Where do ordinary folk buy Wellies in London?
Feb 17th, 2014, 10:05 PM
#42
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>>That's why you have gaiters - to go over your walking boots<<
And so you can practise shouting GERRAWFMOILAAND!!!!
(I come back to mentioning Millets:
http://www.millets.co.uk/footwear/womens-footwear/
http://www.millets.co.uk/footwear/wo...r/wellingtons/)
And so you can practise shouting GERRAWFMOILAAND!!!!
(I come back to mentioning Millets:
http://www.millets.co.uk/footwear/womens-footwear/
http://www.millets.co.uk/footwear/wo...r/wellingtons/)
Feb 17th, 2014, 11:00 PM
#43
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"That's why you have gaiters - to go over your walking boots"
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I've never managed to put gaiters (http://www.millets.co.uk/activities/...e-gaiters.html) on or off in open country when it's muddy or seriously raining. But they're an infinitely better (and usually far cheaper) form of anti-mud insurance than dealing with wellies, and are generally neither intrusive nor cumbersome to wear for a whole walk.
I've never found anyone offering spats designed for serious country walking. The only ones I've ever seen are either modern fashion affectations, or early 20th century ones designed to keep city puddles from disfiguring stylish shoes.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I've never managed to put gaiters (http://www.millets.co.uk/activities/...e-gaiters.html) on or off in open country when it's muddy or seriously raining. But they're an infinitely better (and usually far cheaper) form of anti-mud insurance than dealing with wellies, and are generally neither intrusive nor cumbersome to wear for a whole walk.
I've never found anyone offering spats designed for serious country walking. The only ones I've ever seen are either modern fashion affectations, or early 20th century ones designed to keep city puddles from disfiguring stylish shoes.
Feb 18th, 2014, 01:50 AM
#46
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"Now there's a thought. Perhaps the OP needs galoshes."
Galoshes are essential for safe walking on rural paved surfaces when there's heavy frost, and useful for wet-weather walking to to the station for work or meetings where formal shoes are needed.
But utterly useless at dealing with rural mud.
Probably the single most astonishing thing about moving to the countryside from town is the extraordinarily wide range of footwear required for active rural living. Even if you don't shoot, hunt, fish or farm.
Galoshes are essential for safe walking on rural paved surfaces when there's heavy frost, and useful for wet-weather walking to to the station for work or meetings where formal shoes are needed.
But utterly useless at dealing with rural mud.
Probably the single most astonishing thing about moving to the countryside from town is the extraordinarily wide range of footwear required for active rural living. Even if you don't shoot, hunt, fish or farm.
Feb 18th, 2014, 04:54 AM
#47
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It's like the Inuit and their 47, or is it 53, different words for snow.
Unfortunately, now I want some of those stylish Venetian boots, too, willit. But I know I'll never live up to PvanS's standards, so won't even try.
I was kidding about the spats. Prone to affectation myself, sorry, but no longer the fashion kind.
Patrick, thanks!
John Lewis calls these cute things "wellington boots": http://www.johnlewis.com/joules-moll...-white/p457079
Unfortunately, now I want some of those stylish Venetian boots, too, willit. But I know I'll never live up to PvanS's standards, so won't even try.
I was kidding about the spats. Prone to affectation myself, sorry, but no longer the fashion kind.
Patrick, thanks!
John Lewis calls these cute things "wellington boots": http://www.johnlewis.com/joules-moll...-white/p457079
Feb 18th, 2014, 05:00 AM
#48
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Feb 18th, 2014, 06:06 AM
#49
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Excellent, OReilly. Thank you.
I note Le Chameau has a side zipper.
It's difficult to find footwear around here that's made anywhere besides China, even some of the very expensive brands.
I note Le Chameau has a side zipper.
It's difficult to find footwear around here that's made anywhere besides China, even some of the very expensive brands.
Feb 18th, 2014, 07:24 AM
#50
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Sadly Pepper_von, Sorrels are not what they once were.
Without a doubt the best winter boots ever made when made by Kaufman Rubber Co. in their Kitchener, Ontario,Canada factory. They became the WORLD'S best sellling winter boots.
Unfortunately, like many manufacturers of quality products, they fell onto hard times and in 2000 went bankrupt. The Sorel trademark was bought by Columbia Sportswear and they now produce 'Sorel' boots in many different styles. Many quite stylish. They are of course no longer made in Kitchener, they're made in China, Vietnam, etc. with the resulting lowering of quality standards.
If you can find a pair of Sorel Caribou made in Kitchener, before the Columbia buy out, you will have a pair of boots that will last for life. Here is the 'imported' copy just to see what they look like. http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/...GGLPRADS001_CA
The same can't be said about newer 'Sorel' boots.
http://www.sorel.com/womens-boots/?view=all
Without a doubt the best winter boots ever made when made by Kaufman Rubber Co. in their Kitchener, Ontario,Canada factory. They became the WORLD'S best sellling winter boots.
Unfortunately, like many manufacturers of quality products, they fell onto hard times and in 2000 went bankrupt. The Sorel trademark was bought by Columbia Sportswear and they now produce 'Sorel' boots in many different styles. Many quite stylish. They are of course no longer made in Kitchener, they're made in China, Vietnam, etc. with the resulting lowering of quality standards.
If you can find a pair of Sorel Caribou made in Kitchener, before the Columbia buy out, you will have a pair of boots that will last for life. Here is the 'imported' copy just to see what they look like. http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/...GGLPRADS001_CA
The same can't be said about newer 'Sorel' boots.
http://www.sorel.com/womens-boots/?view=all
Feb 18th, 2014, 08:58 AM
#52
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"It's difficult to find footwear around here that's made anywhere besides China"
So?
Do you want to keep dry? Or keep poor people in poor countries jobless and poor people in rich ones unable to afford decent clothes?
So?
Do you want to keep dry? Or keep poor people in poor countries jobless and poor people in rich ones unable to afford decent clothes?
Feb 18th, 2014, 09:57 AM
#54
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<i>People who find wellies uncomfortable need to pay more for better ones.</i>
Agreed. I have a pair of Aigles that are perfectly comfortable for walking around in.
In general, cheaping out on shoes is usually a bad idea.
Agreed. I have a pair of Aigles that are perfectly comfortable for walking around in.
In general, cheaping out on shoes is usually a bad idea.
Feb 18th, 2014, 11:44 AM
#56
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<i>So, it makes me uncomfortable that there's pretty much only one country in the world making something as basic as shoes.</i>
That should really read: there is only one country in the world making shoes at a price you are willing to pay. Though, really, there are more than that, but I suspect that Vietnam or Thailand make some shoes doesn't really change your opinion.
That should really read: there is only one country in the world making shoes at a price you are willing to pay. Though, really, there are more than that, but I suspect that Vietnam or Thailand make some shoes doesn't really change your opinion.
Feb 18th, 2014, 01:17 PM
#57
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Great daily mail article on wellies, I forgot about these hunter boots that fold and are very packable.
https://usa.hunter-boot.com/product/...our-rain-boots
I am a fussy shoe person and will spend the extra money on Italian shoes that last years. I hated when Clarks stopped making their shoes. They still charge the same amount just put people in the UK out of work.
I like that the La Chameau boots have a zipper on the side. I might get a pair of the foldable hunters for next treking trip in Ireland. I get drenched every trip.
https://usa.hunter-boot.com/product/...our-rain-boots
I am a fussy shoe person and will spend the extra money on Italian shoes that last years. I hated when Clarks stopped making their shoes. They still charge the same amount just put people in the UK out of work.
I like that the La Chameau boots have a zipper on the side. I might get a pair of the foldable hunters for next treking trip in Ireland. I get drenched every trip.
Feb 18th, 2014, 01:54 PM
#59
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I don't pretend to be an economist. Would not dream of peeking into anyone else's closet for country of origin labels.
My adopted city at one time was "First in Shoes, First in Booze, and Last in the American League." Now we're first in the National League; that's something, I suppose. People around here could at one time make a decent living manufacturing shoes. Tennessee Williams and my father were both briefly and unhappily employed by Brown Shoes, for instance. Not at the same time.
Let me attempt to divert being piled upon with this Williams quote from "Rose Tattoo":
"Whether or not we admit it to ourselves, we are all haunted by a truly awful sense of impermanence."
My adopted city at one time was "First in Shoes, First in Booze, and Last in the American League." Now we're first in the National League; that's something, I suppose. People around here could at one time make a decent living manufacturing shoes. Tennessee Williams and my father were both briefly and unhappily employed by Brown Shoes, for instance. Not at the same time.
Let me attempt to divert being piled upon with this Williams quote from "Rose Tattoo":
"Whether or not we admit it to ourselves, we are all haunted by a truly awful sense of impermanence."
