WELLIES FOR WALKIES

Arctic Sport Welly, The Original Muck Boot Company, The best weather-beating Wellington boots for squelching about in the countryside

The best weather-beating Wellington boots for countryside rambles.

£125, muckbootcompany.co.uk

This beast of a boot looks and feels like it could walk you safely through the apocalypse, which has been a reassuring thought lately. It can certainly handle winter conditions, no matter how severe things get. A unisex design, the tall Arctic Sport Welly is a clever combination of a durable rubber lower boot topped with a GU foam upper, all lined with 5mm neoprene, which combines with the stretch-fit top-line binding to pull the neck of the boot in close around your calves, keeping out cool draughts and cold splashes.

It also boasts a soft fleece lining, and there’s an extra layer of thermal foam in the underlay for additional warmth. The moulded EVA midsole feels cushioned, and despite the robust nature of all the components, they’re not as heavy as you might expect (1,209g for a single men’s size 11), and are comfortable to walk in. The sole is super chunky with large lugs for good grip and it features reinforced spots on the toe, heel, instep and Achilles areas. The extension of the sole around the top of the heel helps when taking them off, and there’s a hoop for pulling them on. They’re available in black, moss and maroon. VERDICT 9/10

Balmoral Tall Wellington Boots with zip, Hunter, £195, hunterboots.com

A right royal boot, the Balmoral looks absolutely majestic – but it doesn’t mind getting dirty. Made for mud, the outer is handcrafted from natural rubber and lined with a 3mm-thick neoprene inner for reasonable warmth. The full-length zip means it’s a cinch to put on, and de-booting is made even easier by the pronounced kick spur on the heel. They are 100% waterproof thanks to a full-length expanding gusset that runs between the zip and the neoprene lining, and a popper prevents the zip coming undone. The Balmoral has a heavy duty, robustly stitched-on Vibram outsole, offering the same amount of grip and performance you’d expect from a top-quality hiking boot. It is not light, at 1,375g per boot (women’s size 7), and the fit is slim and high (not ideal for people with short legs or wide calves). Interchangeable 3mm and 5mm insoles can be swapped to suit your feet, and the midsole offers decent levels of shock absorption. It’s available for men and women in dark olive, and also in black and navy for women. VERDICT 9/10

Men’s Bede Wellingtons, Barbour, £65, barbour.com

A classic Wellington from a well-respected brand with deep roots in the British countryside, these boots address one of the perennial problems with the welly: how to get them off without smearing muck over your socks and whatever surface you’re attempting use as an impromptu boot-jack. The kick-spur on the back of the heel enables wearers to de-welly with ease. Other features on this boot (available in black and navy) include a calf buckle, although this feels more decorative than practical as there’s no gusset. The sole seems durable, and the underfoot grip (deep troughs at the front, with backward-facing chevrons on the heel to act as brakes when descending) is unspectacular looking but extremely effective in the field. The uppers are made with vulcanised rubber, attractively lined with Barbour’s signature tartan. They’re not especially warm, and the inner is cotton, which adds no thermal qualities, especially when wet. The Bede is marketed for men, with the closest Barbour boot for women being the better-featured, neoprene-lined, gusseted Amble (£80). VERDICT 7/10

Viking Wide Calf Wellington Boot, Gumleaf, £115, gumleaf.com

Designed to accommodate people with bigger calves, the unisex Viking is very adjustable and you don’t need to have legs like Schwarzenegger to appreciate this excellent boot. The strap on the back of the boot is not just for show (unlike a few others); it combines with a concertina gusset to enable the wearer to achieve a properly snug fit around the calf, which prevents cold air getting in and stops the ingress of grit, snow and splashes of muck and mud. The standout feature of this boot is the durable Vibram sole – something you would typically see on a high-quality hiking boot as opposed to a welly – which gives it excellent grip in all kinds of conditions. The high-quality rubber outer of the Viking is entirely lined with a layer of 4mm neoprene (including a stitched-in-place inner sole), which makes it very snug and warm (Gumleaf claims comfort levels down to -10°C). It’s a handsome boot that comes in one colour: dark green with a brown trim. VERDICT 8/10

Women’s Paninaro Omni-Heat Tall Boot, Columbia, £125, columbiasportswear.co.uk

With 200g of insulation in its padded upper sides, the Paninaro is closer to a snow boot than a welly. But it is an up-to-the-knee waterproof boot, albeit one for wintry months only. A zipper and pull loop make it easy to take off. The midsole has a moulded EVA footbed, which absorbs the impact of footfall like a cushion and returns energy with interest, so these lightweight boots are good for longer walks. The outer sole is made with grippy high-traction rubber, although the lugs struggle in deep mud. The comfort levels and warmth rating, however, are both exceptional. VERDICT 7/10

Solognac Warm Short Wellies, Decathlon, £18, decathlon.co.uk

These wallet-friendly boots feature a removable fleece inner so warm that wearers can comfortably stand still for half an hour at -12°C, according to Decathlon. They are so well insulated they’d be too warm outside the coldest months; and minus the inner they’d probably be too big. The inner is integrated to the boot via a rather flimsy pull-loop; it’s essential for getting the boots on and off, but it soon came away in my hand as I pulled them on. Designed for fishing and frosty walks, these boots are reasonably light and have decent grip, with soles studded with deep lugs. Available in black only for men, women and children. VERDICT 5/10

W Veierland 3, Helly Hansen, £70, hellyhansen.com

A stylish woman’s boot from this rugged wet-weather Norwegian brand, which in this case has prioritised fashion at least as highly as functionality. The upper is made from good-quality rubber with a wafer-thin brushed lining, and it features an elasticated expansion slit on the calf, covered with a decorative circular buckle. These are pleasingly light boots with a midsole made from EVA – a material often found in technical running and walking shoes and boots, which improves comfort and performance while reducing weight. The tread comprises densely packed lugs that tend to clog with mud, reducing grip. VERDICT 6/10

WonderWelly, Fitflop, £90, fitflop.com

These comfy boots have a classic look, but there’s a superpower hidden in the heel and cleverly contoured sole. The unique ‘honeycomb heel’ absorbs the impact of foot strike, and the springy forefoot propels your upward step, literally putting a bounce in your stride. This is noticeable and nice on hard ground (but wellies are obviously worn most often in soft muddy conditions). Other features include brushed-fabric lining, slip-resistant sole and a calf strap and gusset, offering easy adjustability. Pitched primarily at women – the size range is 3–9 UK – they size generously, leaving room for thick socks. Available in black, red, grey and navy. VERDICT 7/10