Choosing Barefoot Wellies For All Year Around

Wellington Boots are one of life's essentials! In a barefoot wellington we are looking for a flat sole with no heels or arch support, a wide foot shaped toe box, minimal cushioning and the most flexible sole possible. Oh and they have to be made of natural rubber or other soft natural materials. This is a big ask and wellington boots can be one of the hardest products to find in a barefoot option. The search for the perfect barefoot wellington for both adults and children is one of our ongoing missions at Happy Little Soles and whilst we keep searching we have a good few options to share with you.

Bundgaard

Bundgaard is the only children's brand to specifically designate a range of their wellingtons as barefoot and they have long been our most popular brand for children's wellingtons. 

Bundgaard Kids Classic Charly High Wellingtons Raspberry 

They offer a great range of classic rubber boots in a lovely array of colours and patterns along with a choice of heights, top designs and linings. Their Classic Charly High is our best selling wellington, it is made from natural rubber and lined with a comfy cotton & textile lining. We love the classic colurs but also can't get enough of the multi colours and dinosaur print wellies.

Bundgaard Charly High Welly Lilac           Bundgaard Charly High Welly Navy           Bundgaard High Welly Navy Multi           Bundgaard Charly High Welly Dinosaur

They have a super wide and square shaped toe box with a flexible and zero drop sole unit. A great choice and available in sizes from EU20 to 38.

Bundgaard Kids Classic Charly Low Wellingtons Sunflower

The Charly also comes in a low version which works well for chubbier calves and for wearing with waterproof trousers.

Their new Cover boots are another good option, designed as a first wellington, especially for the littlest feet, they come in sizes EU19 to 23. It is lovely and light weight with a thin, flexible zero drop sole unit and available in a variety of prints and colours, including this pretty pink bunny rabbit print.

Bundgaard Kids Cover Wellingtons Rabbit Rose 

It has a nice wide fit with a good anatomical, square, shape to the toe box. It is made from natural rubber with a comfy cotton and textile lining and a nylon drawstring top to help keep splashes out.

Mikk-Line

The Mikk-Line rain boots were one of our first wellingtons and therefore one of our oldest brands and were a real find for us.

Mikk-Line Kids Wellington Giraffe

Whilst not specifically designed as a barefoot wellington they are really lightweight, lovely and flexible with a nice round toe box, a great slip resistant sole and a minimal heel. Not as wide as the Bundgaard they are great for medium width feet.

Mikk-Line Kids Wellies Blue Nights              Mikk-Line Kids Wellies Sunflower             Mikk-Line Kids Wellies Dusty Olive              Mikk-Line Kids Wellies Burlwood

If you have an animal lover in your household then they will love our Mikk-line giraffe and lion wellingtons too. They are also lightweight and flexible with a nice round toe box and a minimal heel but with the added animal zoo animal theme.

                                                                  Mikk-Line Kids Wellies Lion                         Mikk-Line Kids Wellies Giraffe 

Aigle

The Aigle Lollipop is another good wellington boot and suitable for narrow to medium width feet. They are a high quality boot, made from a lovely natural rubber with a flexible, slip resistant rubber sole. Soft and lightweight these boots have a nice round toe box and a great slip resistant sole. They are very hard wearing but not as wide or square in the toe box as either the Bundgaard or Mikk-Line.

 Aigle Lolly Pop Wellies Yellow                     Aigle Lolly Pop Wellies Roi                       Aigle Lolly Pop Wellies Sky Blue                     Aigle Lolly Pop Wellies Red 

Spotty Otter

Spotty Otter are our narrowest fitting wellington boot but also our hardest wearing. They are really durable with a nice and grippy sole unit that is perfect for all off-road adventures.

                 Spotty Otter Forest Leader Fleece Lines Wellies Red                  Spotty Otter Ranger Wellies Navy                Spotty Otter Ranger Wellies Yellow 

Xero Gracie

Finally one for the adults! The Xero Gracie is a rare adult barefoot wellington boot, it is our first and our one and only! It is a classic ankle height wellington with a nice foot shaped toe box. The nice wide sole unit is made of a non-slip rubber with elasticated side panels and front and rear tabs to make them easy to take on and off.

                      Xero Gracie Rain Boots Yellow                             Xero Gracie Rain Boots Black                                 Xero Gracie Rain Boots Hunter

Check out a review of these boots here.

Caring for your Wellington Boots

One of the biggest issues we face is that of longevity, the soft natural rubber that wellingtons tend to be made from are great for lightness and flexibility but not so good for durability. In a non-barefoot wellington you can improve durability by increasing the thickness of the sole and the height of the heel to give more rubber to wear through. This just isn’t an option for a barefoot wellington where you want the thinnest possible sole and no heel at all. This is what makes a barefoot wellington a real challenge!

We would never recommend wearing wellingtons on tarmac or other hard surfaces as this will wear them out a lot quicker. Save your wellingtons for off-road and when really needed to keep feet dry. We would also recommend alternating your footwear and never wearing wellingtons all day every day. It is always better for feet to have more securely attached footwear where possible. This will reduce wear to your wellies and be healthier for feet.

For more information on how to care for your Wellingtons please see our Blog post 'Caring for Wellington Boots'.

And Finally

Where puddle jumping and paddling is concerned you can’t beat a wellington. At Happy Little Soles we feel that we now have a great collection to fit every foot type and give a good balance between softness, flexibility and durability.

 Bundgaard Charly High Welly Navy

If you need any help choosing the right wellingtons for your little one don't hesitate to get in touch with our helpful Customer Service Team and we will be able to advise on the best option.