Hunter Wellies Rubber Rainboots Review - Is It Worth It?

#isitworthit #hunterwellies #notsponsored

*CHECK OUT OUR OTHER Is It Worth It? Videos:

Our take on HUNTER WELLIES:

First of all, they're made out of vulcanized rubber, the same material that Goodyear originally patented. Generally, rain boots are either made from vulcanized rubber or from synthetic materials. While a synthetic rubber is very resistant to oils, chemicals, and fluids, it's not resistant to puncturing and cuts, however, synthetics are usually quite lightweight and insulating and because of that, they're usually paired with a more cutting and puncture resistant material on the outside. On the other hand, natural rubber resists pretty much anything except petroleum and oil-based solutions that may have an impact on its longevity. It's extremely resistant to cuts and punctures and on top of that, it offers slip resistance. Because of that, I think vulcanized rubber still today is a very good material for rain boots. The Wellies feature a very thin inexpensive polyester lining on the inside, it also comes with an adjustable buckle on the top but if you have big calves, the buckle sits too far up so it really doesn't help you to adjust the size very much. It has a nice treaded sole that provides a decent amount of grip as well as about an inch or two and a half centimeter heel. The rubber itself is quite comfortable.

So now let's look at the pros and cons. Obviously,  Hunter Wellies have a great brand history, their branding is nice, it comes to you in a beautiful box, it makes you feel important, has a little logo inside the heel, you can see the hunter brand on top of the boot. Also in my experience, it gets the job done and protects you from outside wetness and it's overall quite comfortable as long as you don't go in areas where it's very cold because the polyester and the rubber don't insulate at all.

Which brings us to the cons. Rubber is inherently non-breathable so even though a rubber boot keeps out the water, it makes you sweat inside of your boot and so if you walk a lot, you may be just as wet if the outside water gets into your regular shoes. Vulcanized rubber will also have hazing over time so you have to clean the boots. They will look old, while some people simply don't care, it's something that's not necessarily more attractive in a boot.

The big question, are Hunter Wellies rain boots worth it?

In general, I'd have to say no. In my opinion, for the average man, it simply don't warrant the price because there are not enough scenarios where you'd benefit from a boot. If you're in a countryside, it's a different ballgame and a pair of rubber boots makes sense. If you're not though, I think it's simply overkill. It seems to me that the price paid for Hunter Wellies is mostly built on brand reputation. So for $155, you get a fancy corrugated cardboard box with a little bit of history and a bright red interior. The boot itself has the Hunter logo at the bottom as well as the hunter logo on top. On the inside, you see that it has the Royal warrants as well as a field for your name and phone number in case you ever lose them, they're so big that you will never overlook them. The boots are made in China from vulcanized rubber which is the same material cheap Home Depot boots use. So I checked and you can find boots in the same material with the same lining in a very similar shape for around $40 and in terms of comfort, they're pretty much the same.

Also, there many ways to deal with the wet weather. If it's just a little bit of rain, regular leather shoes will be just fine. There are even suede leathers which have a durable water repellent coating on them so you can wear them when it gets really wet. If it's pouring, rain galoshes are great if you wear business shoes regularly or even other shoes. Otherwise, I think ankle length rubber boots are the most type of boots men will ever need. If you are a country gentleman or if you'd like to be in the outdoors and you walk in little creeks and mud, I think a pair of rubber boots is ideal but it's up to you whether you want to spend $155 for the Hunter Wellies or about forty dollars for something comparable without the brand recognition. So personally for me, the Hunter Wellies are definitely not worth it. 
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Gentleman's Gazette

[mattcartwright]

Hunters...ok but the brands I see at various country sporting events in the UK are Le Chameau, Aigle and to a lesser degree Ariat. Hunters sales are mainly being kept up by teenage girls at festivals it seems. Good vid.

[redcat]

Very few guys here in the U.S. wear tall boots to begin with, unless they are in construction or Landscaping, thus it is either fashion or function. I have a pair of Argyll boots made by Hunter also a pair of Le Cheameau Cerres boots. I wear them as needed. Both are really good boots to have, and yes, I'm a Guy.

[charlie_u.k.]

Iconic British boots with a "Made in china" stamp on them, that just SCREAMS quality!!!
Such a shame!

[danielgullotta]

Is It Worth It? Barbour Jacket (Made in England version).

[maryannemoll]

I’ve used Hunters since about 2010. I was still able to get the ones that were not made in China. I was able to get a lot of use from it, but over time the leather hardens, especially on the lug sole, and it eventually tears when you flex your foot.

Did not buy a Made in China Hunter anymore. Moved on to Le Chameau, made in Morocco. They have much better reviews regarding longevity, performance, and comfort.

[andysparks]

OK, great series of videos, very entertaining but you've missed the mark on this one. Firstly you've reviewed the very basic Hunter boot here and yet you're comparing them to "high end" other brands, Hunter do make neoprenen lined boots, leather lined boots and even boots with Goodyear sole but you've not compared apples with apples. I completely agree the basic boot you've reviewed is overpriced, even more so if you're paying $150 for a pair in the U.S. In addition since production of the basic boot was moved from Scotland to China the quality has become worse, when made in the UK the boot was made in one piece but now made in two pieces and there are issues with them splitting. Some of the better models are still made in the UK and are extremely good and good value although more Have another go at pronouncing Edinborough.

[chedleicester]

Continuing the English trend of this series, do you think you would be willing to do a video on Barbour jackets?

[Chris_Wald]

I personally have a pair of Härkila hunting boots, I find they give me more support that the boots featured in the video. I use them for walking (when it gets colder) and hunting, they alsowork great with tweed.

[mrpink]

I just think Hunter boots, particularly the glossy black and red versions, look incredibly sexy on women. I guess that's their best use these days, as a fashion accessory. I do still have an old green pair made in Scotland with the old logo that I bought in 2005 and they're still holding up well today.

[auto_math]

Aigle, hands down the best rubber boots, my grand father bought some in the sixties went hunting, picked mushrooms, gardened with it. The rubber only started to wear out in the late 90's.

[yashav]

Good solution for "building a costume" around is the l.l Bean duck boot. A much nicer pick - which I highly recommend

[DSilsbury]

I have a pair of originals that must be 30 years old still going, but they're basic and too thin at the calf now, my son used them, now he's grown out. I then bought 2 pairs of the Balmoral, top of the range boots, and both perished within a year. Wouldn't go near them now, they're for fashion and festivals. Aigle now because they're better value than Le Chameau.

[davecharette]

what i find that is good about them is that the long ones protect the pants from getting wet from the side if your walking and their rain and wind. because the umbrella just stops the rain from the top and from parts of the side but when its windy even with a trench coat my pants get wet at the bottom so i figure with longer boots i should e protected.

[karolinska]

At 1:20 when referring to the germans of WW1, you showed a picture of SS men from WW2.

[asdfasdfartsdfg]

They sell nice, industrial rubber boots at hardware stores; and, I considered getting a pair, until seeing a warning label on the packaging, which said that it contained chemicals known to cause cancer...

[Erikht]

Hunter Wellies worth it? Coming from Bergen, Norway, I will say that vulcanized rubber is an absolute 150 days a year, when the annual rainfall exceeds 100 inches. When it comes to Barbour jackets, they are fine as long as it doesn't actually rain.

[justincaseDK]

My Aigle boots, which are hand made in France, are far superior to these 'Made in China'-boots... Not even a question, when you compare the quality.

[drewwilson]

Defiantly do the same review but with a pair of le chameau

[berotor]

Rubber wellies: an essencial item for every Venetian gentleman!

[kieranheathcote]

I bought two pairs of Hunter Wellington boots last year for my wife and I, I live in the UK and ordered from their UK site. The boots that I received are made in Indonesia and have lasted well in the rural area where I live. The leather and not cracked or warped and I find them comfortable to wear. I wear mine with a lambskin inner sole and with thick wool socks when it is cold.
I wasn't aware that Hunter has become known as a fashion brand. If this is the case then I am disappointed.