.
They also do mens and womens' fit, but stores often have only one option in each size (usually women's up to 6 or 7, and men's above; I'm a 7, of course) and you have to ask for the other. For all I know might even do a wider foot version - it's worth asking.
I have narrow-ish feet and very chunky calves; I could never wear Hunters at all, couldn't get them on. I wear the men's Purforts in order to get the wider calves.
Otherwise, when the weather's cold, would legwarmers help you, Linda? By filling up the gaps in the leg part?
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Dunlop Purofort are the only ones I'll buy. My last pair were four years old, worn every day, and are still ok apart from the grip being a bit worn out. Never had cold feet in them. They have several different types to suit all situations. I'd never go for any without steel toecaps if you have livestock. My current ones were about 60 quid and I expect to get a good few years out of them so much cheaper than several pairs of cheapo wellies and with warm feet as a bonus.
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Not that they have received much wear other than general tramping about I can vouch for the warmth and comfort of my pair of neoprene lined Seeland Field wellies. Never had warmer feet when walking in the cold. Good grip too, even compared to walking boots.
http://www.seelanduk.co.uk/products/seeland-products/footwear/field-17-4mm-neoprene-wellington.html (http://www.seelanduk.co.uk/products/seeland-products/footwear/field-17-4mm-neoprene-wellington.html)
Magnus
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Lots of suggestions here - thanks all. I am not slim of calf - or ankle unfortunately! I think visiting a few shops to try on different brands is going to be essential.
My wellies are indeed 20 years old - bought in 1996 for a biology field trip! They haven't always had frequent use but I think I've had my moneys worth. I only discovered they leaked when standing in a very large puddle (of which we have had a few) though they were fine paddling in the summer.
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Bekina's are wide fitting and have good calf width (I have big calves too! :))
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I had a £5 pair from an Army surplus shop that lasted 6 years of daily use! Not the warmest, but I bought a size up and some welly liners and they were fine.
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I am glad someone brought this subject up. I have been struggling to find neoprene wellies for ages which will last me at least a year or more, the last ones I had I had to send them back due to a manufacturing fault and the next lot they sent out where the same. :rant:
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Another vote for Dunlop Purfort. Comfy, light and grippy.
Neoprene boots are real comfy but it depends what you do in them! Mine had to be ditched after a few months as nearly killed me on several occasions in the milking parlour due to the Lack of tread.
Nora's last well but freeze your feet.
Hunters hopeless and bog standard dunlops have a good grip but really uncomfortable .
Never been able to afford/justify Le Chameau so no idea about them.
Muck boots are supposed to be warm and comfy to.
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Argylls, can't get on with muck boots, after being pinned in ankle they're just too stiff and I find when the grip had worn some they're no good.
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anyone tried Aigle Parcour ?
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I've got Aigle Parcour ISO (the neoprene ones), live in them all year round. Mine are going into their 4th winter, had 1 small split where the foot meets the sole but repaired and good as new again. Sooo comfy too :)
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Agree here with Foolbar; Bekina steplites are great for winter. Good sole for reduced slippage in mud important this year!) & when icey . Roomy for thick socks, warm as well. Never had a problem with them.
I have the Agri lite for summer as these lighter and a fit better with thinner socks when it eventually gets warmer.
Muckboots are good too but found as they wear down they become a bit like being on slicks; there is no grip.
Hunters don't like; found they were unable to cope with the oodles of mud and stuff.
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twizzel - do you find them OK in the summer - not to hot? These are the ones at the top of my list at the moment…… as long as they fit. I would have got a 6 but they are 5.5 or 6.5
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I just bought my mum cotswold ladies wellies, sandringham i think they're called. Really comfy and warm, however they're for slender feet and calves so they wouldn't fit me, but i can absolutely recommend them. :)
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I asked this question a while back, and as a result, bought some Purofort wellies, which I've been very pleased with.
Don't get the fleece lined ones though, as the lining wears through quite quickly and then becomes uncomfortable. Also be careful around barbed wire etc, as they are quite thin. You can probably guess how I found that out :-\ .
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Not a fan of Aigle but it's a personal choice.
As for "can't afford Le Chameau":
1) work it out as a "capital purchase" - they are cheap when you consider the wear they get and the time they last;
2) if you're not proud, keep an eye on eBay... I've picked up the odd pair at half price (some new, some lightly used).
I meant I can't afford to buy them when I don't know for sure they'd do the job!
When your in a milking parlour a lot any loss of grip on your wellies is deadly, so if anyone who milks often and wears them can recommend then I'd consider them next time, as comfort is vital when wearing nearly all day every day.
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I can vouch for the grip on Le Chameau - best of any I've had, I think. I did a lot of walking on Exmoor in my Le Chameaux. Oh, and horse-riding too.
I cannot vouch for how the rubber stands up to cattle urine and dung, though, as my Le Chameaux had been ruined by someone wearing them for rowing (stretching them, and leaving them damp in a bag :rant:) before I got to the point of having any cattle.
I'd got mine about half price at a summer fair, or would probably never have tried them. I wanted wellies with a good enough heel for riding, so I could have waterproof feet and ankles if needing to dismount in muddy conditions.
Having now had them, I would buy them again if I was sure the cattle urine wouldn't rot the rubber. So am interested to see the responses to your query.
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The ones I had were wide-calved and no zips. I don't like zips and I do have fat calves! Whether I was just lucky to find them I don't know.
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For using in a parlour le chameaux cannot be beaten, it is just a pity my feet are too broad for them.
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Brill, thanks....will keep a look out on ebay
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I know slightly off topic, I'm taking normal boots here, but if anyone is looking for comfy but good looking footwear look no further than the Rieker range. I bought a pair just before Xmas and wore them all around London for days and they were like wearing slippers, I've got funny feet, and never before have I found boots like them.
I m to tight to get the lovely boots you talk about, maybe I ll look for second hand ones too lol.
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For using in a parlour le chameaux cannot be beaten, it is just a pity my feet are too broad for them.
Surprised by this Buttermilk! I thought I had odd shaped feet (they are short and wide), which makes it incredibly hard to get any shoes to fit as, if they're wide enough they're too long and I end up like a clown, and if they're the right length they're too narrow. I found Le Chameau to have a better range of widths available than most boots and, particularly the neoprene has enough 'give' to work for me. Sorry to hear that you aren't so lucky.
Maybe we should start a protest group for people with weird shaped feet to be properly represented in the boot market!!!???
Their long leather boots are the only ones that fit me so I was surprised the wellies did not. I ended up milking in leather work boots.
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Their long leather boots are the only ones that fit me so I was surprised the wellies did not. I ended up milking in leather work boots.
Now that's what I call a class act!
Not quite it was Dickies work boots.
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Somebody should send this thread to Hunter then perhaps they will go back to making decent boots that last instead of these flimsy girlie boots that let the water in after a few weeks wear
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Dunlop Purofort thermo are brilliant. They are very warm to wear, have steel toe caps and a very good tread - my husband describes them as having four wheel drive for feet, even in slippy mud
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I live in my wellies all year round and haven't found a pair that will last over a year!! Hunters were the favourites but recently bought a pair of neoprene lined Goodyear...super warm (my 58 year old feet like warm!) tough, dark blue with pink trim(!) all for 40 quid (Amazon). Highly recommended , husband has a pair too...only without the pink trim! :love:
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Anyone have suggestions for a lightweight, warm, zip up wellie? Hubby doesn't have wide calves so that doesn't matter, but the weight and ease to get on and off are important.
Dans
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Just taken delivery of a Harry hall long boot, they have a mucked style foot and tough fabric from ankle up with velcro straps. Very comfy and best thing £19.99 plus a little delivery cost. In fact they're so cheap I bought two pairs lol
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Sorry £19.00 lol
http://www.hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk/6209/Harry-Hall-Ladies-Torrent-Boot--Sale (http://www.hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk/6209/Harry-Hall-Ladies-Torrent-Boot--Sale)
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Sorry £19.00 lol
http://www.hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk/6209/Harry-Hall-Ladies-Torrent-Boot--Sale (http://www.hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk/6209/Harry-Hall-Ladies-Torrent-Boot--Sale)
Thanks, just ordered some :thumbsup:
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Awesome, I didn't want to take them off tonight, so comfy x
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I found some purple ones on ebay 61/2 and 7's Le Chameau Chasseurnord for £50 Good condition if anyones interested? Ladies of course