Some thoughts on Wellington boots

Like many smallholders I spend a lot of the day wearing Wellington boots. They have many advantages. They keep your feet dry and are ideal for working in muddy conditions. They also have the advantage of being easy to slip on and off as you go in and out of doors. 

The problem with wearing Wellingtons all day is that they are not a particularly well fitting form of footwear, so I suspect not really that good for the feet. The ease of putting them on and off also means that they inevitably can’t be too close fitting so that your foot slides about a bit. This results in the skin of my heels becoming dry and hard after long hours of daily wear. Buying insoles helps somewhat.

Another problem I’ve encountered with wearing Wellington boots all day is that they don’t seem to last. They split with wear and begin to leak. I get through two or three pairs a year. I once had a pair of expensive Hunters. They looked quite dashing and, perhaps with the addition of some stately sideburns, I looked a little reminiscent of the Duke himself, even if I say so myself. However, these too split after about six months. That’s not a lot of wear for your money. It has to be said, too, that they did not impress the pigs in the least. 

Although you can't see my boots in this picture of me,
it is still possible to make out the resemblance with the
Duke of Wellington

I generally buy Dunlop’s at the cheaper end of the scale and reconcile myself to the fact that they will need replacing every few months. Some advocate more robust (and expensive) makes including Muck Boots, but so far I have not been able to bring myself to pay £150 for boots when the poshest shoes I’ve ever bought were a third of the price.

One regular activity I do have to factor in, though, is a daily walk of three or more miles. For the sake of the attractive blonde who is my companion (let’s call her Spice - because that after all is her actual name) I try to avoid a muddy route. Although she doesn’t mind the mud, Spice is not keen on being hosed down afterwards and it’s a bit tedious for me. Fortunately, I’m able to walk around the  rough grass margins of the surrounding farm fields. When it’s wet (which is every day at the moment as we have had so much rain) then it’s on with the Wellington boots but also all the disadvantages associated with walking in them. 

Spice

However, my daughter and son-in-law bought me these 'Highland Fleece Boots' for Christmas. They are very comfortable and keep my feet both dry and warm. Just the thing for walking in wet conditions. They look like they have been designed to last, too.