Glastonbury - Wellies or Boots - the eternal Question

[J77]

You have to take the wellies -- I was always a goretex boots person -- but the rain got too muc even for them.

 

[Stig]

Steel toe cap boots, of course.

Dance in 'em, kick things with 'em, walk into walls in 'em, and when you take them off use them as small anchors...

Bit heavy though. Once they've got their treads full of clag, you won't be racing anyone to the beer tent. I'm leaving my steel toecaps at home. Although if you're dancing in yours, I might be needing mine, after all.

 

[jigotai]

Has anyone experimented with waterproof socks?

 

[Skim]

Has anyone experimented with waterproof socks?

Not for £25 a pop

 

[Pieface]

Both this year - but if it rains bad I'll wear wellies - waterproof boots are only waterproof until the water goes over the top of them and there's plenty of places on site where that's likely to happen.

 

[Stig]

Has anyone experimented with waterproof socks?

I believe Sunray tried a pair in his bath, can't remember what the verdict was.

I'm not sure about those myself. If your boots leak, your feet are still going to be in an unhealthy damp environment all day regardless of how waterproof your socks are, and in those circumstances I'd be taking shoes and socks off completely at every opportunity and waggling my toes at a bit of fresh air.

 

[Hi-ASL]

 

[bouncer_the_dog]

Has anyone experimented with waterproof socks?

I have a pair and they are awesome! I used them with my Army Issue Combat boots at various glasto's. They kept my feet 100% dry. Even though my boots resembled two clumps of mud...

I got mine free though, and only have one left. So Wellies.

DM's are great boots, unless you want to do anything you'd require a boot for.

 

[cybertect]

If you're taking wellies, get some with a snug fit. I've seen enough people have them sucked off their feet by the Glasto mud.

 

[spitfire]

boots, polished up for waterproofing purposes.

has anyone wondered why the forces don't wear wellies?

 

[mr steev]

Having endured '97, '98 and 2004 my formula for survival is waterproof walking boots + gaiters.

Exactly what I was going to suggest (They got me through the wet ones in the 90's and the recent ones

If you're taking wellies, get some with a snug fit. I've seen enough people have them sucked off their feet by the Glasto mud.

And that's the main reason! That and sweaty feet and blisters

 

[paolo]

Goretex boots. Even when it's bad you can usually find a route that isn't that deep. In 2005 I managed to cross the burst whitelake river by tip toe-ing.

So anyone who lets water go over the top just isn't paying attention. Or, maybe, is just having a "better" time than me.

 

[Skim]

Perfect – the mud will wash off easily and there's a handy storage place for the keys to your tent.

At least I think the keys are for a tent

 

[In Bloom]

boots, plimsolls and as many pairs of socks as I can find clean before I go and a supply of plastic carrier bags and gaffa tape.

Using carrier bags as footwear is probably the worst idea ever. You end up with your feet just as sweaty as if you wore wellies, plus you're wearing a pair of ASDA bags on your feet.

 

[DrRingDing]

The ultimate muddy glasto footwear is gortex boots coupled with gortex gaitors. Keep your feet a comfortable temperature and nice and dry all festival.

Not horrible sweaty weelies that want to slide off all the time and rub your feet.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I just don't get why people spend ££££s on goretex boots - buy a pair of para boots for £20, get a tub of wax for around a fiver and bingo, boots that are just as waterproof.

People fight wars in them, and no matter how bad it gets glasto isn't THAT hardcore

 

[newbie]

Using carrier bags as footwear is probably the worst idea ever. You end up with your feet just as sweaty as if you wore wellies, plus you're wearing a pair of ASDA bags on your feet.

as you wish. Personally I've found that two pairs of socks with a placcy bag between them is perfectly acceptable, if not particularly elegant. Sure, your feet sweat a bit but they're far less wet and rubby than wearing sodden boots or plimsolls without the bags. Thery're cheap and light and I'll be taking a supply. ymmv

 

[J77]

I just don't get why people spend ££££s on goretex boots

People don't buy new stuff for glasto, do they...

 

[cybertect]

Thing is, some people do turn up with footwear as practical as this.

 

[aqua]

People don't buy new stuff for glasto, do they...

*hides new stuff from J77*

 

[Skim]

Thing is, some people do turn up with footwear as practical as this.

I've never seen anyone in heels at Glasto. Not even in Lost Vagueness

Bet there'll be loads of Crocs, though...

 

[mr steev]

Thing is, some people do turn up with footwear as practical as this.

Yeah, I remember seeing a couple of girls tottering around in stilletoes (one getting her heal caught in the metal drag! ) When I staggered past I overheard their conversation about not wanting to go to the Green Fields cos it was full of weirdos

The thing is with Glasto is that whatever the weather you tend to get up early and go to sleep very late, if at all! Imagine wearing wellies for 20 odd hours, and walking for miles in them! Boots and decent socks are the only way

 

[bouncer_the_dog]

I just got a pair of these

Antistatic PVC/Nitrile. Flexible moulded design with kick off lug, protective ankle padding & reflective rear strip. Resistant to mineral oils and hydrocarbons. Sole heat resistant to 90°C. Humitity management system to reduce humitity and heat build up. Pierce resistant steel midsole

Men's safety wellington boot with penetration resistant steel midsole. Provides protection to the bottom of the foot against penetration by sharp objects such as nails.
PVC/Nitrile. Manufactured to EN345.
Energy absorption heel. Red Sole.
Anti-static safety wellington boot.
Internal steel toe cap and steel midsole.
Usually despatched within 2 days

I accept the boot point, but wellies are convenient and very waterproof, it seems these are acid, radiation and heat proof too!!

 

[editor]

My Goretex rough'n'tough walking boots couldn't cope with the great knee high mud torrents of 2005, so it'll be boots and wellies for me.

 

[twister]

help!

I have a pair of size 11 wellies that I've just realised are a bit on the large size - any advice? thick socks? what else?

help pls. otherwise I can see myself losing them in the mud!!

 

[The_Reverend_M]

... or getting nasty blisters! (I did in 2005 )

 

[Cakes]

Wellies are good because:

• You can just plough through anything that's not deeper than your knees.
• They keep your trousers dry
• They slip on and off, no muddy laces
• Absolutely water proof, no fannying around with dubbing
• Easy to clean, dried mud just falls off
• Looks really cute with skirts and big socks

Wellies are bad because:

• When mud is sticky and deep they can get stuck*
• Calf chaff

*But it's never happened to me and I have a right laugh at people hopping around trying to pull their welly out of the mud.

 

[Lisarocket]

I've never seen anyone in heels at Glasto. Not even in Lost Vagueness

Bet there'll be loads of Crocs, though...

I'm sure i saw some daft girls tottering by the main stage the year Oasis played.

 

[Pie 1]

Trusty waterproofed CAT's for me with back up wellies if it gets too silly.

 

[bouncer_the_dog]

Too small and you'll get blisters... i rekon thick socks