You need the right footwear in winter to ensure your feet are warm and dry. They also make sure you won’t slip, fall, and hurt yourself. Whether you are working on a farm or enjoying an outdoor activity, wellingtons can be ideal for the cold months. However, you have to make sure you don’t let the conditions destroy them. We want to look at that here to give you some advice.

What to think about?

Wellies are designed to deal with moisture. So, they can easily withstand how wet and soggy it can get in winter. They are also really durable when it comes to mud and muck. But, you need to think about some things here if you want to protect them. For example, you shouldn’t leave them caked in mud because it can cause wear and cracks.

You need to be particularly careful with things like rock salt. It can be everywhere to melt ice and reduce the risk of people slipping over. However, it can cause streaks on wellies.

You also need to think about other harmful materials, especially when you are farming or out in the wild. There are plenty of things that can damage wellingtons, including manure.

Cleaning

The most important thing if you want to ensure the winter won’t damage your boots is to clean them regularly. Do it to get rid of mud, salt, and other contaminants.

In many cases, a rinse and a wipe will be enough to get rid of all the dirt and other things you don’t want on your wellies. However, you may also need to give them a brush to help with this. Sometimes it can be better to let mud dry first.

Drying

It is also important to dry your boots properly. Some people leave them outside because they are wet. While it can help with drying in the short term, you can’t leave wellingtons outside all the time or you risk the materials degrading.

Drying them near a heat source is also not a good idea, whether it is a radiator, a heater, or even the oven. The heat can actually pull moisture out of the material, making it brittle and prone to cracking.

The best thing to do is let them dry a little outside. You can use a towel to get rid of excess water. Then put them in a cool space with good ventilation. Make sure they aren’t in direct sunlight. Plus, don’t leave them folded over; you can stuff them with newspaper to ensure they keep their shape and dry properly.

Taking them off

Finally, you need to be careful when you are taking your wellingtons off. If you don’t do it properly, you are risking destroying them. While the materials are durable, over time if you stand on the toe of a boot to pull it off or wedge it under a step, you can weaken it. Eventually, it can rip.

The best thing to do is use your hands or a boot jack to get them off. It will be much gentler on the materials. Jacks are a great idea because they hold the boot in place so you simply lift your foot out.

If you take care, your wellies can survive the winter and will still be comfortable and reliable for the rest of the year. It will be much better for your feet and your wallet.

Browse for wellingtons

JS Hubbuck Ltd has been working with farmers for generations. We also provide a number of great products for shooting and other outdoor activities. Good boots are important for all of these, ensuring your feet will be safe, warm, and comfortable. We have some really great ones, including some of the leading brands. You can browse and learn more about them on our website.