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Comfort and support are also important unless you want your wellies to end up gathering dust in the loft. Look for a supportive sole that doesn’t over-flex, while also being flexible enough to not feel too “stompy”. Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud updated this article. She has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry. Along with writing about beauty, she also frequently covers fashion, wellness, and lifestyle topics. 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.
For more information on fit as well as the different materials available, see the extended buyer’s guide below our roundup. Waterproofing . That’s what wellies are for, after all. All our recommended wellington boots are waterproof, although a couple do have fabric sections on their uppers and calf sections. So, while they’ll keep water off your feet, they’re not waders! For maximum waterproofness, go for a rubber upper and sole, and Gore-Tex lining.Gerardy Cabrera is a fashion blogger, as well as the founder and CEO of the fashion brand Gerardy Global LLC. Gore-Tex is a patented lining that’s 100% waterproof and completely breathable. It’s ingenious: the membrane stops water from getting through from the outside, but does allow water vapour (eg sweat) out the other way. As well as keeping your feet dry, this also ensures comfort by cutting down on clamminess and chafing. Fab stuff.
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.There are plenty of types of wellies to choose from, too. The perfect boot for you will depend on how and why you’ll be wearing it. Do you need a short pair of slip-on wellies for taking out the bins? A warm, comfy pair that’ll protect your legs when walking the dog in the woods? Or a stylish, weatherproof, fully adjustable pair of wellies that are equally at home striding around the city and hiking up and down muddy hills? 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.