Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Very waterproof indeed . |
| Disadvantages: |
Can be cold . |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
As Billy Connolly, the "Big Yin" says - The Scottish National Dress is - The Wellie!
The humble "wellie" is one of the most under rated bits of kit you will ever wear. These ones are safety boots, and normally when foot protection is required in the wet, you just stick the first pair of rubber wellies you find and off you go. The problem is that most wellies have the softest bit of rubber covering the toes, and the soles are not much tougher.
These safety boots keep out the water, plus they have a steel toe cap, and also a steel sole plate. These boots are actually made of PVC and nitrile rubber and are of course resistant to oils, petrol, most chemicals etc.
If chosen correctly, these boots will be comfortable, warm, do the job, and last a long time. The main thing is to choose the size while wearing the correct socks, many people try them on with the thinnest of nylon socks, and them complain they are too tight when they try stuffing hob sock clad feet into them.
Some of these have loops on the tops, these are useful for pulling them on, and also for carrying them. I had a pair once that had ribs on the front, for shin protection, and the same on the sides where that little ankle bone sticks out (just like on the old baseball boots).
There are many types of insoles you can add nowadays, and I would always advise using something, it adds to the comfort & fit, plus gives another layer of insulation where it counts.
Socks are very important too, there are many types on the market nowadays, from Merino wool socks to Goretex, try to avoid Nylon, they are too cold.
These boots have a fabric lining, this absorbs moisture and must be allowed to dry out, this is best done in the open air.
Most boots now have a type of "commando sole" which are very good in the grip department. Whatever sole they have, make sure they do have a good grip, as you will be using them in wet conditions.
One bad point here is that no company seems to do half sizes, this is a shame. Having said that, a lot of firms are now doing different width fittings. Also serious boots tend to come in black only.
As for the price, you can get them for less than nine pounds, or pay a lot more if you want a designer name, just bear in mind that the cost is a lot higher if you want them posting, as having steel toe caps makes them heavy.
To conform with health & safety legislation, these boots must be manufactured to EN345. This would mean the the toe cap is tested to 200 joules and a steel mid sole is fitted.
All together now -
If it was nae for the wellie,
where would ye be,
You'd be the hospital or Infirmary,
You would have a dose of the 'flu,
Or even pleurisy,
If ye did nae have yer feet,
In yer wellie!
I'll get me coat . . .
