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Old Wellies
It’s strange to become attached to clothes and footwear but I think most of us, at some point, have had a feeling of sentimentality to a favourite piece of clothing. Wellyman had a long, wool overcoat that he loved despite it being known as the ‘flasher coat’, not, I hasten to add because of any weird predilection for availing passers-by with more than they wanted to see. It was a name given to the coat by a friend of his because it did look a little like the sort of coat someone up to no good would wear. It had been his grandad’s when he was in his early twenties and Wellyman had rediscovered it in the loft one day.
The problem came, of course, when the coat, which was by now over 60 years old, started to look a little worn. Holes were appearing but still I couldn’t persuade him to replace it. The death knell for the coat though was mould. Even he had to admit it was finally time for a new coat. Finding a replacement that feels as good and fits as well is the challenge though and it probably makes us cling onto our beloved clothes that little bit longer than we should.
When I discovered my wellies leaked a few weeks ago I thought finding new ones would be a frustrating experience. I’d grown stupidly quite attached to my little green boots. The easiest solution would have been to simply replace them with another pair of Hunters. These ones had lasted me 7 years and had been worn pretty much every day. They had coped well with baking sunshine, freezing weather and snow and, of course, copious amounts of rain. From the plot and garden to the beach and the hills around our home they had certainly been well used, to the extent there was hardly any grip left on the soles. So I was more than happy to replace like for like but then, just as Wellyman was about to order a pair for my birthday, we had a tip off that Hunters were no longer made in Scotland and that they had changed the manufacturing process. After trawling the internet it did appear this was the case and that, as a result, the quality had suffered. Whether this is true or not I don’t know but there were certainly a lot of people complaining about their recently purchased wellies.
Not prepared to take the risk the quest for new wellies began. Twitter and blog friends were generous with their suggestions and advice. There are so many wellies to choose from now, it’s quite incredible. There’s tartan or leopard patterned wellies, neoprene-lined super warm wellies and gorgeous but expensive leather ones which require a phone call to the bank manager before purchase. The choice felt a little overwhelming. There is only so much you can glean from the internet anyway. I much prefer to try before I buy, especially with clothes or shoes. Whilst the internet is great for many things the impact on our high streets saddens me.
However, I needn’t have worried. My welly search meant I discovered a local country store that I hadn’t known existed, with friendly, helpful staff. Their selection didn’t included a vast array of patterns or colours; green or black was the extent of the palette and there wasn’t a wedge welly in sight. This was a place for serious wellies.
New Wellies
And so it’s au revoir to my Hunters (I’m going to keep them for when I do outdoor painting jobs) and bonjour to my Le Chameaus. They came highly recommended, are a great fit for my narrow feet and super comfy. Most importantly though they don’t leak and have amazing grips on them, so no more unintentional acrobatic routines on the muddy paths at the allotment.
Thanks you for posting this. I need a new pair of Wellies too, mine are 15 years old and just sprung a leak.
How was the sizing on the Le Chameaus, same as the old Hunters?
Enjoy your blog.
I’m a size 4 and they fit me well. I would say they are quite a snug fit but I am wearing 2 pairs of socks at the moment because of the cold. I have quite narrow feet and struggle to find wellies that aren’t like boats.
Wow, lucky you! As my super-warm neoprene lined wellies have split – also owned and worn extensively for about 7 years – I got quite excited by your new wellies … then I saw the price. **Gulp**. The price is not for the faint-hearted! However, all is not lost – In looking up your wellies on the internet, I’ve found a new seam of research for a new pair for myself. Happy welly wearing – I hope they last you a nice l -o-o-o-o-n-g time!! xx
They were my birthday pressie so the price wasn’t so much of an issue. And mine were the cheapest Le Chameaus out there at £70 and no more than Hunters would have cost me. If I get 7 years out of these, at £10 a year, I think that’s not bad value. So hopefully they’ll last me a while.😉
That’s absolutely the best way of looking at it! I think my eye fell on a covetable pair in excess of £200 but I’m just as taken with Muck Boots! I have to confess to having gone off Hunters since they seem to be so fashionable and worn by non-gardeners! Luckily there’s plenty of alternatives out there. 🙂
I’ve heard very good things about muck boots. We knew a couple who wore them all the time and loved them. And they seem reasonably priced. Hunters do seem to have just become fashion boots. OK for a wet day around town but not the rigours of an allotment!
Good to know that your feet are going to stay dry this winter, they look as though they will become as loved as your last pair. Love the new header, great minds think alike, thought it was my Sango Kaku when I first saw it!!
Thanks Pauline. The photo is a few years old from Westonbirt. I used it last year as a header but loved it so much I thought I’d use it again. :))
Really useful to know about the issue with Hunters and that you found another brand for those of us with narrow feet. Enjoy the new boots!
I also get very attached to particular garden items. My favourite clogs, my favouite trowel, my favourite – don’t any one dare touch – Felcro’s….
I’m really attached to some flower snips I got last year. They are brilliant and have even usurped my felcos in my affections!!
Le Chameaus are very well made and reliable. Annoyingly I was a bit broke when I needed to replace my wellies last year so I opted for a £30 pair of unknown provenance. Even that seemed a lot but so far so good and I just hope I get five years wear out of them.
I’ve been eking out my hunters because I couldn’t afford to replace them. Getting them as a birthday present seemed like a good compromise.
Having dry feet is essential, I hope the new boots last as long as the old. Christina
I hope so too. It’s annoying when you get attached to something and then the company go out of business or change the products. Hopefully these will prove to be good replacements.
So glad to hear that you are shod properly again WW ready to walk through mud and puddles and not get your tootsies wet. They look good but probably not a suitable choice for my wide size 7 feet🙂
Thanks Anna. I would say fairly definitely they aren’t for a wider foot. I tried on a pair that were quite nice but felt a little big and then tried these on and the difference was huge. It’s surprisingly hard to find wellies that are narrow. Just hope they last and that in 7 years time the manufacturer hasn’t changed this style!
Those are some stylish wellies! Definitely worth the price if they are comfortable and last for years. The issue of good quality footwear companies taking their manufacturing offshore and this affecting the product seems to be quite common now. My husband had the same problem when he tried to replace his hiking boots.
I hope so Lyn. It is so frustrating when companies do that sort of thing. I would prefer to buy British made products but it is difficult sometimes.
If, like me, you have less elegant feet and legs (and I am so, so jealous of those who can fit into Hunters or Le Chameau) then I can recommend the neoprene Muddies. My first pair lasted me four years and I think I only took them off for bed – though my husband might challenge even that – and they have brilliant arch supports. I use the half length Thames – don’t often really need them knee high.
But as I say, I’m really, really jealous of those Le Chameaus – but they just don’t go round Queen Ann legs
I had heard about muddies. It’s surprising how difficult it is though to find shops which stock a good range of wellies so you can try them on. Muddies do sound like great boots.
The hunters I bought this year, are for narrow feet, but are generous around the calves (digging means mine are anything but slim!) Christina
Very stylish. I hope they serve you as well as your last pair did. I use my walking boots for gardening, I much prefer them to wellies, though I have to admit that I have never tried the more upmarket types of wellies.
I seem to be able to get my wellies off more quickly. I’m nearly always desperate for the loo when I get back from a few hours on the plot. Having to undo laces would be too much.;) I also like being able to just hose them down after manure collecting.
A pair of good wellies are essential for all allotmenteers. Having said that I need a new pair too as mine are worn out and leak being .. years old.
I sympathise with Wellyman about his coat as one like that is probably irreplaceable.
You should have posted this under allotment fashion rather miscelleanous! xx
I completely agree about the wellies. Wellyman did find another coat but I don’t think it ever lived up to the previous one. I could have a whole category on gardening clothes, couldn’t I? x
Oooh I like the Le Chameau ones but they are a bit pricey. My Hunters are about 15 years old and have a wee bit of life left in them yet (I hope). I’m currently mostly wearing a cheap (£10) pair of snow-boots – rubber like ankle-wellies but fleecy lining and velcro fastening. Dead easy for putting on and running down to the compost heap with the veg peelings. I’ve also got an old waxed jacket with which I will not part. It’s tatty as all hell, and the OH dislikes it, but I love it🙂
A garden tutor I used to have said it was worth getting good wellies if you’re in them every day and I’, inmine all the time. She suffered bad problems with her feet. So it has kind of stuck with me. I have stupidly bendy ankles too so need quite a bit of support as I’m always going over on them. I do have a really cheap pair of flip flop things that I use for the compost run that are actually so comfy I sometimes leave the house in them, forgetting that they have definitely seen better days.🙂
Wonderful wellies!
Thanks Alison, hoping they last as long as the previous ones.
Very nice, certainly needed if the winter follows the same weather patterns as the summer. Comfy wellies are essential at this time of year!
Hi Annie, I’m hoping we won’t have too wet a winter but who knows?
Looking good!
Wellie technology has become a bit of a minefield hasn’t it? I was swamped when I started looking, though I did all of my research online without trying any on. I also read lots of bad reviews on Hunters so avoided them, and the price of le Chameau boots did put me off – though if I’d known they were such a good fit for narrow feet perhaps I’d have been persuaded to justify it. I love my superlite ones that I found for £25 on that well known auction site, but they are wide. Very light, and great for muddy treks, but not so good for getting into the borders with minimal impact.
I tried one pair of wellies on and they were enormous even with 2 pairs of socks on and they were a size 4. Very strange to have such variance in sizes. It always puts me off buying clothes and shoes online.