A crisp autumnal walk in the British countryside is one of life’s little pleasures – until a squelchy patch of track or a sudden downpour threatens to ruin the mood (trudging about in wet socks is surely one of the most unfortunate feelings it’s possible to endure). So a good pair of waterproof boots is a must for all weekend rambles. Fortunately, there are plenty of options out there that turn the humble rainboot into a bona fide part of your outfit, rather than resigning yourself to donning a pair of shapeless green numbers.
A row of Hunter wellies on location at Lime Wood in the New Forest
Sarah BannermanHunter remains the undisputed champion for off-duty models and festival-goers, with its coveted slim-fit shape earning cult status with the style set for decades. The runway has fully embraced the outdoorsy look in recent years, too. Burberry outfits its Wellington boots in its signature vintage check, Bottega Veneta’s chunky Puddle boots have sparked a wave of minimalist copycats, while Chloé’s block-heeled Betty rubber boots have become a modern street style staple. Add in Prada’s bright rubber lug soles, and fleece-lined iterations from Loro Piana, and it is clear that wet weather footwear has earned itself a new luxury status.
We’ve found the best Wellington boots on the market, from British heritage bootmakers with royal warrants to more contemporary labels reinventing the classic outdoor boot – along with all of our editors’ most loved tried-and-tested pairs. Put on a thick pair of Welly socks, grab your raincoat, and prepare to brave the drizzle.
In this article
The best Wellington boots at-a-glance
- Best for heritage appeal: Hunter Original Tall Anniversary Wellington Boot
- Best for wide calves: Le Chameau Vierzon Wellington Boot
- Best budget-friendly boots: Joules Houghton Tall Wellies
- Best leather rainboots: Dubarry Roundstone Country Boot
- Best for festivals: GANNI x Hunter Downpour Tall Boots
- Best for everyday: Paul Smith x Barbour Chelsea Wellingtons
- Best for urban downpours: Rains The Dry Boot High
- Best for a pop of colour: Merry People Bobbi Wellington Boot
- Best wellies for walking: Barbour Mowbray Wellingtons
- Best for quiet luxury: Ralph Lauren Portiah Tall Rain Boot
- Best for sub-zero temperatures: Tretorn Eva Insulated Boot
- Best for aprés-ski: Moncler Kickstream Rain Boots
- Best designer rainboots: Loewe Storm Rubber Knee Boots
Dubarry Old Rum roundstone country boot
Merry People Tully ankle wellies
Hunter original tall 170 years anniversary Wellington boot
Moncler Kickstream rain boots
Merry People Tully ankle boots
Best for a pop of colour
This is a really fun one – Melbourne label Merry People is determined to inject a splash of joy into dull drizzly days with its popular Tully ankle boot. This range comes in a gamut of cheerful tones, made from 100 per cent vegan natural rubber. Inside, there’s a cosy neoprene lining and supportive built-in arch support, but the draw is undeniably the bright shades, including mustard yellow, pillarbox red and vibrant blue (and there are plenty more equally lovely shades to choose from). They come in a range of heights, but we like the versatile, lightweight short boot, which is perfect for early morning dog walks and casual afternoon coffee stops.
- Material: Vegan natural rubber
- Lining: Neoprene lining
- Adjustable: No
- Colours available: 12+
Hunter Original 170 years anniversary Wellington boot
Best for classic heritage appeal
When you think of Welly boots, you think of Hunter. Now marking nearly two centuries of British design, our homegrown heritage brand is celebrating its long legacy with a special edition of its iconic 1956 pair. They have been handmade from natural vulcanised rubber in classic green with a smart shiny finish, with a breathable recycled polyester lining and the brand’s signature chunky tread. Favoured by a long list of celebs including Kate Moss, Meghan Markle and Gwyneth Paltrow, these are an essential companion for squelching through misty morning grass or dodging puddles on strolls through pretty market towns on your next weekend away.
- Material: Natural vulcanised rubber
- Lining: Recycled polyester lining and insole
- Adjustable: No
- Colours available: One
Le Chameau Vierzon Wellington boot
Best for wide calves
If the UK has Hunter, France has Le Chameau, and its smart tartan-lined rubber boots are ready and waiting for all the mud you can throw at them. All of the brand’s designs are handmade from extra-supple natural rubber Chamolux – a signature material you won’t find anywhere else. They have a distinctive polycotton lining to wick away moisture during longer stomps, an adjustable gusset to guarantee a proper fit – no more saggy schleps across the fields here – and a shock-absorbing sole that helps fight foot fatigue on long walks across uneven landscapes.
- Material: Chamolux natural rubber
- Lining: Tartan polycotton
- Adjustable: Yes (Waterproof side gusset with snap-fastening buckle)
- Colours available: 5+
Joules Houghton tall Wellington boots
Best budget-friendly boots
One for your most wintery walks! British lifestyle brand Joules has given its tall Wellingtons a plush interior upgrade with a cosy faux fur lining that’ll keep your feet toasty in even the iciest conditions. While they’re not made from rubber, they’re still designed to be completely waterproof, and they’ve a more purse-friendly price tag as a result. They earn extra style points for their preppy front crest and stylish chocolate brown hue, while an extra-grippy tread and adjustable side buckle keeps you comfortable and prevents slips on frosty morning trots around the park with the dog.
- Material: Waterproof compound material
- Lining: Thermal faux fur
- Adjustable: Yes (Side gusset with strap and buckle)
- Colours available: One
Dubarry Roundstone country boot
Best leather rainboots
If you just can’t get on board with the idea of a rubber boot as a style statement, this is a good alternative. Irish brand Dubarry has designed a number of classic country leather-lined boots to be just as waterproof as your wellies. Its Roundstone boot is our favourite, crafted from supple leather designed to stay soft wear after wear. The result is decidedly elegant, finished with a practical waterproof Gore-Tex lining. This pair isn’t adjustable, but there’s a full-length side zip that ensures they’re easy to pull on and off without a boot jack. They look beautiful while on, too, working with your outdoor and more smart outfits alike – you’d hardly know they were designed to stomp about muddy fields and stable yards.
- Material: Water-resistant leather
- Lining: Gore-Tex membrane
- Adjustable: No
- Colours available: One
Ganni x Hunter Downpour tall boots
Best for festivals
Trust Copenhagen fashion house Ganni to do something a little different. It has partnered with Hunter to bring its iconic leopard print finish to standard boring wet weather gear. The collab has all of Hunter’s prowess, combining natural rubber with a cool matte finish finished with a breathable cotton lining and pull tabs to make yanking boots on and off a little less arduous. A pair to take to Glastonbury Festival next year and every one going forwards.
- Material: Natural vulcanised rubber
- Lining: Cotton
- Adjustable: Yes (Adjustable side gusset and strap)
- Colours available: One
Paul Smith Loves Barbour Chelsea Wellingtons
Best for playful everyday style
Here’s another fun collaboration, combining Barbour’s classic style with Paul Smith’s more eccentric design flair into one short rubber Chelsea boot. They’re made from Barbour’s signature vulcanised waterproof rubber in a smart navy shade, stamped with both brand’s signatures at the front. Multicoloured striped pull tabs and treads add something a little different, bringing a little added cheer on drizzly days.
- Material: Vulcanised rubber
- Lining: Barbour tartan
- Adjustable: No
- Colours available: One
Rains The Dry Boot
Best for urban downpours
Have you seen a rainboot this slick before? Danish outerwear brand Rains knows a thing or two about waterproof gear, and its sleek Scandinavian aesthetic has been used to fantastic effect here, culminating in a very unusual high-shine slim-fit Welly boot. It’s made from shiny waterproof rubber with a flexible neoprene instep, with a knee-height shape that moulds tight to the leg (meaning you can forget about any rogue water seepage on very rainy walks). They have plenty of cushioning on both the midsole and outsole to keep you comfortable en route. For a pair that won’t look out of place on urban wanders, this is a great choice. Our pick is the glossy purple – we’ve not seen the likes of anything like it elsewhere.
- Material: High-shine natural rubber
- Lining: Neoprene lining
- Adjustable: No
- Colours available: Two
Barbour Mowbray Wellingtons
Best wellies for walking
Competing with Hunter for Britain’s best-loved outdoorsy brand, quintessential heritage label Barbour has its own range of country boots – and its Mowbray style is our top pick. It’s made from a durable rubber exterior, with a distinctive turn-down tartan cuff that nods to the brand's historic roots and keeps them tight to your leg to prevent rainwater seeping into your socks. They’re finished with an adjustable side buckle and a thick outsole with high traction, so they’ll see you through your most slippery outside romps with ease.
- Material: Rubber
- Lining: Cotton with tartan cuff
- Adjustable: Yes (Adjustable side strap and buckle detailing)
- Colours available: Two
Ralph Lauren Portiah tall rubber rain boots
Best for quiet luxury style
Ralph Lauren brings a chic equestrian spin to rainy days with its sleek Portiah offering, keeping that tall slimline riding boot shape and reinvents it in dependable waterproof rubber. They have padded insoles for bouncy comfort, plus a sturdy rubber lug outer tread, finished with a luxe-looking shiny gold-tone logo at the top. This is easy quiet luxury in the countryside, whether you pair it with denim, tweed or anything else.
- Material: Rubber
- Lining: Cotton
- Adjustable: No
- Colours available: One
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Tretorn Eva insulated boots
Best for sub-zero temperatures
Obviously the Swedes are good at creating outdoor wear that keeps you toasty – you’ll need a good pair of warm boots for all your Northern Lights expeditions – and Tretorn has been making weatherproof footwear since way back in 1891. This Eva boot delivers minimalist Scandinavian warmth in a classic Chelsea form, made from waterproof rubber and lined with a plush faux fur interior that’s extra snuggly underfoot. They come complete with a cushioned sole and elasticated side gussets to help get them on and off easily.
- Material: Waterproof natural rubber
- Lining: Thermal faux fur
- Adjustable: No
- Colours available: One
Moncler Kickstream rain boots
Best for aprés-ski
Better known for outwearwear that keeps you warm on the slopes, cold weather brand Moncler has poured its expertise into creating a boot suited to rainy city streets in its Kickstream ankle boot, without losing any of its beloved alpine style sensibilities. These have a waterproof PVC and nylon upper with a lightweight sole, culminating in a chunky boot that still reads feminine while happily keeping out downpours. They have an adjustable drawstring collar, ensuring a snug seal against rain, so you’ll reach for them over and over, whether you’re lacing up for muddy hikes on a Cotswolds staycation or headed to brunch on a rainy day in London.
- Material: PVC and nylon
- Adjustable: Yes (Drawstring)
- Colours available: Two
Loewe Storm logo-embossed rubber knee boots
Best designer rainboots
Loewe channels its playful surrealist style into these head-turning Storm boots – you’ve not seen another pair like it, guaranteed. The Italian-made boots are made from smooth brown rubber with an exaggerated rounded toe and subtle branding, with a wide finish that nods somewhat to the brand’s slouchy Toy heeled boots. These, however, come finished with a supportive insole and a chunky rubber sole, making them ripe to pull on throughout all our worst wintery downpours.
- Material: Rubber
- Adjustable: No
- Colours available: One
How we test Wellington boots
To find the best Wellington and outdoor boots, we put pairs through their paces across varied British landscapes and weather conditions. We evaluate fit and initial comfort straight out of the box, noting whether sizing runs true, if calf openings accommodate different leg shapes, and whether soles provide good arch support on long strolls. We've trudged across waterlogged tracks, muddy paths and wet grass alike, assessing grip on slick surfaces, thermal insulation on cold mornings, and the durability of zips, buckles, and linings.
How to clean Wellington boots
Proper care extends the lifespan of natural rubber, keeps linings fresh, and prevents premature cracking or discolouration. Here’s how to maintain your boots after a muddy outing:
- Don’t let heavy mud dry and cake onto natural rubber. Hose or rinse boots down with lukewarm water as soon as you step inside, using a soft sponge or cloth to wipe away stubborn dirt. Avoid stiff bristle brushes to prevent scratching.
- For deeper grime, use a gentle detergent or mild dish soap with warm water. Clean both the rubber uppers and the lugged outsoles, where dirt works into the tread. Rinse with clean water.
- Air-dry naturally away from heat in a cool, well-ventilated space. Never put rubber boots directly next to radiators, open fires or in direct sunlight, as high heat causes natural rubber to dry, stiffen and split. To maintain the boot’s shape, stuff the interiors with crumpled newspaper or clean hand towels.
- Use a conditioner. Natural rubber blooms over time, developing a powdery white film as insoluble minerals rise to the surface. Restore its luster and flexibility by applying a boot spray or conditioner with a microfibre cloth.
- Keep boots in a dry, dark place, stored upright to prevent creases.
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