Best wellies for men 2024: waterproof boots for hiking, walking, and festivals

The best wellies for men are a solid investment – they're essential for keeping your feet dry in horrible weather. For this guide, we've reviewed wellies from classic brands like Hunter and Barbour and relative newcomers such as The Original Muck Boot Company.

Often sharing some of the features you'll find on the best hiking boots – such as advanced grippy outsoles made with sophisticated rubber compounds – many of the best Wellington boots are suitable for wearing for long periods and walking further distances comfortably and confidently.

To get optimum performance from these boots, it's also worth investing in a pair of the best hiking socks to add padding and warmth. While there are plenty of options that are great for gardening in this guide (if that's your priority, you should also consult our ranking of the best gardening shoes and boots), most of the best wellies featured here are suitable for tackling tracks and trails in even the worst weather.

Read on for our pick of the best wellies for men on the market right now.

Best wellies for men to buy right now

Best overall

We think the best wellies for men right now are the Barbour Bede Wellington boots. The base model in the Barbour range, these boots are perfectly functional but come with a few hidden benefits. The vulcanised rubber upper is solid enough to be easy to get on and off, but still flexible enough to be comfortable in wear, and includes an adjuster strap. A thick insole keeps your toes warm even in extended periods standing around.

This is attached to the rest of the boot, which means it stays securely in place when pulling the boots on and off, but you can't dry or air it separately. An important design tweak is the addition is a ‘kick spur feature’; a small right-angled projection on the heel that provides a lever to help you get your boots on and off. They're not the cheapest... but they're not the most expensive, either. If you're wanting a pair of boots that'll keep you comfy and dry for years to come, these Barbours are our top pick.

Read our full Barbour Bede Wellington boot review.

Best for walking

Designed by Aigle as an anti-fatigue hunting boot, the Parcours 2 is made to be worn all day and it's the ideal footwear for a long, muddy winter hike. Handmade in France, the Parcours 2 features a tri-density rubber sole with shock absorption through a heel cushion and foam insole, while its Gomma Plus natural rubber upper is lined with fast-drying polyamide.

It's a quality boot that delivers cushioning, stability and abrasion resistance, and it's built to last, but this means that it's also the most expensive in this round-up. That said, it's sure to outlast many of the cheaper boots listed here (especially if you follow Aigle's care instructions), so if you're willing to pay up it'll almost certainly save you money in the long term.

Best for festivals

If you work outdoors, these boots will see you through many years of slogging away in the mud and heavy rain, thanks to their durable natural rubber upper and hard-wearing rubber sole. But you don't have to work outdoors to enjoy them – they're also perfect for dog walking and muddy country strolls.

The Vierzonord wellies have an adjustable snap-fastening buckle on the side so that you can wear them comfortably over jeans, trousers and leggings. Those with wider calves may appreciate the adjustable fit.

The fast-drying 3mm neoprene keeps your feet dry and makes these wellies comfort-rated to temperatures as low as -15°C. The neoprene does take a little getting used to at first, especially when it comes to tugging off the wellies, but we found that rolling the boots down a little helped us to get them off easier. They also wipe clean in a jiffy, with mud and dirt washing straight off.

Read our full Le Chameau Vierzon Wellington Boot review.

Best short

Helly Hanson is best known nowadays for their highly technical sailing and mountain-ready apparel, but the Norwegian brand’s heritage leads back to the harsh conditions faced by fishermen working on boats in the frigid North Sea, and this boot is a legacy of that history.

A mid-length wellie, the Midsund 3 comes halfway up your shin, which means it's lighter and less restrictive. This allows you to move quicker and easier than in boots with a longer neck. The outsole is made with Vulcanised rubber, making it very protective, and the HH Grip tread pattern provides a decent degree of traction, whether you’re on a slippery deck or a muddy trail.

They’re comfortable, with a midsole (a novelty for wellies) and ample wriggle room in the toe box without being loose around the heel. The Midsund are not thickly lined, so you can wear them on wet adventures all year round without overheating, but you might require some thick socks in midwinter.

There is a small pull-hoop to help get your foot in, but no, there’s no heel spur, and they are hellish hard to get off as a result. They’re also not the best for escapades involving hectic stream crossings (or deep snow) because of the mid-height upper.

Best for winter

The midheight, unisex Calder Boots, standing at 38cm/15in, boast a robust rubber upper with breathable PK mesh and 4mm neoprene lining that extends over the calf to just below the knee.

This design ensures a snug fit, preventing water ingress. Reinforced areas around the toe box and heel, along with a stiff rubber strip, maintain the boot’s shape and durability. The thick rubber outsole, with its pronounced lugs, provides exceptional grip and traction, rivalling top hiking boots.

These boots feature antimicrobial and odour-control treatments, enhancing comfort during prolonged use. The deep rubber outsole offers cushioning and energy return, complemented by a hidden steel shank for added rigidity and foot protection. Tested in extremely wet and muddy conditions, the Calder Boots excelled in both performance and comfort.

Their flexible neoprene neck ensures waterproof protection while allowing full leg movement, making them more versatile than typical wellies. The triple-thickness toe cap and chunky heel cup offer robust protection. Despite some concerns about breathability in warmer weather, the boots are ideal for late autumn to early spring.

A pull loop aids in wearing the boots, though a heel spur would assist in removal. Perfect for dog walks, hikes, and festival outings, the Calder Boots combine versatility, grip, protection, and warmth, making them a reliable choice for various outdoor activities.

Read our full Muck Boot Calder Boots review.

Best for hunting

Designed for hunters but great for hikers, fishers and wildlife spotters tackling rough and really wet terrain, these wellies are part of the Solognac range, a sub-brand of Decathlon, which we know from experience means you’re getting a good-value product that has been properly stress-tested in the environment it is intended to be used in (if you see the number 900 next to a product from Decathlon, that denotes a top-of-the-range piece of kit).

These boots have a deep stack that provides good support for your ankles and feet. Cushioning is built into the insole and heel, so you can comfortably walk 15 or 20km while wearing them. The all-rubber outsoles have 5mm lugs that provide traction on even the muddiest and most slippery terrain.

There’s no buckle on the knee-high upper, but they have a calf-shaped profile (some people might find them tight-fitting, however, especially when they’re new). The neck is made from reinforced Latex rubber to protect your lower leg from the roughest landscape and prickliest plants. There’s no spur, as such, but there is a heel ridge that can be used to help get the boot off. 

Best for horse riding

The Belton is a classic-looking Wellington boot for wearing in the wet British countryside, made by a marine-specialist brand based in the Southwest (where there is plenty of rain to test prototypes out in).

This boot has a couple of stand-out features. The first is the cleated rubber sole, and the traditional pronounced heel harks back to the days when most wellies were made with horse riding in mind.

The second is the buckle on the highrise knee-length sides of the boot, which – together with a gusset – enables you to pull the rubber neck in nice and tight around your calf. This improves performance levels, reducing the amount of slippage and flopping around and helping to minimize the ingress of unwanted trail and field debris.

The buckle is a bit basic, however (it’s not exactly decorative, but neither is it super functional). There’s no midsole, and the outsoles are less sophisticated and grippy than those found on some other boots (and the horizontal tread on the heel collects quite a bit of mud).

How to choose the best men's wellies for you

To buy the best wellies, consider your primary use. For casual outings and dog walks, affordable options can suffice as they effectively keep your feet dry. However, if you plan on serious walking or hiking, invest in wellies with key features for enhanced comfort and protection.

Look for wellies with a robust outsole for excellent grip and traction, similar to those found on hiking boots. Models like the Muck Boot Calder offer this feature. Additionally, calf-tightening straps, such as those on the Aigle Parcours, ensure a snug fit, preventing water ingress and enhancing support.

For winter use, opt for wellies with thick, thermal insoles to keep your feet warm, like the Barbour Bedes. Cushioning in the midsole and heel is also crucial for comfort during extended wear, as seen in the Solognac Renfort 900.

Size is another critical factor. If you wear chunky socks, consider going up a size, but ensure the fit isn't too loose to avoid blisters and cold toes. Always try them on with and without thick socks.

For festivals, style matters, too. Premium models like the Le Chameau Vierzons are popular for their fashionable appeal. Prioritise features that match your activities and comfort needs to find the perfect pair of wellies.

How we test the best men's wellies

To put together this ranking, wherever possible, we call the wellies in and spend time testing them to put together a full review. We'll consider how much protection they offer, whether they keep your feet cosy or offer enough breathability for warmer weather, how comfy they are to wear and if they're suitable for long days on your feet.

We'll examine how much grip they offer and if they're supportive around the feet and ankles. Finally, we'll consider the quality of materials and how they've been put together, and how much we like the design. Because some of these factors can be personal, we also look at other reviews to ensure we've missed nothing. 

In the cases where we haven't been able to get hold of a product but feel it's worthy of inclusion, we research what other customers and reviewers have said and combine that with what we know about the market to put together an informed blurb for you to base your decision off. Find out more about how we test at T3. 

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