Wellies vs walking boots

[pete evans]

Was stalking in Scotland this weekend. Mixture of open hill, forestry blocks peat bog and clear fell. Couple of decent drags of hour or so too. I used my wellies and felt pretty well supported and feet warm and dry. I’m not sure at what point I would put heavy walking boots and gaiters on. I’ve tended to use walkers boots in the past but noticed that most of the lads that were guiding or doing a lot of recreational stalking were wearing wellies so followed suit. Wellies for me from now on

 

[Pedro]

Without doubt boots give more support than wellies. Although a good pair of wellies these days do give good support. So it depends on the individual. A chunkier person might need boots for more security, for example, especially if the ground is rough and varies in hardness.

Yours sincerely, a chunky person (who uses both).

 

[J.kerslake]

normally I would wear boots and gaiters, sold my Dedito boots on here recently as they were just a bit too tight and so have gone back to wearing wellies (chameau) and actually for the stalking I do they’re fine. How ever they offer basically zero ankle support so if I was going stalking on the hill some where I think I’d prefer sturdy walking boots even if they are a little heavier, got to be worth the extra weight if it saves rolling an ankle half way through your trip!

 

[ColinBr]

Boots and gaiters

 

[Beretta V]

I struggle in this area. I have tried wellies but I can’t find any good ones that keep my feet warm enough that support my ankles.
I had a bad fracture several years ago and it plays up when cold.
I have a few different walking boots and they are ok but I shoot in some wet land and can’t keep feet dry so they get cold.
Currently I’m using some cheap neoprene wellies from Aldi. They look crap but keep my feet warm and dry. They also seem to be lasting a while too.
What’s best to use is probably down to the individual!

 

[User00057]

I have always used boots for the Ankle support due to problem Ankles in the past but recently I've started wearing wellies for my foxing as the terrain isn't like when I Deer stalk. This only started as got asked to deal with some foxes and most of the farm floods so very wet ground. I think I will still use boots for my stalking though

 

[glasshalffull]

Totally depends on the wellies and how they fit

 

[Bowland blades]

Depends on the distance and ground . There is nothing good to be said for wellies when your scrambling about on rocks and boulders on steep slopes . Heck i simply would not have gone up one face two to recover Two hinds wearing anything but good boots, it was quite dicey getting up let alone the controlled decent bouncing the way through large boulders and moss . Walking on agricultural land ? sure , that's why you rarely see farmers in anything but wellies feeding cows and such.
Wellies are also noisy when negotiating grass or crop

 

[Dave_45]

Boots and properly fitted good gaiters are as waterproof as any Wellington boot with much more support and reassurance.

Saying that , I do love my viezernord winter wellies for at the geese, I don't think I would stalk deer and walk about clear fells in them.

 

[wytonpjs]

On my eighth week of stalking up on Arran the light dawned - why did the FLS ranger and BASC coordinator who do it week after week wear wellies - because Arran is so wet and they simply work! Have worn them ever since with a pair of Swazi putties covering the top so when you inevitably drop thigh deep in a bog you don’t get a boot full! True, on old heather stems they are not as good as boots but I reckon it’s better than an 80% solution

 

[Heym SR20]

Wellies are fine until your twist your ankle as fall through a bit of rough boggy ground. Then you have a very painful walk home.

It’s why those who do things on rough ground wear really sturdy boots with good foot and ankle support, and more importantly grip and the ability to get the support and grip needed to go up, down and across steep and usually slippery slopes.

And if you are worried about feet getting we, use good winter standard gaiters. Or just accept you might have damp feet, and have a change of dry socks for later in the day. Far far better to have damp feet than twisted or broken ankles, or worse and you take a tumble.

Every year several people die in the Scottish wilds. Usually they lack proper boots and clothing. That quick ramble can easily turn into a life threatening event when you take a fall, the weather turns and before you know it, the car or argocat that is 200 yards away may as well be 1,000 miles away because you have twisted an ankle, are in a lot of pain and its now ****ing with rain, freezing and 40 mph plus winds. And you have no signal in your phone and the battery is dying because of the cold.

So in short wellies and rough ground in Scotland are a bloody silly idea unless you want to feature as a footnote on BBC Scotland local news.

 

[AGR]

Wellies are fine until your twist your ankle as fall through a bit of rough boggy ground. Then you have a very painful walk home.

It’s why those who do things on rough ground wear really sturdy boots with good foot and ankle support, and more importantly grip and the ability to get the support and grip needed to go up, down and across steep and usually slippery slopes.

And if you are worried about feet getting we, use good winter standard gaiters. Or just accept you might have damp feet, and have a change of dry socks for later in the day. Far far better to have damp feet than twisted or broken ankles, or worse and you take a tumble.

Every year several people die in the Scottish wilds. Usually they lack proper boots and clothing. That quick ramble can easily turn into a life threatening event when you take a fall, the weather turns and before you know it, the car or argocat that is 200 yards away may as well be 1,000 miles away because you have twisted an ankle, are in a lot of pain and its now ****ing with rain, freezing and 40 mph plus winds. And you have no signal in your phone and the battery is dying because of the cold.

So in short wellies and rough ground in Scotland are a bloody silly idea unless you want to feature as a footnote on BBC Scotland local news.

I worked as a keeper for 35 years and wore wellies more often than not. A bit hot sometimes but always dry, and never broke or twisted an ankle. Much easier to get on and off!

 

[ColinBr]

Oh and to add to my very short reply of boots and gaiters. I can't recommend merino wool socks more to keep the feet warm and wick away sweat

 

[nun_hunter]

The less support you get from your footwear on a daily basis then the less you need when doing a bit of hiking.

Most people wear shoes that either compress the toes and give too much support so the ligaments, tendons and muscles are under developed.

If you break your leg and wear a (really supportive) cast for 6 weeks what happens to your leg and ankle? It becomes very weak and needs building up, same goes for years of wearing stylish but impractical shoes.

Wellies are great for those of us who have strong ankles and feet from developing the muscles needed for balance and strength through everyday activities in sensible footwear.

If the only times you do hiking, walking, balancing etc you wear stiff supportive boots then you'll always need them.

 

[rem284]

Boots for the hill/forest. Wellies for walking the dog around a grass field

 

[dwm]

Boots most of the time for me unless walking through wet grass then it’s muck boot wellies, they are great on the fields but I’ve nearly lost my footing a few times with those walking on concrete

 

[JTO]

Wellies can be noisy if they are not a tight fit around you legs.

 

[Tony Morgan]

Aigle Parcours Iso - snug on the ankle, very good insulation, expensive and just a bit hard to pull off!

 

[Utectok]

Long term walking in wellies fooked my ankles and feet so boots only from now on. With gaiters your feet should be just as dry

 

[ciscokid]

Can I ask what people on here wear in thick brambles. My heavy ex army boots I use for beating through bramble have finally given up and my local shoe repair man says he can't resole them. I worry about puncturing wellies.