Caring for Wellington Boots

Durability

One of the biggest issues we face is that of longevity, the soft natural rubber that wellingtons tend to be made from are great for lightness and flexibility but not so good for durability. In a non-barefoot wellington you can improve durability by increasing the thickness of the sole and the height of the heel to give more rubber to wear through. This just isn’t an option for a barefoot wellington where you want the thinnest possible sole. This soft rubber and thinner sole, combined with a zero or minimal heel rise, means that there is a lot less wear resistance in the sole and a lot less material to wear through before causing problems with leakage. It is important therefore to understand where, and where not, to use your wellingtons and how to care for them.

Recommended Use

Most wellingtons are designed for occasional use on softer surfaces such as grass and mud and using them this way will get the maximum wear out of your boots. We never recommend wellingtons for extended periods of regular use or for use on hard surfaces such as tarmac. If you are using your wellingtons a lot, particularly walking on hard or abrasive surfaces, then you need to look for a more durable option. We recommend the Mikk-Line Thermal Boots as these have a thicker sole and will be harder wearing. Alternatively use a walking boot or other water-resistant boot with a more robust sole material such as the Vivobarefoot Fulham Rubber or Primus Boots, or the Bobux Aspen or PLAE Kaiden (due in shortly).

Storing your Wellington Boots

One of the most important things you can do to maximise the life of your boots is not to leave them outside in direct sunlight or store them anywhere with extremes of heat and cold as this will cause the rubber to perish and crack. Make sure you store out of the weather in an ambient temperature environment to prevent cracking. Make sure you store your boots upright, so they aren't folded over as this will cause the boots to split on the folds. Ideally using a shoe tree to hold upright or a welly boot stand to support upside down.

Caring for your Wellington Boots

To clean your boots just wipe with warm water and a soft cloth. If they are wet inside stuff them with newspaper and leave to dry out in a well ventilated warm room. Never leave them on, or near, a direct heat source such as a radiator, fire or Aga. Again this will cause perishing and cracking.

If you have any problems or queries please do get in touch with our experienced Customer Service team. They have been advising on suitability of different boots for many years and can help you find the perfect pair for yourself and little one.