Is It Worth It: Hunter Wellies

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Let us thoroughly break down the Hunter Wellies rain boots, arguably one of the most well-known rain boots in the world. Some people also refer to them as Wellingtons but wellies is the common terminology.

Hunter Wellies History

North British Rubber Company
 ow known as Hunter Boot Limited for its rubber Wellington boots. [Image Credit: K-online]

Hunter today is a famous British heritage brand associated with all kinds of rain gear, they are based in Scotland. Originally, they formed as a North British Rubber Company in 1856 so they’re over 150 years old. Ironically, the company was founded by two American entrepreneurs. Actually, they went to Scotland looking to produce vulcanized rubber boots and overshoes or galoshes and at the time, there was a patent held by Goodyear. Yes, the same Goodyear from the tires.

WWI Rubber Boots
British Armies wearing rubber boots during The Battle of Passchendaele [Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons]

By WWI, the company produced about 1.2 million rubber boots for the British Army and it is said that the German soldiers envied them for the boots. It’s even said it was directly connected to the successes of the British Army because it helped prevent the trench foot in the trenches, it was cold, it was wet, and because of that, the feet of soldiers actually started to decay.

Soldiers with trench foot in the background
Soldiers with trench foot in the background [Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons]

With rubber boots and wooden planks on the floor, soldiers were able to prevent that from happening. On the other hand, the Germans didn’t have the vulcanized rubber boots and so they suffered more on their feet. Of course, Hunter also produced rubber boots for the British Army in WWII but once the war was over, they had become more acceptable for public wear which was great for the company. The big advantage of the boots was that they were sturdy and very enduring. It was hard to cut them and so people who were used to rationing for food, clothing, and materials really enjoyed a sturdy boot that was hard wearing and would last them for a long time.

Hunter Wellies in black
Hunter Wellies in black

Today, the most famous rubber boot is the Hunter Wellies. It has been produced ever since 1955 and it still enjoys popularity especially with the country gentlemen in Britain, as well as people who would like to emulate their lifestyle. In 1976, the Duke of Edinburgh awarded a royal warrant to Hunter and the Queen followed in 1986. Obviously, it had an impact on British society and by the 80s, it became the quintessential British country boot and was part of every proper gentleman’s country attire.

In the following decades, the company changed hands a number of times and in the 2000s, it almost went bankrupt, however, some smart marketing people came in and decided to focus on the heritage brand as well as the fashion aspect and today, they’re once again very popular in Britain, as well as in the US, and around the world. Obviously, the number of country gentlemen is rather limited and so today, the target market for Hunter Wellies are gardeners, festival goers, or people who like outdoors a lot whether it’s fishing, or hunting, shooting, and all those kinds of activities.

A flashy logo
A flashy logo

Boot Breakdown

First of all, they’re made out of vulcanized rubber, the same material that Goodyear originally patented. Generally, rain boots are either made from vulcanized rubber or from synthetic materials. While a synthetic rubber is very resistant to oils, chemicals, and fluids, it’s not resistant to puncturing and cuts, however, synthetics are usually quite lightweight and insulating and because of that, they’re usually paired with a more cutting and puncture resistant material on the outside.

Rubber boots close-up
Vulcanized rubber

On the other hand, natural rubber resists pretty much anything except petroleum and oil-based solutions that may have an impact on its longevity. It’s extremely resistant to cuts and punctures and on top of that, it offers slip resistance. Because of that, I think vulcanized rubber still today is a very good material for rain boots.

Comes With A Cheap Lining

The Wellies feature a very thin inexpensive polyester lining on the inside, it also comes with an adjustable buckle on the top but if you have big calves, the buckle sits too far up so it really doesn’t help you to adjust the size very much.

The sole provides good grip
The sole provides good grip

Decent Grip

It has a nice treaded sole that provides a decent amount of grip as well as about an inch or two and a half centimeter heel. The rubber itself is quite comfortable.

Clunky & Inelegant

In terms of looks, they’re slightly different than what you can get at a home depot or an outdoor store but at the end of the day, they’re not that different. It also comes in green, I have the version in black.

Hunter Wellies packaging
Hunter Wellies packaging

What’s Great About Hunter Wellies?

Obviously,  Hunter Wellies have a great brand history, their branding is nice, it comes to you in a beautiful box, it makes you feel important, has a little logo inside the heel, you can see the hunter brand on top of the boot. Also in my experience, it gets the job done and protects you from outside wetness and it’s overall quite comfortable as long as you don’t go in areas where it’s very cold because the polyester and the rubber don’t insulate at all.

Comes with adjustable buckles that I find not too helpful for men with big calves
Comes with adjustable buckles that I find not too helpful for men with big calves

Hunter Wellies Cons

  • Rubber is inherently non-breathable so even though a rubber boot keeps out the water, it makes you sweat inside of your boot and so if you walk a lot, you may be just as wet if the outside water gets into your regular shoes.
  • Vulcanized rubber will also have hazing over time so you have to clean the boots. They will look old, while some people simply don’t care, it’s something that’s not necessarily more attractive in a boot.
Hunter Wellies sole marking
The year the company was established
  • The Hunter Wellies are quite large and so for most men, I’d say they’re overkill unless you live in the countryside where you stand in mud for more than a foot.
  • Compared to other premium brands like Le Chameau from France, this rubber boot is not well insulated and will make your feet cold when it’s very cold outside close to freezing.
  • The side adjusters are a nice addition to something you generally don’t find on most inexpensive rubber boots, however, they don’t let you adjust the width in the area where it’s most needed, especially for men with big calves.
  • The front cap of the wellies have a kind of a wing cap that makes you look almost like you have steel caps in your boots even though that’s not the case.

So looking at all the materials in detail, Hunter Wellies is definitely expensive for what you get especially considering that other brands offer the same materials at a lower price point.

Are Hunter Wellies Rain Boots Worth It?

In general, I’d have to say no. In my opinion, for the average man, it simply doesn’t warrant the price because there are not enough scenarios where you’d benefit from this boot. If you’re in a countryside, it’s a different ballgame and a pair of rubber boots makes sense. If you’re not though, I think it’s simply overkill. It seems to me that the price paid for Hunter Wellies is mostly built on brand reputation.

On the inside of the boot you will see the Royal Warrants and your info field
On the inside of the boot, you will see the Royal Warrants and your info field

So for $155, you get a fancy corrugated cardboard box with a little bit of history and a bright red interior. The boot itself has the Hunter logo at the bottom as well as the hunter logo on top. On the inside, you see that it has the Royal warrants as well as a field for your name and phone number in case you ever lose them, they’re so big that you will never overlook them. The boots are made in China from vulcanized rubber which is the same material cheap Home Depot boots use.

Home Depot boots you can get for a lot less
Home Depot boots you can get for a lot less [Image Credit: Home Depot]

So I checked and you can find boots in the same material with the same lining in a very similar shape for around $40 and in terms of comfort, they’re pretty much the same. Yes, of course, you don’t get the cachet and the brand history with it but in my opinion, it’s not worth paying almost four times the price for that compared to other premium rubber boots like Le Chameau. I think the Hunter Wellies just don’t offer enough.

The Le Chameau Boots – A Better Option

The Le Chameau boots, for example, have different versions for around the same price or a little more for about $175, you’ll find a version that has a three millimeter thick neoprene lining which is the same material used for wetsuits when you go diving, for example, and it keeps your feet warm and absorbs moisture in a way. So I find that to be a much more comfortable boot. It also seems that the buckle on top is a little deeper and they even offer a version that is all leather lined. That being said, that costs five hundred dollars and it’s a different price range. Maybe we’ll make another video about that one in the future.

In recent years I’ve seen lots of women building outfits around their red or yellow Hunter Wellies. For men, on the other hand, I think it’s a lot more difficult and frankly, I’ve never come up with a good look that I was happy with.

Also, there many ways to deal with the wet weather. If it’s just a little bit of rain, regular leather shoes will be just fine. There are even suede leathers which have a durable water repellent coating on them so you can wear them when it gets really wet. If it’s pouring, rain galoshes are great if you wear business shoes regularly or even other shoes.

If you are a country gentleman or if you’d like to be in the outdoors and you walk in little creeks and mud, I think a pair of rubber boots is ideal but it’s up to you whether you want to spend $155 for the Hunter Wellies or about $40 for something comparable without the brand recognition. So personally for me, the Hunter Wellies are definitely not worth it. 

Outfit Rundown

Sven Raphael in a rain outfit.
Sven Raphael in a rain outfit.

I am wearing a rain outfit of course with the hunter wellies rain boots in black combining them with jeans tucked into the boots I have a regular dress shirt on button-down without any neckwear and a rain jacket it’s kind of a motorcycle-style jacket that is made of cotton with a durable water-repellent so it’s breathable yet it keeps me dry.

What do you think of Hunter Wellies? Drop a comment below!

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Reader Comments

  1. I have a pair of Hunters that are so old, they were made in Scotland. With proper care, they have lasted for decades, though they are no longer my go-to rain gear. I recently picked up a pair of Hunter Balmoral Field boots at Nordstrom Rack for half price. The Vibram sole and two different footbed sizes make for a very nice working rain boot in SW Florida. But, my favorite rubber boot is one discontinued by Beretta. Essentially, it’s a Le Chameau knockoff, lined with leather, full zip and a very aggressive sole. They wear like a soft loafer even as they are heavier and more robust than La Chameau. But when they wear out, I’m sure I will turn to La Chameau.

    I am the news director of a local TV station. I stress proper rain gear for everyone, and yes, the boots at Home Depot and Lowe’s are cheap and durable, if not a little weird in white, which is often the only color in stock. But, for journalists working their first jobs out of college, the price is right.

  2. Over all, I will agree with your assessment. People often make decisions on a style/practical level. I am still looking for the right boot. Try this on for size, I am a funeral director and our cemetery is a green-eco friendly hillside in Northern California. I am constantly going from leather sole shoes to some sort of boot. I have off brand rain boots with a strong sole that are great to tuck the pant leg into, keeping them clean rain or shine. I’m still looking for the right hybrid that will be acceptable in and outdoors. Luckily, Northern California is forgiving when it comes to style and dress. For now, I will save the extra money from boots with a story.

  3. Hunter boots are a rip-off: daylight rubbery (sorry, could not resist that one). The price is ridiculous, considering the company outsourced its production to China in 2008. Needless to say that the retail price did not drop – they still come with a huge price tag, so the move was just a matter of greed and maximising profits.
    When in the early 1980ies Lady Di was spotted wearing them, Hunter quickly became a fashion item among the “Sloane Rangers” of the day. Ever since that time the company has gone downhill as they have sold out to the trendy brigade and have forgotten what their core market was. Wellies favoured by models, actresses, fashion designers or premier league footballers– but no longer worn by farmers, hunters, fishermen, walkers or simply by the ordinary dog lover. Style over substance. But the real decline set in when the company moved to China: since 2008 quality has been deteriorating, complaints have been pouring in and their customer service “leaves room for improvement” too. So now Hunters have become a supposedly traditional British brand (yet another!) made in China – and their wellies are worn by traditional country gentlemen… like David Beckham and traditional country ladies…like Kate Moss.
    If you are prepared to spend that sort of money on what is really just an item of basic footwear and if you want to buy at the high end of the market, have a look at “Aigle” or “Le Chameau” instead, both superior to the Hunter. If you’re looking for cheaper yet durable wellies, consider “Cotswolds” which retail in the region of 60-80 GBP. If you don’t care whether your wellies are quintessentially British, try “Dikamars”, made in Portugal, not necessarily worn by the rich and famous, but by fishermen and farmers. Or if you want your wellies just to be wellies, an ordinary Dunlop is up to the job as well. Apart from that why not try a no name product? Any agricultural supply store stocks plenty. As for myself, I still have several pairs of no-nonsense wellies I bought from small Scottish outfitters “Hoggs of Fife”. I aquired them many moons ago and they have given me many years of loyal service.

    1. Hatfield, I second the French companies, and have a pair of Aigles myself. As noted in the article, they’re really for country walking. In the UK, you see wellies everywhere in the countryside–people dog walking, for example.

  4. I agree with your conclusion re:Hunter. However my alternative suggestion is Aigle. Both my wife and I have a pair(s). I spend time gardening / dog walking etc and she wears her’s whilst around horses. Incredibly comfortable and very warm in winter (esp: Parcours 2 ISO version). Best wellies I have ever owned. Not cheap but worth the money in my opinion, and ideal for our English climate.

    1. Andrew, I agree. I like the Parcours Vario from Aigle. Very comfortable albeit slightly large for my size.

  5. I would suggest Dubarry boots as an alternative. They are lined with Gor-Tex for water proofing, and the outsides are a very stylish leather combination. I have used them as general foul weather boots and while hunting. Could not ask for a better boot.

  6. Greetings,

    As is true of watches or any other premium product, the question remains, “Is it worth it to you?”

    $155.00 is a comparatively small price for a great pair of serviceable boots.

    Living in the Pacific Northwest, good boots come in handy for a number of applications.

    So, I think Hunter boots are a sound investment.

    Sincerely,

    Andrew Gregg.

  7. I’d like to see a comparison of rubber overshoes. Lots of us go somewhere looking great when it’s dry and find it’s pouring when it’s time to leave, and end up with soaked, squishy shoes.

  8. A well produced commentary. I wish you might address in a future article wearing wool socks rolled over the outside of these Wellies and proper wear of flashes. As an aside, I found Muck boots made of neoprene a good alternative that are also much warmer.

  9. I agree with your conclusion. Too expensive for what they are I really don’t like the huge “Hunter” logo on the outside of the boots.

    I bought some no brand “gumboots” at Woolworths 38 years ago for wearing when location filming in the country. They are still going strong.

  10. On a sidenote, Sven Raphael Schneider, as we are talking about waterproof boots…maybe a good idea for a future commentary. I’d value your opinion on yet another waterproof classic: the L. L. Bean boots from Maine, the ones with a rubber bottom and leather bootlegs. They are quintessentially New England footwear and with the advent of “Preppie Style” this side of the pond you could from time to time see people wearing these “hunting” or “duck boots”, though usually not the L. L. Bean originals but flimsy copies with a short bootleg, suited for having a ‘latte macchiato’, but definitely not up to the job in rugged terrain. Out of curiosity I once bought a pair of medium-priced hunting boots (can’t remember the brand). Yes, they were sturdy enough, but I found them not very comfortable as unlike with wellies the rubber bottom was pretty stiff, so cross-country walking soon became a somewhat painful experience. What do you think of the L. L. Bean original?

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