More wellies

[pwhole]

I'm intrigued as to how the posh end of the Dunlop range would cope with underground - the 'Purofort + Full Safety' look the business, but they're incredibly expensive for wellies (over ?50 everywhere), and none stocked in a 'real shop' near me, as I'd like to try them on for that price - but if I knew they'd last me a few years I'd be tempted. Has anyone gone for the 'luxury option', I wonder?

http://www.dunlopboots.com/en/product/purofort-full-safety-1

 

[PaulW]

i've gone for the luxury option

so far only five trips underground and still look like new

neoprene lined and vibram sole

http://www.inglesport.com/caving/caving-clothing/gloves-boots-belts/hi-tec-para-boot.html

except mine are yellow

no complaints so far

except the price

i got mine from the outdoor shop near the city arms in wells

 

[Mike Hopley]

For ?45, you could also consider Etche canyoning boots. I would say they lasted not quite as long as Dunlop Suretread wellies, but had better grip.

And at the real luxury end -- about ?80, like Paul's paraboot -- there's the Five-ten Canyoneer 2. I've yet to see how these hold up, but they are comfy and light. And yellow!

 

[Geoff R]

Hum, having tried wellies over a few years , I now wear my knee high wetsuit socks with oversized >cheap< hill walking boots. 

As water used to quickly find its way over the top of my wellies to weigh me down, I finally ditched this loose fitting footware.  Walking to caves is kind of comfy and grippy in neoprene cushioned hill boots 

 

[Dingley Dell]

Those para boots and canyoning boots look the business...wellies in wet caves really aren't that great...feet weighing 10 times more than normal really isn't what you need on a waterfall climb.  I can't really justify the cost to myself at the moment though :-\

 

[ianball11]

Ten times heavier! Sounds like you've got the wrong sized wellies on ;-)

The Etche boots are what I feel are the top end of what I'd pay for boots but I'm always impressed by them.

Though sizing is a difficult to guess without trying them on.

http://www.starlessriver.com/shop/footweargloves/etche_boots


Hmm, they appear to be a fiver cheaper today than the last time I bought them! 

Those Dunlop Purofort ones look the dogs though!

 

[Dingley Dell]

Ten times heavier! Sounds like you've got the wrong sized wellies on ;-)

When full of water

I notice that Go Outdoors have the Dunlop ones Cap n Chris linked to, also for ?9.99.  Up until this Sunday there's an extra 10% of all prices too.
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/dunlop-pricemastor-wellington-p215453

 

[jonnyrocketboots]

Wellies your best bet, Just bear with it.  Cavings graft!  But with any sport, The more you do it and the more you train for it then the easier and the more fun the job becomes.  So, I would suggest bigger wellies on your next trip or offering to prussik with a bigger bag of wet rope underneath you.

Or could just f*** em off and cave without welligogs! I think commando style caving is for you Dingley D. Given your post about gloves as well!!

 

[bagpuss]

Those para boots and canyoning boots look the business...wellies in wet caves really aren't that great...feet weighing 10 times more than normal really isn't what you need on a waterfall climb.  I can't really justify the cost to myself at the moment though :-\

Empty them out before hand and have your trousers over your boots, more likely to run off them then. Drill some holes in the bottom also maybe? I used to cave in 50p carboot wellies, now I have a free pair given to me by my Nan. Never felt grip was an issue, neither of them have amazing soles.

 

[pwhole]

Surely your legs and feet occupy most of the space in your wellies? They don't hold that much water realistically, unless they're way too big. I even wear shin-pads when caving, as I don't fancy a broken leg underground, and that takes up even more room, so there's never more than a trickle actually tips out after a wading session. I prefer wellies mainly as they protect your legs right up to the knee, and are (generally) cheap enough to replace if they get crocked. I always scuff off the toe, revealing the steel cap (and letting in water), so reluctant to spend over ?50 unless I feel they can cope. But the Purofort + do look amazing...

 

[Mike Hopley]

Surely your legs and feet occupy most of the space in your wellies? They don't hold that much water realistically, unless they're way too big.

What if you have big feet but skinny calves?

Wellies aren't exactly form-fitting. You can easily end up with 2 kilos of water in each -- at least, that's what it was like for me.

 

[pwhole]

Well I'd definitely recommend the shin-pads trick then, as you get two benefits for the price of one. And they're only a fiver or so. Work a treat in nasty crawly rocky passage, and they've saved me more than once from tumbling deads! Puttrell said in 1904 after a trip to Bagshaw's Lower Streamway that he would have 'given good money for a stout pair of shin-pads' - and he should know about pain...

 

[Dingley Dell]

I think commando style caving is for you Dingley D. Given your post about gloves as well!!

Well, I'm partial to a bit of skinny dipping when I can, but when caving I'm happier with a bit of protection!  Besides, my pink marigolds gave rise to a club pose of 'jazz hands' when posing for group photos...

 

[Trig Gledhill]

Ten times heavier! Sounds like you've got the wrong sized wellies on ;-)

The Etche boots are what I feel are the top end of what I'd pay for boots but I'm always impressed by them.

Though sizing is a difficult to guess without trying them on.

http://www.starlessriver.com/shop/footweargloves/etche_boots


Hmm, they appear to be a fiver cheaper today than the last time I bought them! 

Those Dunlop Purofort ones look the dogs though!

Very old thread I know but anyone buying these, be warned but they are like 2 sizes bigger than what they say they are!

But epic for caving once you get a good size


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[wormster]

My current Wet Cave Wellies are Dikies steel toecaps (free from the Belfry a few moons ago!), they work well when you drill 3 5mm holes on your instep, combined with knee length wetsocks its a no braner. Comfort in digs/mines (pinke toes not being crushed under naasty rocks), warm feets care of the wetsocks, and every time you put your foot down you "Pump Ship" and disperse the water!!!

 

[Ed]

I'm still after a pair of these in 7

http://www.glow.co.uk/glow-in-the-dark-wellington-boots.html

 

[pete_the_caver]

I recently purchased a pair of wellies made by Wayne Safety, a South African company, from Hay and Brecon farmers.  These are PVC/nitrile and a large fitting (I split size 12 Suretreds). They have a very grippy sole and so far I have found them to be superior to Suretreds. Mine have the name Wayne Moulded into the sole but they also sometimes come with a different name I can't remember printed on the side with a picture of what might be a Wildebeest


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