If you live in rural Britain or simply love walking in the countryside all year round, there is one item of country clothing that you are bound to own: a pair of good, stout
Wellington boots. Whether you have to contend with mud, puddles or a mixture of both, rubber
wellies are undoubtedly the best footwear for the job.
Hunter Wellington boots are by far the best-known
wellies in the UK, even receiving worldwide fame with fans located across the world. Having been making them for more than a century, the
Hunter company has mastered the design of rubber Wellingtons and has developed specialist pairs for various uses.
In its manufacture of
welly boots,
Hunter uses a variety of materials to obtain the best possible performance and comfort. However, not just any old materials are chosen for use in
Hunter wellies. New fabrics go through a rigorous process of testing to ensure that they will perform at the highest levels and will be incredibly durable. Durability is an especially important issue to consider, since most Hunter
Wellington boots will be worked hard by their wearer and it is essential that they will last.
What are my Hunter boots made from?
Once the rubber arrives, it is mashed up, beaten and rolled out onto huge cutting tables, where different cutters (not unlike pastry cutters) are employed for each individual section of the boot. Step-by-step, each section is then placed on top of a metal 'last' (pictured at top of page) - starting with the neoprene or leather sock, then the heel piece, the rubber on the outside, the sole, and finishing with the famous Hunter logo - until an individual boot has been created.
The boots are then cooked, or vulcanised, in big ovens so all the molecules in the rubber are bonded together, making it stronger and waterproof. The boots are then trimmed, checked over thoroughly by one of the factory workers and packaged up for sale. There is very little waste as the unvulcanised rubber trimmings from the cutting table can just be mashed up and used again.
There are a number of fabrics which are used in the extensive range of
Hunter wellies, and not just the supple green rubber that makes up the outer surface of the boot. These materials include a number of advanced textiles which have been specially developed for high performance clothing and footwear.
Some Hunter boots include the revolutionary Outlast fabric. Amazingly, this was originally formulated for NASA in order to offer the best possible temperature control for astronauts through their clothing. This clever fabric takes excess heat and stores it until such a time it is needed, then releases it. In boots, an Outlast fabric means that your feet should not get either too hot or too cold.
Another material that is utilised by Hunter in its production of outdoor footwear is the eVENT fabric. This offers all-day dryness, as tiny pores in the material allow sweat and water vapour to be wicked away from the skin. It also promotes warmth, as dry skin is more likely to be warm skin. eVENT fabrics feature particularly prominently in the range of Hunter walking and
shooting boots.
A third high tech material used in Hunters New Balmoral Royal and Balmoral Sovereign range, is the ultimate in climate control designed for maximum warmth. Superb quality field featuring a unique luxury grain leather leg lining. Bringing new heights of warmth and comfort, one of Hunters premier
shooting boots.
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