Hi-Tec is a deep-rooted sports shoe brand dating all the way back to 1974, when Frank van Wezel (in the wonderfully named village of Shoeburyness) created their first Squash shoe. Now they produce everything from sandals to wellies- a pair of which we tested out over a long weekend. The Neo Waterproof Wellington Boots are a fully waterproof knee high boot; we were testing out the Plum colour but they are also available in Navy. There is no faffing about with these boots, you just simply pull them on and off you go. There is an adjustable buckle on the side that widens the calf from about 14inchs to nearly 18.5inchs. The boots are handmade from a strong vulcanised rubber, they are shaped at the calf and ankle for a better fit and the EVA foot bed adds underfoot cushioning and is shaped to fit the natural contours of the foot. I did find however that the shaping around the ankle created a vacuum around the foot resulting in the need for a good hard tug to pull them off.

The Plum coloured Neo’s are lined with a pink polyester that will help keep your feet warm in cold conditions, but we found on warmer days this feature was uncomfortable; making for sweaty calf’s. The Neo’s seem to be designed for a slightly wider foot, this did make them more bearable when in hot weather; as they accommodated any swelling happily. They have a really deep tread which provides excellent grip on muddy surfaces and water logged grass, the thick rubber makes them a force to be reckoned with (no worries about accidental damage).

I was a little disappointed with the finish of the boots, the split down the outside of the boot looks like the owner has just cut it themselves with a sharp knife, some of the lining along this slit is frayed- there is thread sticking out by the heel and some of the rubber edges could be tidied up. Having said that, aesthetic details aside, these wellingtons faired really well over a weekend with a few heavy showers and a large amount of mud, keeping my feet completely dry and providing a steady footing throughout. For the price I would like to see a cleaner finish but apart from that they are a good hardy boot. RRP £49.99

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3.8 out of 5

Pros

Fully waterproof

Adjustable calf width

Deep tread for steady footing

Slightly wider fit

Contoured fitting around ankle and calf

Cons

They get hot in warm weather

Tatty finish

Needs a good hard tug to get them off (especially with hot feet)