WHEN it comes to versatility, few modern creations come even close to the humble welly.

But wellies, like most things in life, aren’t all created equal, and in fact come in all shapes and sizes, as well as prices, with the cheapest at around a tenner and the most expensive well over the £100 mark.

So is it a case of getting exactly what you pay for? Or will the most basic boot do the same job perfectly at a tenth of the price?

We slip on a selection of men’s and women’s models, and put them to the wet, muddy, grimy test.

We’ve judged by these criteria:

•    Getting them on and off – are they easy to slip on, and do they allow an easy withdrawal, or will they hold on to your sock, leaving you with a bare foot?

•    Comfort – if they’re going to be worn for a few hours at a time, they’d better not cut off circulation or create blisters.

•    Warmth – will they be warm enough for winter? Or too hot for summer?

•    Waterproof – wellies should never leak, but they also need to be tall enough to keep water from going down the top – a real problem in dew-soaked grass.

•    Grip – they should offer some traction in mud.

•    The muddy walk test – uphill and down again, wellies should always be comfortable to wear; and crossing the odd muddy patch or stream should be no problem at all.

The test:

Aigle Parcours Vario Outlast (BEST IN TEST)
£125
Available in unisex



£125 is a lot to spend on a pair of wellies, so what do you get for your money. As well as a well-crafted upper, made from a long-lasting, top-quality rubber compound, these boots also have a space-age Outlast lining, which helps to maintain a comfortable temperature regardless of the temperature outside. On the test walk, they felt great, holding my foot in place nicely and gripping well on even the slimiest of descents. Sizes start at 39/6, so may not suit smaller women.

Verdict: A connoisseur’s welly that would be worth the money for someone who wears them every day.

Hunter Royal Hunter
£145
Available in unisex



The Royal Hunter is a definite cut above with a full-grain leather lining in the leg and super-cosy neoprene and fleece in the foot. They are a delight to wear, and fitted me perfectly, with adjustable calf-fittings that made them feel really quite snug. In action, I found them warm, but not at all sweaty, and they held station well on my foot, even on steep inclines or in very deep mud. They go down to 36½/4 so are good bet for girls.

Verdict: Spend the money if you’ll get the wear out of them. You’ll revel in the comfort.

Muck Tweed Boot (BEST FOR COMFORT)
£52
Available in unisex



I found the Tweed’s slightly stiffer sole unit very pleasant to walk in, and I was also glad of the toe and heel protection if offers – not so important when walking, but always good for doing jobs around the house and garden. The neoprene-style upper is stretchy and therefore super comfy around the calf, and easy to pull on over trousers and thick socks. If I had to criticise it at all, it would be the outsole, which is perfect for general going, but the tread’s a little shallow for gloopy mud.

Verdict: Great all-rounder that would be perfect with a deeper tread pattern.

Gelert Ladies Wellington Boot
£9.99
Available in men’s and women’s



These are cut much lower than the others and I didn’t find them particularly comfortable, as they had no shock absorption in the sole unit and the cuffs were quite tight. This also meant that they didn’t pull on and off very easily, and felt scratchy through my trousers.  The tread pattern is way too shallow for slippery mud and the sole itself is very thin in comparison to the rest, although there is a good heel. They have a very ‘plastic’ appearance and the woman-specific model is only available up to size 41/7.

Verdict: A cheap wellie that will do the job for gardening or occasional use

Town & Country Premium Wellington Boots (BEST VALUE)
£29.99
Available in men’s and women’s



These have a nice rugged appearance, and a really chunky sole that looks as if it would really take some wear and tear. The pair tested didn’t fit me as well as some of the others, meaning that my feet slipped about a bit on the downhill sections of the walk test, and meant that they also pulled off easily in sticky mud. But at least there was plenty of room for my toes, and they were very comfy. I really liked the grippy outsole and the excellent arch support; and also the fact that there wasn’t too much padding, meaning they didn’t get too hot.  

Verdict: A sturdy, well made boot with an excellent sole and lots of calf adjustment.

Aigle Carelie Galet
£35
Available from Barnack Country Clothing and online at www.barnack.co.uk or www.wellieboots.com
Available in women’s only



A great looking boot – loved the pebble design – but I found the sole a bit thin and bendy, and I’d personally prefer more arch support. The rubber upper is very flexible, which made it lovely and comfortable over my calves, even without any adjustment; and this was also useful for stretching over thick socks in colder weather; but on the downside, it means that they didn’t offer as much support as some of the boots on the walk test. Really liked the soft lining.

Verdict: A funky-looking, soft and comfortable boot that would be good for festivals, gardening and occasional easy walks.

Eurohike Orla Kiely Cafe Creme Wellingtons
£29.99
Available in women’s only



Whilst there’s no adjustment in the upper, the patterned rubber outer and soft neoprene inner stretch sufficiently to make these boots fit really well at the calf and ankle, even though they were perhaps a size too small for me really. On the walking test, they performed well, holding my feet in place well and coping with steep ups and downs. The neoprene liner also made sure they never felt sweaty. Sadly, the tread pattern on the outsole’s a bit lightweight for traction on really deep and slimy mud.

Verdict: Funky looking and comfortable wellies at a very good price.

Joules Women’s Welly Print (BEST FOR THE LADIES)
£29
Available in women’s only



These lively and feminine looking boots felt lighter than the Town and Country, and they held my feet more secure on the walk test, making them perfect for steep going. They were a good fit in the foot and the cuff height was absolutely perfect for me – the cuffs are also adjustable, improving comfort even further. They stayed on my feet well on the gloopy sections of the walk, but I did find the tread pattern a tad shallow for good traction in deep mud.

Verdict: A fairly priced, nicely-styled all-rounder with a good heel and plenty of cuff adjustment.

WHERE TO GET THEM
Most of the brands can be purchased at good country stores or garden centres, or online from www.thewellyshop.com or www.wellyboots.com. In addition try:

HUNTER Tel: 01387 269 591 Web: www.hunter-boot.com
JOULES Tel: 0845 6066871 Web: www.joulesclothing.com
EUROHIKE Tel. 0800 389 5861 or Millets Stores
TOWN AND COUNTRY Tel: 01530 830990 Web: www.townandco.com
GELERT  Tel: 01766 510 300 Web: www.gelert.com
MUCK Tel: 01335 372600 Web: www.thewellyshop.com
AIGLE Tel: 01780 740115 Web: www.barnack.co.uk

* This wellington boot test appears in the December 2007 issue of Which Caravan magazine. To subscribe to the magazine, click here.