Boots (Wellingtons)

I have a cheap pair of half wellingtons bought online. Had them for years. Nothing fashionable about them but brilliant in the wet and muddy walking where it is slippery and dangerous

Have a look at Joules, I have found them very good.

www.lakelandfootwear.co.uk/
Try here, they do rubber boots and a choice of heights and fittings. Not too expensive.

But none for people with EEEE width feet and short toes. If I buy the right size by length, I can't get my foot past the instep and into wellingtons (or most pull-on leather boots) If I buy by width, I have a couple of inches of empty boot in front of my toes - lethally likely to trip me up, even with a spare sock stuffed into the toe.

No use advising me to buy from Hotter, I have only ever seen one pair of shoes by Hotter that would fit me, and they were so hideous I would rather go barefoot.

Whitewavemark2

I have a cheap pair of half wellingtons bought online. Had them for years. Nothing fashionable about them but brilliant in the wet and muddy walking where it is slippery and dangerous

Same here!I think they cost about £7 and were bought in desperation as I could find nothing to fit.
My 40 year old Hunter Ladies still fit but are worn smooth on the sole so useless in snow and ice.
“New” Hunter Ladies proved impossible to get off once I had struggled into them so when I eventually struggled out of them I gave them to my D.
Expensive mistake

I'm very faithful to my Hunter wellies because they are so comfortable to walk in. They certainly aren't cheap at all, and with the conditions I use them in only last for 3 or 4 years (you're doing amazingly well to have a 40 year old pair, Wwmk2 )

But anything that is flexible at the ankle is good.

I have a pair of wellingtons I bought from Wilko for use in the garden, but when my much repaired waders gave up the ghost a couple of years ago, I started fishing in them (I don’t go very far out these days!) and they have never let me down and good traction. Not rubber, but even Dunlop wellingtons seem to be pvc these days.

MayBeMaw

Whitewavemark2

I have a cheap pair of half wellingtons bought online. Had them for years. Nothing fashionable about them but brilliant in the wet and muddy walking where it is slippery and dangerous

Same here!I think they cost about £7 and were bought in desperation as I could find nothing to fit.
My 40 year old Hunter Ladies still fit but are worn smooth on the sole so useless in snow and ice.
“New” Hunter Ladies proved impossible to get off once I had struggled into them so when I eventually struggled out of them I gave them to my D.
Expensive mistake

I used to love Hunters but can’t get them on now. I have a very unglamorous but very watertight and practical pair of wellies with zips on the inside now. I bought them online, I think from a menswear site, some years ago. Highly recommended unless you want to look glamorous!

I used to have Hunters years ago-when they seemed much better boots than they are now. Today’s Hunter wellies seem more of a fashion or festival boot.
I discovered ‘Grub Frostline’ at my local farm store. They are extremely comfortable, I think they are fishermen’s boots, also very supportive in the arch, and easy enough to get on (and off!). They are my go to choice of welly, and a pair will last me about eighteen months, but I am very hard on them, always in them. If I manage to get the in the sales they are about £55. Otherwise £60 to £70.

How about men’s wellies? They will certainly be wider

I think it may be worth your while to google "paddock boots" and have a look at them .. you'll find them mostly on equestrian websites and as they're only ankle length, easy to get on and off. Not so sure re. width, though, but paddock boots in general tend to be quite wide as we horsey folks stuff our feet into thick thermal socks in winter!

Have small feet but struggle to find boots wide enough in the calf. My legs aren’t giant size so it can’t be that uncommon a problem.

I thought it was just me with the Hunters that I couldn't get off.
I was at IOW festival and thought I would be sleeping in them. I gave them away too.

Most large garden centres seem to carry a good selection if you want to see and try on.

My wellies sprang a leak after 15 years of loyal service!
They are Aigle and cost £120 so I bought a Wellie repair kit and it’s worked, they have been in the sea and boggy grouse moor and held up!
£5 for the kit, I may get another 15 years out of them ?

I have Aigle wellingtons, they are extremely comfortable and almost like wearing slippers.

With the onset of rain again, I do walk around in mud a lot and have wellies and boots. The boots I wear are to drive in too. A few years ago I started to buy from Lands End. Their Squall Snow Boot are waterproof and a moulded rubber lower shell/sole. Normally £120 but currently reduced to £72. They do a half boot too.
www.landsend.co.uk/

I bought my wellies in Venice quite a few years ago when it was flooded. They are definitely waterproof as I paddled through canal water. No idea what they are made of. Venice shoe shops have bunches of them hanging outside. My patio flooded recently and they came in very useful.

I've now got the Billy Connolly song runningthrough my head "If it wisnae for yer wellies where would yer be"

I do not understand why the OP is so insistence that her wellies are made from rubber.

I think this was phased out to be replaced by plastic decades ago.

I get my wellies in France( for France and the UK) at the local Farmers supermarket. I usually buy the cheapest and expect 10 years wear from them.

I remember years ago seeing wellies with a laced gusset over the instep, ideal for those with high insteps, but have not beeen able to find them recently.

We love Decathlon Solognac wellies with the warm insert. They’re great for in the snow too. They have a great grip. Both myself and my ten year old wear them- she finds them comfy for long walks. Won’t buy any others now.

I have Dunlop half wellies bought cheaply off eBay. They are new and green and I find them completely waterproof. The eBay seller seems to sell loads. They’re unisex, black or green.

Thank you All for really useful suggestions. Now it's the agony of choosing. MOnica, I don't insist on rubber wellies but the pvc ones I have bought the last couple of years have all given me poor service. But I guess it's like with so many things, you get what you pay for.

Greta - my thought -
google agricultural suppliers. Farmers won't pay over the top for fashion wellies and they need boots that are going to be waterproof and resilient. There's probably one in your local area, they might not have a website but I've bought Barbours and wellies from them in the past and although they don't have a mirror, they're perfectly happy to sell to people who walk through the door.