Wellington Boots

Wellington boots, or “wellies” for short are an immensely popular footwear in the United Kingdom. As such, there are a variety of different styles of Wellington boots on the market, like Wedge wellies. While the basic design can never be accused of being exciting or even stylish, a few changes here and there and you have a brand new product that can be used as casual wear. But let’s take a moment to take a look at the basic Wellington boot. They come in a variety of styles and are produced from a variety of materials. But most of them are made from rubber derived materials such as PVC. One of the most important aspects of the basic welly is the fact that it is completely waterproof.

The person that most historians attribute to this form of footwear is England’s first Duke of Wellington. Over time, they became very widely used not just in the UK and Europe but also the world. The modern variant has a basic function. It protects the wearer’s feet from water and dirt in a wide variety of environments. They are a knee high boot but can be found in shorter types depending on the brand you shop from. When it comes to cleanliness and hygiene, many industries utilize them. Those used in hazardous environments are usually more durable and have features such as steel toe caps (Safety boots). For the construction industry, safety wellies are quite popular but they can also be used for those that work with dangerous chemicals as well.

If we goo back to the beginning, we find it shares much with the Hessian boot. Unhappy with the types of footwear available for infantrymen at the time, the Duke of Wellington sought to modify the basic Hessian boot into something more useful. With his plans in hand, the Duke approached his shoemaker and instructed him to produce an example. Calfskin leather was used in the first example and it featured heels that were lower tha
Hessian varieties. It was supposed to be a comfortable but durable replacement for infantrymen but could also be used for casual wear. Needless to say, it became an instant hit with the populace and revolutionized footwear for gentlemen. It was so popular that it became some of the most fashionable casual footwear for men.

But it wasn’t until the nineteenth century that Wellington boots started turning into the Welly boot we know of today. The choice of materials used was the biggest change as manufacturers began using rubber. With rubber, the boot became fully waterproofed and became an instant hit with farmers in the United Kingdom as well as Europe. Before rubber wellies were available, the typical farmer wore wooden clogs which did not provide much comfort or protection from dirt. Now they could go through an entire days work in relative comfort. But most importantly, their feet were kept dry.

Today, the modern Wellington boot is mainly used in a variety of industries including farming, construction, chemical and particularly fish mongering. They are cheap, reliable and simple in design which basically means they will see much use in the future.