Wellingtons for standing still in. A stalker's boot is chosen for walking; a wellington is chosen for the peg, the flight pond, the yard and the wet ground where a leather boot simply loses.
Neoprene lining is the main decision. Le Chameau's Vierzonord and Chasseur and the Hoggs Field Sport are neoprene-lined — warm standing still, which is exactly what a driven day or a morning flight asks of a boot. An unlined or thinly lined welly is cooler and better for walking, spring lambing, yard work and summer stalking. If your feet go cold on a peg, the lining is the answer, not another pair of socks.
Calf fit matters more than people expect. A welly that gapes at the calf lets cold air pump in and out with every step, and one that is tight over breeks or thick socks will be miserable by lunchtime. Several Le Chameau models are offered in different calf widths and with an adjustable gusset — check the width before the size.
Sizing. Continental brands run to EU sizing and the conversions are not always what you would guess. Where a boot is listed in both, go by the EU figure and allow room for a thick sock; a welly worn with a thin sock in summer and a heavy one in January needs to accommodate both.
Getting them to last. Rubber perishes from ozone, heat and UV, not from mud. Rinse them off, dry them away from a radiator, and store them out of direct sunlight. Cracking at the ankle flex is nearly always a storage problem.
Le Chameau, Aigle and Hoggs of Fife are the ranges held here, in men's and ladies' fits.
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