The perfect wellies for rowing?
Like many rowers, I spend a fair bit of time wading around in the river and, like many rowers, I’m a little bit obsessed by wellies. Needless to say, I’ve developed some fairly strong views on what wellies (or rain boots, as I believe my American friends call them) are the best for rowing.
First and foremost, they must be long enough. I can’t be doing with wellies that only come half way up your calf. I’m told by a fashionista friend that this is more flattering, but soggy socks are not a good look by anybody’s standards.
Equally importantly, they have to be easy to slip on and off. Nothing worse than faffing around in the boat trying to haul off your wellies just as the boat is being pushed off.
Third, they should be foldable so that you can stow them in the boat, unless you’re one of those types who throw their wellies on to the bank for everyone else to trip over (you know who you are – stern look).
Fourthly, they should be a balance between affordable and sturdy. Contrary to popular belief, most rowers are not rich so we can’t all splash out (if you’ll forgive the pun) on expensive boots, but at the same time the cheapest ones, as I learned to my cost this summer, perish quickly and soon start to leak.
Finally, being horribly vain, they must be either beautiful or match my kit. One or the other; I don’t mind which. I’m not good enough at rowing to get away with the “chuck any old kit on and still look good on the water” approach (unlike the lovely but frankly quite terrifying Anna at somethingaboutrowing who violently disagrees with me on this score – see her rule 29). So, I’m sticking with fashion and wellies must look fabulous to earn my love.
With all this in mind, I was thrilled when Hunter (they of the famous green wellies and also the Oxford and Cambridge University crews’ boots in dark and light blue for the Boat Race) contacted me to find out if I’d like to trial their new range of RHS floral wellies. Admittedly, they were really hoping for a review of their gardening wellies, but when I explained that as a rower I was more interested in using them on the river than in the vegetable patch, they kindly obliged.
They actually sent me two pairs. One pair (pictured above) were for me to try on (in?) the river; the second were proper gardening boots (more about those later).
I have to admit I rather fell in love with the flowery beauties, but it’s only fair to tell you that not everyone shared my feelings. My fellow scullers this weekend were underwhelmed by their loveliness. I’ll have to let you form your own judgement about them (incidentally you can also get them in pink and black; I found it hard to choose). Anyway, as far as I was concerned, they fulfilled the visual criteria. And what about the rest of the requirements?
Yes to the length; they came right up to my knees.
Another thumbs up for ease of slipping on and off; no problems here.
They also passed the stowability test, fitting neatly in front of my footplate and making quite a handy cupholder for my water, too.
As to cost, this, I’m afraid is the one area in which they fell down. Hunter is a classy brand and has a classy price tag. This lovely legwear retails at an eye-watering £79 (gasp). Of course, you’re getting a well-made welly with the Hunter label on it, but yes, it’s still a lot of money.
So there we have it. I’m thrilled with mine, and if you’re feeling flush and fancy some florals, these could be the wellies for you.
I should, in fairness, give an honourable mention to Joules, which has a range of wellies with a zip up the back, which is marvellous for quick release. It’s worth noting that (in addition to being still quite expensive) they have a “lip” at the ankles designed, presumably, to stop them slipping off, which makes them hard to remove at speed in the boat and does rather detract from the benefit of the zip. Still, I can’t deny that the zip is a genius idea, especially if your calves are a little on the, ahem, meaty side.
Both types of boot available from www.hunter-boot.com.
