The best wellington boots are not just for getting you home from mud-soaked festivals. A great pair of wellies will keep your feet warm and dry in the garden, look great for trips to the shops, and even provide support and protection when you’re out for a hike. Forget the foot-shredding wellies you once forked out a fortune for at Glastonbury. The best wellington boots are made to wear for hours and last for years. Brashers have a heritage-inspired design that some might find a little clumpy-looking, but others (including me) find very beautiful. Beneath that classic exterior is a waterproof eVent membrane system designed to protect against all kinds of adverse conditions, including ice and snow, without making your feet feel hot. They’re pricey, but look after them and they’ll last a lifetime.

Le Chameau is a true heritage brand; it was founded in 1927, and both Prince Harry and the Princess of Wales have been pictured sporting a pair of their wellies. The Vierzonord Wellingtons come highly recommended by Hillary Bacon of Cordings, too. It’s no wonder they have the royal seal of approval; each pair of Le Chameau boots is handmade by an individual “maître bottier” (master bootmaker), and they’re understatedly stylish, with a flash of a bright blue lining, and of excellent quality. They’re made from natural rubber and come in sizes UK 2.5-14 and three colour options. I love these boots! They’re really comfortable and I feel like I could walk around all day in them no matter what I was doing…and talk about warm! My feet feel really cushioned and protected. They look stylish also, I wouldn’t mind throwing them on with jeans or dresses, definitely my favourite. – Hollie, one of our HQ testers. For more information on fit as well as the different materials available, see the extended buyer’s guide below our roundup.If you’re simply after a pair of wellies to keep your feet dry and mud-free, there’s really no need to spend hundred of pounds on a pair of designer boots. READ NEXT: Best tents The best wellington boots to buy in 2023 1. Dunlop Pricemaster Wellington Boots: Best budget wellies

It’s more than practicality now – wellies are something of a status symbol,” says welly expert Fiona Coe of Coes, an independent chain of clothing and country attire shops in Suffolk and Norfolk. That’s why so much has been made of the fact that the Princess of Wales’s favourite brand is Le Chameau (whose sales rose 36 per cent once it was known.)Having tested these on a 10 mile walk around Cornwall in that soggy time between Christmas and New Year, I can confirm they really are comfortable. I actually look forward to wearing them, and then forget they’re on my feet for most of the walk. The wellington boots are completely waterproof too - the Cornish weather tested that for me, they dry off within minutes and are easy to clean thanks to the natural rubber. Anything longer than an ankle boot will need to feel comfortable on your calves. Look for a snug fit that doesn’t wobble around while you walk, but which isn’t so tight that you can’t move comfortably. Look out for wellies with an adjustable strap on the calf, so you can change the width of the wellies depending on your own calf size. A couple of our recommended wellies have adjustable straps and flexible gussets to help you get the perfect fit. Also look for zips to help you get long wellies on and off.

But my god the soles ,have no grip virtually in very wet weather,and where you walk the crease across the boot tends to split long before it's time,I'm on my third pair,when time come,going to get some Rovex or Navitas lites.. For all of our neoprene designs and the bountiful collection of wellington boots, see our full range for both men and women. Polyurethane is used to make cheap synthetic rubber, a mainstay of budget wellies. It does a fine job of keeping the rain out and letting you stride through deep mud and puddles at festivals and while camping, but it’s not suitable for long-term use or hiking.

Here’s our pick of the best boots to keep you comfy and dry for miles while walking your four-legged friend

Neoprene is an insulating lining material for winter wellies. It’s soft, superbly waterproof, and very warm. A bit too warm for summer wellies, in fact. And it can get pricey. Fleece is a budget (and less waterproof) alternative to neoprene. Key features – Material: Leather upper, polyurethane sole, Vibram vulcanised rubber outer sole; Waterproofing: eVent; Sizes available: UK 4-12

My 11-year-old son tested these boots and took the role seriously, clambering up to the top of a wet Welsh hill, wading through shallow streams, traversing bogs, conducting a mud fight, yet these held up to it all. They’re made to be a working boot and it shows. Hunter is the welly choice of the Duchess of Cambridge, who was often spotted in the Original Tall Boot at the beginning of her relationship with Prince Harry, along with a Barbour coat and Mulberry bag.

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Brasher boots are glorious things. I’ll declare an interest here: these are my favourite walking boots and have been for about 20 years, in the city as well as the country. I found them to be instantly comfortable (certainly not something you can say for many hiking boots as solid and durable as these) and need no wearing-in whatsoever. In fact, they’re so warm and comfy that they actively make you want to go for a walk, and they’re so light and supportive that you’ll want to keep going. Your dog will be delighted! These Thermax Gusset Boots are an all-round style which function in winter under harsh conditions but are just as useful in spring and autumn. Keen’s leather walking boots are the closest you’ll get to your very own built-in paws. The waterproof full-grain leather uppers are cut and shaped to provide ample flexibility along with protection, so there’s no wearing-in or plasters needed: they’re good to go out of the box. The addition of a breathable waterproof membrane and mesh liner help to keep the water out while also staving off any clamminess or smelly feet, whatever the weather. They’re also designed to be as easy as possible to clean.