Quality Wellies For Women

I have an old green calf- length pair of wellington boots passed on by my daughter who outgrew them many years ago. They are functional and perfect for running out to a rain-soaked garden or for putting out the rubbish. However, wellies have come a long way, as I found out, when researching rain boots for this article.

Rain boots can be ankle length, knee high, wide- calf for a more comfortable fit and they can be bright and beautiful and very funky. Some cost a fair amount of money but you can also buy inexpensive, yet attractive rain boots. They can be sophisticated to wear with work clothes, way-out and psychedelic for music festivals or cozy and insulated for cold weather trekking.

There are also a wide range of wellie socks that fold over the top of your wellies to keep your feet warm and toasty. I hope you enjoy reading all about wonderful wellies.

Wellington boots were named after Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington who lived from 1769 to 1852. He had an illustrious military and political career. He was a key figure in the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, he served as British Prime Minister two times as a member of the Tory Party and Commander-in-Chief of the British Army.

The Duke wore custom-made knee-high boots possibly a bit more stylish and polished than the standard issue Hessian boot worn by the military. The "Hessian" boot (from the name Hessen, Germany) was a knee-high boot with tassels and a semi-pointed toe. The name Wellingtons became the way of describing this kind of boot which are made of rubber or plastic these days.

There are many names for Wellington boots such as wellies, rubber boots, gumboots, galoshes, rainboots, top-boots, gummies etc. obviously depending on where you live.

Rock and Roll Rain Boots

Festival wellies are beyond the ordinary. They are literally useful for festival goers who get caught in a downpour (or a deluge) in some cases. March and April are known to be rainy months especially here in Britain, where I live, but the summers here and in many places these days also experience a great deal of rain. It has almost become normal for it to rain during the summer at Festival season. Think of some of the most famous festivals: 'The Glastonbury Festival' and 'The Isle of Wight Festival', to name two, and what comes to mind is people wallowing and swimming in inches of mud. Actually, I think there would be some disappointment if it didn't rain and you didn't get that "festival experience".

In the not too distant past, these festival-goers would have worn practical, clumpy, farmers' boots in green or black but now they are embracing the foul weather with boots that reflect their own personalities - patterns and bold, beautiful, bright colors that stand out on a dismal, dank day. Of course, even the highest rain boot isn't going to keep out the water if you get caught up in the moment and decide to swim in the mud !!!

this picture of the Glastonbury Festival is courtesy of wikimedia

The Hunter boot is a British made boot introduced in 1956 but the Hunter company was actually founded in Scotland by an American, Henry Lee Norris. The company also makes waterproof outerwear.

The original Hunter boot was green or black, sturdy and utilitarian but Hunter has branched out into funky-looking waterproof shoes, boots of various lengths, colours and adjustable boots to accommodate thicker socks or trousers that may need to be tucked into the boot. They are made of 100% rubber with a sole that feels comfortable walking over rough terrain.It is possibly the best Wellington boot on the market.

The website for the U.S. is www.us.hunterboots.com and the U.K. site can be accessed at www.hunterboots.com

We are not all stick insects!!

These beautiful flower-motif Wellington boots take me back to when I was a teenager looking for something groovy to wear. I would have loved them then when I was wearing my go-go boots and I love them now. Not everyone has skinny calves so why struggle to mold yourself into a pair of narrow boots. The important thing is to feel comfortable and to look stylish at the same time. These boots have the added benefit of more room in the calf but there is no skimping on style. Take a look.

picture courtesy of Amazon.co.uk

These boots, sold through Amazon.com, are aimed at women who have a thicker calf or for women who want more comfort in a boot. This means you can wear a thicker sock for warmth as well.

I have been pleased to discover a good range of ankle and mid calf wellington boots for women on the market. There are occasions where it is advisable to wear a longer waterproof wellington boot. They are essential for trekking over muddy fields with the unexpected deep puddle or walking through rock pools on the beach but, for the average sort of grey, drizzly day that we experience here in the U.K., a shorter welly fits the bill. They provide enough protection from the rain but they are easy to slip on and off.

picture courtesy of amazon.co.uk

Yes they do exist!

I think these Glow-In-The-Dark Wellington rain boots are such a good idea. They are stylish and very practical at the same time.It is important to be seen especially when visibility is so poor on dark, rainy days or evenings. Even a flourescent strip attached to an article of clothing reflects the light but having a pair of these boots gives you even more visibility. Flourescent raincoats have been available for a long time so, it is nice to see visible footwear in the form of glow-in-the-dark boots.

Here is a selection of the best rain boots (wellies) for the North American market. These are high quality products rated with a four or more stars rating. We hope you find something perfect for your needs.

It was an eye-opener for me to see how many different kinds of Wellington rain boots there are available. I always thought of them as being frumpy and functional but it seems you can own a pair of wellies for every occasion: work, festivals, a walk on the beach, a colour accessory etc. etc.

Rain boots that kept your feet dry weren't always warm and definitely not comfortable but times have changed and, as you can see, there are boots out there that you would feel happy wearing all day. Just add a pair of long wellie sock and fold them over the top of the boot and your feet will be dry and very happy.