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gear of the week

Gear of the week | Wellies

Tried and tested and yet underestimated

by Klara Stang 03/24/2024
Time-tested and yet underestimated. Wellies have been around in Europe since around 1850, ten years after the Briton Charles Goodyear discovered "rubber" made from plasticised rubber mixed with sulphur and carbon black. Since then, they have not only been a favourite shoes for anglers and children, but also for many Japanese people on Hokkaido.

I myself came to Hokkaido with my Line Booties. Comfortable and warm, but simply not high enough for the Japanese snowfall at night. So a new solution had to be found quickly. I was inspired by the Japanese people.
Almost EVERYONE walks around with rubber boots in everyday life here. Whether in the supermarket, in the sushi shop around the corner, at the office or in the workshop. The wellies are always there. And not without reason. They keep you warm and, unlike most shoes, are non-slip and, of course, waterproof.

The DIY stores in Japan sell them in all variations, colours, sizes and different features. What is definitely recommended are rubber boots with an insulating liner, which keep your feet a little warmer in the cold temperatures on Hokkaido. The liner is replaceable and can be bought separately if necessary. In summer, the liner can of course also be left out. The model I opted for also has an upper cuff that can be tightened to prevent snow from falling into the shaft. A gadget that has proved its worth several times. Another accesory, which was not necessary for me, are attachments for the wellies, which provide more grip.

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You pay an average of 3,000 yen (the equivalent of 18 euros) for a rubber boot in the mid-price segment with warm liners. That may not seem super-cheap, but it's definitely worth it. If style is more important to you, you will have to pay a little more. But then there are also plush, patent and leather versions.


I tested my wellies here over the winter and am extremely satisfied. My feet were always dry, but the insulation deteriorated a little over time because the liner leaked slightly. Without the wellies with their pull-on cuff, I would certainly have gotten my feet wet on the way to work or on tour, and it wasn't unusual for the fresh snow in the morning to be knee-deep.

Hooray for the well-known rubber boot and the further development by the Japanese.

This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

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