I think you already answered your question James. Hunters IMO are the best available and, although more expensive than most other makes, they last.

James do you know when Hunter moved there manufacturing to China?

Graham.

Graham - 2007 according to Wikipedia.

Steve, yes they were great boots - they just don't seem to last anymore. Googling around seems to indicate the same so I'm reluctant to buy another pair 

I wear wellingtons just about every day and have gone through (literally) three pair of Hunters in the past three years - all have split - one at the side and two at the rear by the heel.  Compare that to my previous Hunters that lasted 10 years and eventually wore out the treads.  So, Hunters may have been great once, but no more as far as I can see.

I have replaced the last pair of Hunters with a pair of Aigles.  So far so good and the neoprene lining is nice in the cold.  The neoprene did have a habit of pulling socks down, but this has lessened greatly with wear.

I do lots of walking with our dogs, in all weathers, mostly tramping through sticky East-Anglian clay. In my time I've gone through lots of wellingtons.

Hunters are pretty lousy these days. They've a tendency to split across the sole under the ball of the foot and the seam on the inside over the heel can be very rough and uncomfortable. Not recommended. 

Aigle wellies are better quality than Hunters and pretty comfortable if a bit on the expensive side but the last pair I had split after about 18 months.

My current fave wellies are "Muddies". They're neoprene so very warm and flexible, they have a comfortable, well designed insole, an excellent grippy sole and my current pair have put up with nearly three years of very heavy use. The only caveat ; they're rather too well insulated and can get rather hot in warm weather.

That's a great pity. My 8 year old pair are still going strong, although I don't wear them as often as Richard. I notice Hunters have become more of a fashion statement in the last few years with many different styles for the ladies. It looks like quality has been sacrificed in the name of fashion. I'll try the Aigles next.

Knowing you to be a fashion icon Steve...

I forgot to mention the Muddies are not the most elegant of wellies & SWMBO won't entertain a pair.

They are frigging wellies not dancing pumps FFS.  

I have a pair of Dunlop wellies bought over 10 years ago; lasted really well and do not leak. Reading reviews on Amazon it seems that they are currently made just as well and very reasonably priced

Guys, 

   I use hunters and they are ok, but maybe worth considering another option.

Why not try rigger boots instead. I use them for visits to work sites. The fur lining is great and the boots are great, and as good as wellies(with comfort)

Imagine if Naim equipment was made in China, on second thoughts, let's not!!!

And this is how a culture slowly dies. After passing from a long-lived "functional" phase to a brief (by definition) "fashion" phase, the iconic British "Wellie" fades into obscurity......

Have to say my Husqvarna Chainsaw Wellingtons seem to be nigh on indestructible and although heavy, they are comfortable enough to wear for many hours. They have saved me from getting crushed toes more than once. However, they're quite stiff and not the best for walking in.

I bought the Aigles because a number of friends had changed to them - some moving on from Hunters and others no longer willing to pay the high price for Le Chameaus.  So far, everyone seems pleased with them and most importantly they have remained water-tight .

Agree though that if you just want a basic waterproof boot, the old Dunlop is hard to beat.

We use various Dunlops at work, and these wear out quite quickly ... and the quality has also rapidly declined over the last two years. Whereas the grip would eventually be worn down after twelve to eighteen months, now they crack and leak long before this stage, sometimes after only six months daily use. But what else is there?

No doubt there is a place for a new company to produce durable high quality work-wear for a reasonable - non-rip-off, non-fashion - price. Argyles used to be good, but went down the drain years ago ...

ATB from George

Thanks for all the suggestions. The Aigles seem to be well regarded so I'll check those out.

Thanks again 

Not wellies, but the iconic Canadian outdoor footwear are Sorels. They make a range.

http://www.sorelfootwear.ca/Me...n-boots&view=all

Wellies ( Hunters  9 years old)  are useless on black ice as I found out walking the dogs early yesterday morning!

The Sorel's I bought in Newfoundland in the mid-90's are still going strong, but only wear them when the snow is deeper than 4".

For work I use a pair of STC Geo's, metatarsal, steel toe boots which I use when I go underground.  I use them with booties and they are very comfy, enough to wear on a 12 hour shift.

Which mine do you work at?

I still use the Sorels I bought in Juneau in the late-80s.  I rarely need them anymore around suburban Seattle.  As you say, only when the snow gets over ankle deep.  They are very warm.

I would say try a pair of green boots but what do i know. 

I provide controls support for Xstrata's Fraser Mine, which is near Sudbury. 

I'm with SRK. We do all sorts of stuff around there. I used to work for Anglo and for Rio, but never for Xstrata. But it is a small industry in a lot of ways. I'll let you now if I'm ever over that way.

In this age of easy research and discerning consumers, are high quality (but expensive) items getting harder to find? If the demand for quality is there, how is it rational that a manufacturer chooses lower cost and quality?

Unfortunately, the research aspect seems to be limited to "getting a deal". I suppose we end up with Amazon - selling Chinese made goods to people with no jobs.

“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray.