I've only bought one pair of wellies in my life before now, and that was fifteen years ago. That's in spite of the fact I have a dog who would much prefer to spend all his time outdoors, so wellies are an essential part of my weekend wardrobe.
Price: £220
Size range: UK 2.5-9
Colours: brown, black, dark green and light green
Material: rubber and neoprene
Fastening: slip on with adjustable tightening strap
It goes to show that my faithful old Hunter boots lasted incredibly well. However, they certainly don't have the grippiest sole nowadays, and the 2 in 1 feature (you could make them into short ankle length wellies in one easy move!) does mean that any vaguely deep water was completely off limits.
So I decided it was time to take the plunge and investigate the best wellies out there. My husband has had a pair of Le Chameau Vierzonord Neoprene Lined Boots for years and loves them. Whilst I've always envied them, I didn't think I could justify the price. But let's just assume I have these wellies for fifteen years (they definitely feel sturdy enough to last that long!). That's about £15 per year.
Le Chameau Vierzonord Neoprene Lined Boots
These bestsellers are the wellies Kate Middleton wears and as well as being approved by royalty, they do have an impressive reputation for quality. The brand dates back to 1927, and they are the the only rubber boots to be handmade by a single master bootmaker. The Le Chameau Maîtres Bottiers are trained intensively for nine months and my first impression upon receiving the boots was just how premium they feel.
In terms of sizing, I'm normally a UK 3.5, and opted for a 4, which fitted perfectly with room for a sock (the neoprene lining means you don't need thick socks) so I would say they're true to size. Check out the Le Chameau size guide for more information, and instructions on how to measure calves.
Le Chameau Vierzonord Neoprene Lined Boots: comfort & support
I'll keep this relatively brief - these boots are seriously sturdy and I haven't experienced a second of discomfort in the time I've been testing them. The neoprene lining is warm but also very supportive, plus they have a shock-absorbing sole, a reinforced shank for stability and anti-fatigue arch support.
You can really feel it. I'd happily depend on these boots for a long walk or even a full day at a festival.
Le Chameau Vierzonord Neoprene Lined Boots: style
There is no doubt these are the most stylish wellington boots on the market. Kate Middleton has been wearing hers for over a decade, plus Meghan Markle, Sienna Miller, Zara Tindall and Princess Beatrice all love Le Chameau too.
woman&home's Royal Editor Emma Shacklock tells me: "The Princess of Wales has been spotted wearing her Le Chameau wellies on plenty of occasions - and we can certainly see why she likes them! The brand is known for their high quality craftsmanship and have been making boots by hand for over 90 years. Kate is known for championing heritage brands and she has a pair in the classic khaki green tone. They’re as chic as they are practical and she wears hers with skinny jeans tucked in for a streamlined look."
I fell in love with these as soon as I opened the box, and they really don't feel like you're wearing wellies when they're on. They feel like cosy knee boots that happen to be waterproof! In khaki, they work well with every outfit, but they're available in other colourways too.
The only thing I would flag is that the fit on this style is slim. They sit beautifully for me with leggings (here I'm wearing them with the Spanx seamless leggings), but I'm not sure I'd be able to fit much more than a pair of skinny jeans tucked into them.
For me, that's exactly what I'm after. I'm always cold so I want them to feel snug and cosy, but if you have wide calves I'd advise trying the wide calf wellies available on the Le Chameau site. The adjustable trim on the Vierzonord is really more just to adjust the upper half of the boots near the knee.
I'd also advise investing in the Le Chameau wooden boot jack because the fitted design does make them a little trickier to get off. On the website you can shop by fit (narrow, standard and wide), by height, colour, lining and even activity (farming, gardening, sailing, walking, festival etc). So you really can find your perfect pair.
Le Chameau Vierzonord Neoprene Lined Boots: cleaning & care
I made sure not to shy away from the muddiest paths when testing these boots, and followed the recommended boot care instructions. Le Chameau suggest cleaning the boots with nothing more than water and a brush and letting them air dry. So far, so good - they look just as good now as the day they arrived.
Le Chameau Vierzonord Neoprene Lined Boots: verdict
As a fashion editor, so much of my job is to find shoppers more budget-friendly alternatives to high priced items.
Truly though I do believe the Le Chameau Vierzonord Neoprene Lined Boots are one of those wear forever products that is worth splashing a bit more cash.
These are never going to date, are sturdy and comfortable enough to go the distance, and will fare well in any weather, from rain to snow. It helps that they have the royal stamp of approval too!
They are completely perfect in my eyes and warrant five stars. The only thing worth noting is that they are very fitted, so anyone after a roomier boot might want to check out other Le Chameau styles - of which there are many.
I also think the boot bundle - the wellies plus a boot bag, wooden jack and cleaning accessories would make the nicest gift.
