Best wellies for walking in 2025: our top picks for countryside comfort and tougher treks

Telegraph

5 days ago

The best wellies for walking are a different beast from the classic green boots at your local farm shop, such as those featured in our best Wellington boots guide. Designed for longer distances, they should offer ankle support, thermal regulation and enough comfort for extended wear, along with reliable grip on challenging terrain.
Expect to pay between £50 to £150 or more for a quality pair, which is more in line with walking boots rather than everyday wellies.
Many walking wellies are unisex or available in both men's and women's sizes. We've highlighted who each pair is designed for in the key specifications listed under our reviews.
For this guide, we've tested leading options from brands including Le Chameau, Town & Country and Merry People among others, focusing on performance and comfort across varied conditions. Read our verdict below, or see our top five at a glance.
The best wellies for walking: At a glance
How to choose the best walking wellies
Fit and comfort come first. Look for wellies that sit snugly around the foot and calf without being uncomfortably tight. A poor fit can lead to blisters or fatigue on longer walks, as these boots lack the support of walking shoes. Adjustable gussets or straps can help improve fit, especially for people with wider calves.
Sole support and grip are key for stability on wet, uneven or muddy ground. A deep-lugged, high-traction sole (like Vibram soles) improves stability. Shock-absorbing midsoles and arch support ease pressure on joints over time. Insulation and lining matter in colder months. Neoprene linings are flexible and warm, while breathable materials like jersey or mesh are better suited for milder days. We've also tested a few options with fleece lining, which are great for spring and autumn.
Materials and durability also affect performance. Natural rubber is flexible and long-lasting but heavier; synthetic blends can be lighter but may not last as long. Choose carefully and your walking wellies should last for many seasons.
How we test walking wellies
We tested these boots across a range of walks, from short country strolls to longer day hikes across varying terrain, over several weeks. We then scored each pair on five key metrics.
These included comfort and fit, waterproofing, grip and traction, durability and temperature regulation – all important factors in a pair of walking wellies.
Once finished with initial testing, we stored the wellies and regularly revisited them to assess their ease of storage and cleaning as well as their longevity. We've only featured models when fully satisfied that they are as durable as the manufacturer claims.
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The best walking wellies of 2025
1. Best Buy Wellies for Walking: Le Chameau Vierzonord
There are good reasons why Le Chameau is an icon in the welly world. These premium walking wellies come with a jersey lining which offers a silky-smooth feel. They remain a premiere choice for those tackling muddy paths and daily plods across open land.
They're lighter than I'd expected, with a soft feel that comes from their natural, hand-crafted rubber. The key to their suitability for walking lies in their supple feel and flexion around foot movement. This is largely thanks to their soft rubber material, while the jersey inner slip enhances comfort during long walks. Even without a Vibram-graded outsole, they had plenty of grip.
There's an adjustable calf gusset and buckle that accommodates wider calves while keeping out gravel. This feature is important for walking, as you can adjust the boot to sit tight across the leg and improve its support and flexibility. As you'd expect from a premium boot, water and cold resistance are solid, making this a great walking welly for the UK and its damp, temperate climate.
Key specifications
2. Best Value Wellies for Walking: Town & Country Fleece-Lined Burford Wellies
An affordable choice for countryside strolls, the Town & Country Burford boot performed surprisingly well in our tests. For £35.99, they offer excellent value for money.
The boots are made wholly of rubber so they'll resist puddles and muck any day, but the real jewel in their crown is the fleece lining which adds warmth for cooler outings. My feet did get a little hot during testing in the summer months, but come winter, they'll be a great match for the frosty landscape. The generous mid-calf height delivers sufficient coverage for boggy conditions and you can tighten the calf gusset for a snugger fit.
The outsole is not engineered for rugged trekking, but comfort and grip levels are solid. Thanks to a cushioned footbed and flexible neoprene-like composition that moulds gently to your foot, there's also a pleasing level of support on offer. While less plush than some other models we tested, it is adequately padded for casual strolls and dog walks.
I used these boots on a variety of walks in a range of conditions and consistently found them to be durable, easy to clean and convenient to look after. They're an impressive entry-level option for people who are looking for solid protection on a budget.
Key specifications
3. Best Short Wellies for Walking: Merry People Bobbi Boot
The Merry People Bobbi wellies are stylish, comfortable, natural rubber Chelsea-style ankle boots which come in a range of vibrant colours. They're lined with 4mm neoprene for warmth and flexibility, which makes them good short wellies for dog walking or strolls. There's a nicely cushioned insole and built-in arch support, which delivers lasting comfort and the lugged grip sole provides solid traction on wet pavements or muddy paths. The heel is quite high, which provides a feeling more akin to a walking boot than a welly.
For people who often struggle to find wellies that fit them properly, these might be your solution. Partly thanks to their size and their flexible lining, they fitted well right out of the box in our tests and they only softened with wear. They're exceptionally easy to put on, which makes them a convenient choice to keep by the door, perhaps even as gardening shoes.
Some users find that neoprene feels too warm in milder weather, especially for those with wide calves or thick socks. What's nice about the flexible lining on these boots is that you can wear normal socks (not welly socks or walking socks) in warmer conditions and they'll still feel comfortable.
Key specifications
4. Best Walking Wellies for Durability: Dubarry Galway
Are you after something a bit more country-chic? Then the Dubarry Galway Boots may be for you. They blend appealing style with high-performance construction and though not a classic rubber welly, they can be used in exactly the same way.
Their waterproof leather upper and GORE-TEX lining create a breathable shield against almost all elements. Although they're expensive, they're also among the better-built wellies we've tested and they could last a lifetime if well looked after.
They are slightly tighter fitting than most other wellies, so if you normally go up a size for rubber wellies, I'd recommend sticking to your regular sizing for these and limiting the weight of the sock you wear. Once on, they're supremely comfortable and sturdily support the feet, with the stretchable topline panel enhancing fit and reducing chafing. They're light, meaning walking longer distances in them is a breeze. You can choose between regular and wide calf fittings to suit your legs.
The boots are made durable with rivets, high-quality stitching and a multi-compound sole which can stand many miles of use. The brand's heritage is strong and past owners report that its boots stay waterproof even after repeated wet-season wear. If you want to buy one stylish pair of boots for county walking in your lifetime, these would probably be my choice.
Key specifications
5. Best Walking Wellies for Dog Walks: XTRATUF Ankle Deck Boots
These boots were originally crafted for harsh maritime conditions, as the name suggests. They excel in stability and grip, making them great for dog walking (or even for traipsing across wet deck boards or trail edges).
The neoprene lining keeps feet warm in damp environments while the lower-height, lightweight rubber and synthetic uppers mean they're easy to put on and feel flexible on the foot. Great for dog walks on slippy pavements, they're the grippiest boots we've tested, with a slip-resistant outsole that performs similarly to the Vibram soles typically used on walking boots. Their low height naturally limits their ankle support compared to taller models and it might not be suitable for the most uneven terrain.
Originally designed for arduous work on boats, these boots feel super-comfortable to wear for long periods. The supportive insole and cushioned heel reduce fatigue during extended wear and the flexible neoprene moulds to the shape of the foot over time. As befits a sailing boot, they have excellent long-term resistance to saltwater and wear, good for strolls on the beach.
Key specifications
6. Best Men's Walking Wellies for Cold Conditions: Muck Boot Arctic Outpost
Although we've experienced multiple heatwaves this summer, temperatures are expected to drop soon. With that in mind, we've tested the Muck Boot Arctic Outpost Wellington boots for men.
They are bulkier than some of the other boots on this list and looking at the specification sheet, it's easy to see why. They are fully neoprene lined and feature an additional fleece layer to keep feet warm well below freezing, great for walking during frosty mornings and long strolls in snow-dusted landscapes. There's an impressive 8mm of lining which also offers plush comfort, while the durable rubber uppers resist mud and sludge.
The outsole's deep-lug tread under a high-traction rubber compound provides reliable grip on icy trails and packed snow. The boot's heel and toe lugs are specially designed to shed packed build-up of ice and snow.
Despite their bulk, these boots are comfortable thanks to the neoprene's flexibility and cushioned footbed and there's a good deal of heel support too. They're a great pick for walkers seeking warmth and secure footing on icy terrain.
Key specifications
7. Best Walking Wellies for Longer Hikes: Muck Boot Apex Mid
£200
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Price at
Muck Boot Company
If you're looking for something more akin to a walking boot, these Apex Mid wellies are worth considering. They merge walking shoe-like comfort with rugged rubber resilience and excellent grip. The 5mm neoprene lining offers good flexibility, warmth and padding and the integrated arch support and cushioned EVA midsole feel cushioning on uneven terrain.
During my testing, the Apex Mid kept my feet dry even in standing water. There's a front zip and a Velcro strap for added ankle security, but if I had one criticism, it would be that the strap is a little too tough and can dig into the front part of your shin when hiking on rough terrain. A softer rubber or fabric strap might have worked better.
A particular highlight of these boots is their moisture-wicking inners, which prevent overheating during more active hikes and increase comforts and provide walking boot-like performance in a welly form.
Key specifications