stokebailey

I am grateful for the range of options, for people who take the time to answer a question, and touched by those who'd protect me from my unnecessary-purchasing self.

We get the occasional 12" deep snow where we live, and it might be time to retire my ancient LL Bean hunting boots. I'll see if I have room in the exchange suitcase for my daughter's clothes, and either buy a good pair or buy and donate cheap ones.

I'd certainly rather buy them there than over internet.

PatrickLondon

>>apparently, they are prone to leekage.

janisj

Maybe you really aren't asking about actual 'wellies' ?? I have several pair of ruberized rain boots. Bought from all sorts of places. But none are wellies -- which are not for walking or enjoying

If you just mean rain boots - they are a whole different animal.

Hez

My Hunters have never leaked, nor have I heard of anyone else's leaking. Also, I've worn mine on walks of 3-4 miles and they were perfectly comfortable - a little heavy, yes, but certainly not blister inducing. I wouldn't wear them for a grand excursion, but for a walk through a muddy wood they are great. They're also great for walking in the snow with the fleece liners. And yes, I'm one of those crazy people (however no where near 'young') that happens to like the way they look.

Janisj - what exactly is the difference between "wellies" and "ruberized rain boots" - in my world (which includes the US, Australia and the UK) they are the same thing.

cigalechanta

My booths are very comfortable and they are leather lined. Aigles are very good.

dulciusexasperis

You might want to look at it in context stokebailey. Wellies are an OLD answer to wet weather. It's like saying you want to buy a Model T Ford when far better automobiles are available today. Wellies have all kinds of shortcomings that newer wet weather footwear available today, do not have. So other than as a fashion statement as it seems some idiots see them as, they have little to recommend them.

That's why I asked WHY you wanted them. If you want to walk on the heath then I suggest a pair of waterproof, lightweight hiking boots would be better for the job.

Something like these from Hi-Tec who unlike some boot manufactuers, make boots on a woman's last, not just on a men's last. http://us.hi-tec.com/womens/hiking-boots.html
They also have the advantage of being quite good quality at a modest price point.

Buying a boot made for a man's foot is not the same as buying boots made with a women's last. Here is an article talking about the difference in men's and women's running shoes. The basic principles apply in any kind of footwear including hiking boots. It is not enough to just buy a 'unisex' or man's boot in a different size.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/26...running-shoes/

janisj

>>Janisj - what exactly is the difference between "wellies" and "ruberized rain boots" - in my world (which includes the US, Australia and the UK) they are the same thing.

Hez

You should check out the wikipedia article for wellies - most of your 'rain boots' look suspiciously like the original boots worn by Wellington - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellies

janisj

yes - but his were leather and aren't what we call "wellies' now, which are molded rubber.

stokebailey

Ha, love it.

Looks-wise, if possible I'd rather be closer to duchess than Duke of W. Primarily would want something to wear for instance when occasionally mucking out stalls and walking around a stableyard, or for a few miles' walks in the springtime countryside, or for getting the mile to my Metro stop in deep snow. Do not be afraid that I plan to strike poses in them at the National Gallery or the opera.

Also I had the idea of taking a pair along for possible long walk in the Cotswolds ten or so days from now, along with lighter weight walking shoes, and switching as needed to get across streams or through deep mud. I wouldn't buy anything requiring special equipment or a ladies' maid to remove.

If I have ignorantly used the wrong word please forgive me. I'm from out of town.

stokebailey

(and again thanks to you who answered question where in London to find such things, since seeing and trying them on would help me decide if I wanted them at all.)

flanneruk

"Also I had the idea of taking a pair along...and switching as needed to get across streams or through deep mud"

You CANNOT change into or out of wellies in the wet open air without a maid or equipment and a seat (which is why your "duchess" analogy is perfect).

And you can't carry them without a formidable backpack.

Under the circs, the answer to your original question is the standard London answer for all functional household equipment.

John Lewis, Oxford Street. The staff know their product and will happily explain and show almost all possible alternatives (they don't always stock the absolute cheapest).

THEN, go to Primark, opposite M&S, which doesn't waste money on salespeople - never mind properly trained ones or ones whose bonus is triggerd by the chain's profits, not flogging you stuff you don't want.

See if you can get the appropriate functionality you now realise you need for a quarter of the price. If you can't, go back to John Lewis

Pepper_von_snoot

Bright Young Things?

Sorry, but Stephen Tennant is long dead and he would never have gone around London in Wellington boots.

The fashion flock here wear Sorel boots.

No one would ever wear Wellies in the city.

Tres, tres lower class, Miss Thing.

Thin, horrified

stokebailey

Thanks, flanner. In my mind I am carrying them slung over shoulder, hanging sole side up from a loop of light rope, leaving hands free for walking stick found in hedgerow.

One short visit to Oxford Street Primark was enough for this lifetime.

anicecupoftea

Not being fashion conscious, or rich, enough to contemplate buying Hunters, mine are the bog standard green unisex variety from B&Q. To be big enough to get them off, you need a size larger than normal. But then they slip and flop around unless padded with 2 pairs of thick socks. And then you can't get them off...

Wellies are for wading through unavoidable snow or thick mud. Waterproof walking boots are for anything more. In London? Neither.

alanRow

In London, they're bought only by Bright Young Things to wear at summer music festivals in the country.

To be fair, the average music festival in the UK has more mud than the Somme

You CANNOT change into or out of wellies in the wet open air without a maid or equipment and a seat (which is why your "duchess" analogy is perfect).

Which is why at festivals you wear them 24x7 - even as your feet turn into something resembling tripe

alanRow

Wellies are for wading through unavoidable snow or thick mud

That's why you have gaiters - to go over your walking boots

stokebailey

Maybe I should just pack some spats?

I found nice looking Aigle and Le Chameau boots online, but will hold off. Origin France... Wellington... so glad you all patched up your differences.

flpab

I love my hunter wellies. I wear them when I work in my yard and mow, trim trees, etc in Fl. I call them my snake/fire ant boots. They have never leaked.
My UK friends that show dogs love muck boots.

cigalechanta

I bought my La Chameau ten years ago when they were $200
but I bought them on sale. Today, they sell for over $400,
at least the ones that I have. This winter we had over 12 inches of snow. These boots hit just below my knee, leather lined and warm and come of easily. I consider them one of the best things I have bought and kept through the years
I made the mistake of buying patteed Moov fleece lined rubber boots from France. They ran short but my husband got ill and I forgot about sending them back