Boots or Wellies?

[Deer Assassin]

Just wondered how many of you out there stalk in wellies as opposed to boots?

Was out with a friend stalking last week & he was surprised to see that i do all my stalking in a pair of tight fitting le chameu wellies, be it on the hill, woods, fields etc.

I get the argument for a pair of loose fitting wellies not providing enough ankle support, but ive just never found wellies a problem even in the toughest terrain.

Whats your thoughts?

 

[dingwall_dave]

Wellies in Caithness. If this drought thing is happening, we havn't seen it here...

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

Boots (glockner) in Wicklow, wellies for the rest. The farmland I stalk over is WET in the winter time.

 

[ELRIG]

you must be one of the ''Wellie boot boys'' from the west

Its an old skool thing not wearing wellies on the hill I think is form when wellies were crap, The Le chameu's can be abit slippy on wet heather but there's just as much ankle support as a short pair of boots. In the summer I wear hoggs hill shoes or hill boots and there's absolutely no ankle support.

I know lads from the west that wear them all the time on the hill because its so wet.

 

[Hibrion]

Wellies for stalking as it is generally wet 90% of the season. I wear Aigle neoprene lined wellies and find them great.
In the summer while out bunny bashing I just wear boots.

 

[Conor1]

I wouldnt go hiking in the hills in a pair of Welles, nor would i go stalking in a pair of Wellies.....the hills I stalk in require proper walking boots. Sometimes the stalk is tantamount to mountain climbing.

 

[Steyer 6.5]

Depends how wet it is 90% douvre extreme or lowa mountain combats with yeti gaiter. If swampy wellies.

 

[Overlay]

Grubb short rubber lace up boots, vibram sole for under 90 squids - perfick all rounder

 

[mudman]

Wellies.

 

[scotspine]

I hate wellies so its Meindl Douvre boots all year round for me. I like to tie my trousers to top of boots to keep ticks/water out so the lace eyes stop trousers from sliding off boots. I did try wellies many years ago but my ankles ached all day plus trousers wouldn't stay put for more than five mins at a time! Oh, and I also got covered in ticks from falling over 1000 times...did I say I hate wellies

 

[pilgrimmick]

I have meindle Dover extreme boots and agile wellies. Use them both depending on the amount of water about. The only thing is I would not go into the mountains in wellies, fine on a hill and close to roads but let's be honest, who wants to be on the news being picked up with a helicopter while the local 'expert' says you were not prepared for the conditions.

 

[d foxxer]

i got a pair of german chainsaw boots that i do most if not all my hunting in i keep em oiled in neatsfoot they are soft an supple fit like two gloves

 

[trouble]

what ever works for you , ive had days on Shap where a set of chest waders would have done

 

[groach1234]

stalking at home tends to be le chameaus as its just so much easier to get them on sand off but if on the hill has to be boots for me as i find you get far more ankle support.

George

 

[Clive1967]

I've been using Wellies for all my beating, stalking and shooting for years with no problems

 

[triggersqueezer]

a good pair of boots every time.mine are high legged totally waterproof chainsaw boots.

 

[User00003]

I've found I cover a lot more ground with more confidence and get less tired when I wear boots on the hill rather than wellies. I do struggle to keep dry for a full day though, and if it's pouring, I'll still go with the wellies, or in the winter when the peat hags are half frozen muddy sludge that will penetrate any goretex and then freeze your feet solid! LOL...

some of the hills I cover in argyll are not good for wellies, far to rocky and steep and in the wet can be far to dangerous in wellies. mind, my father has stalked the highland hills for over 40 years in wellies and only had a handful of twisted ankles....however, get a seriously twisted ankle far enough out, and the freezing fog comes in, it can cost you your life.

 

[Haggis Hunter]

Wellies for me. The hill where I stalk is just too wet for boots. Poor ankle protection, but, with a bit of care/luck I've not come unstuck yet.
hh

 

[bogtrotter]

I've found I cover a lot more ground with more confidence and get less tired when I wear boots on the hill rather than wellies. I do struggle to keep dry for a full day though, and if it's pouring, I'll still go with the wellies, or in the winter when the peat hags are half frozen muddy sludge that will penetrate any goretex and then freeze your feet solid! LOL...

some of the hills I cover in argyll are not good for wellies, far to rocky and steep and in the wet can be far to dangerous in wellies. mind, my father has stalked the highland hills for over 40 years in wellies and only had a handful of twisted ankles....however, get a seriously twisted ankle far enough out, and the freezing fog comes in, it can cost you your life.

Get a good pair of boots and a good pair of gaitors [yeti] as waterproof as any wellies

 

[Bavarianbrit]

The yank magazines were always trumpeting in the late 90s that wellys are not transferring so much scent to the ground area as huntin boots do so scare off less game??????.
I see their theory but for practicality for me, it depends on the terrain.
martin