Smellingtons....

[knighty]

I've got to agree..... they're all rubbish these days !

we get through a lot of them at work... doesn't matter the make, they all split, either on the sole or on the curve just behind your toes where the top curves down to the side

I've taken to waiting for them to be on special offer and then buying 50 pairs at a time,  the manager in the local ARCO branch phones me when they have some cheap ones in - normally about £3 a pair !

if we run out cheap ones, it's about £15 a time for the next cheapest ones.... and they don't last any longer... we've tried them all from £3 to £50 and it makes no difference

[desperate]

Try some "Blunnys" Aussies finest and no laces to muck about with, not quite gumbies but pretty waterproof anyway.

Desp

[Philip R]

When I lived in Somerset, Mole Valley Farmers stocked some good wellies. Good quality and well priced under £10. (Oct 2009). Alas, Cheshire has no comparable outlet in the same league as MVFs.

Years ago I had a pair of Uniroyal safety wellies with a steel toe caps. They were good.

On the subject of Rigger boots, some employers don't approve of their use, citing high incidence of ankle twisting.

Reminds me of an old rhyme from work:

I wish I was a welder and wear a funny hat.
I can ponse about in Riggers boots and look a proper twat.

I digress!!

I have a pair of Rigger boots too. (But no Middle eastern tea towel or Mickey Mouse hat for headwear), from Arco, quite comfortable but a bit wide across the foot. Wheras wellies can be a bit narrow or tight across the top of foot, making difficult to remove without removing your socks at the same time.

[dtl]

A large blob of Tigerseal will repair a tear in a welly, although this does not provide a cosmetically attractive finish.

[martin]

Just received delivery of a pair of what are to all and intents and purposes a pair of green Hunter wellies that cost me a princely £18 inc vat and delivery....... They're branded "Lowther", and come from the company that makes Hunters... (from the big butch womans's site! )  -just Google "Lowther Wellies".

As we live in the sticks, we tend to "live" in wellies at this time of year, so I splashed out!

[Heinz]

I've got a pair of black Dunlop ribbed wellies from the local agri supply pace at the cattle market. They've survived ten? years or use and only recently split at the sides behind the toes where they flex. I tried various solvents and glues to see what would stick them and nothing worked until I tried the wee tube of PVC glue which came with an airbed. Got some in the cracks, and a wee smear of it over the top and left to dry for a day. They've been fine for a month or so now... 

H

[mikey9]

Another vote for Shoo Goo.

I am using to stick the soles (toes come adrift) from Camper Shoes (rubber soles to Leather!!) back on. Hopefully will extend life by another 6 months to a year.

We are going to try on leaky wellies next.

[numenius]

Argyles for me - proper "farmers" wellies sort of thing and they last me for absolutely years and are not so cold as my wifes fancy "horsey" type (you know the ones I mean - mentioned elsewhere on here with the pointless strap thing at the top - they always seem to leak within about 6 months and split within a year), despite me wearing mine probably 10 days to her one and almost constantly at this time of year. I think in the last 20 years I've bought 2 pairs, and that's only been 'cos I've cut a manky big hole in the first pair. In fact, this current pair I've almost worn the tread away, which considering they are almost only used on grass and mud, tells you the sort of mileage I get out of them. I think they are proper rubber too as they flex without splitting even when old. My chainsaw wellies are actually marked as beiung made from natural rubber, though they are too heavy for general use. Thinking about it, I have more pairs of wellies than I have dress shoes!