Wellington boots are a necessity for me as I live in a rural area and regularly trudge through wet fields and mud when taking the dog for a walk. As I wear wellies quite often I decided to upgrade my old basic ones for a better quality pair of Hunter wellies. I brought the short gloss boots for £59.00.

-- HUNTER BOOTS --
These wellies are made by a well known brand called Hunter which have been making wellies for over 150 years. Hunter was founded in 1856 in Edinburgh. The company started off with only four workers but by 1875 had expanded to over 600 staff. Hunter designed the famous Green Wellington over 50 years ago and now produce a wide range of Wellingtons to suit everyone from working farmers to festival goers. They remain one of the most popular brands for Wellington Boots.

-- THE LOOK --
The design of these wellies are a very stylish take on the traditional wellington boot. They come in several colours including black, violet, pillar box red and fuchsia. I chose the violet as I thought they looked most appealing. The outer material is made from vulcanised natural rubber. It is smooth and glossy with the Hunter logo displayed prominently at the top. One of the most attractive features is the silver buckle which can be tightened to give a firm fit or you can just wear it loosely. The sole consists of rubber with a series of deep groves to add grip. Inside the boot the lining is made from knitted nylon with quick dry properties with multiple layers of cushioned sponge in the insole.

-- FUNCTIONALITY & USAGE --
So far I have found these boots to be incredibly useful and practical as well as looking amazing. I use them almost everyday in winter to walk the dog and have also taken them to Glastonbury with me. Hunter state they are also suitable for working on farms, outdoor sports, country pursuits and even walking to the shops (although I think I'll stick to pumps for this last one). The rubber creates excellent grip when walking over slippery surfaces such as wet grass.

-- COMFORTABLENESS --
They are one of the most comfortable pair of wellies I've owned. Unlike most wellies there is no rubbing or friction at all and I've never had any problems with blisters although it's worth noting that I do tend to wear them with thick socks, especially in winter. They come in sizes 3 to 9 and my size 6 pair fit perfectly. These wellies apparently have an orthopaedic fit to give all round comfort. The toe area has a slightly thicker layer of rubber to give protection while the foot area is cushioned so you can wear them for long periods and still remain comfortable. The opening is quite wide making them easy to slip on even over thick socks or trousers while the buckle allows you to pull them tight once on to protect your clothes and give a firmer fit. The fact that these are cut shorter than most wellies makes them easy to slip on and gives the leg a bit more flexibility although it also gives you less protection against splashing mud or water.

-- QUALITY & LONGEVITY --
I have had my pair for about 3 years now and they have lasted brilliantly. The boots are very well-made and high quality. The only sign of wear is that the glossiness of the shine has faded slightly although Hunter advise that this can easily be remedied by buffing with a soft dry cloth so I'll have to try this.

-- CONCLUSION --
Overall I absolutely love my Hunter wellies. I would never go back to a cheaper alternative after these and although they are expensive I think that the price is justified by the high quality, comfortableness and the fact that they will last years and years even with regular use. I would definitely recommend.