Merry People Welly Review: Are They Worth It for the Price Tag? (Honest Verdict)

Bethan Robinson
2 days ago
6 min read

Side view of new Merry People Wellies infront of the pizza oven at The Welsh Farm Glamping.

This review has been a long time coming. I've had my Merry People boots for a year now, and I've tested them in all terrain and in all seasons — from beaches in South Wales to muddy mountains in Brecon, and every muddy changeover day on the farm in between. Here is my honest Merry People welly review: the great, the not so great, and whether they're actually worth the price tag.

Who Is This Merry People Welly Review For?

This review is for dog walkers, outdoor people, and anyone who uses their wellies in all terrain. These are not office wellies or city-strolling wellies. These boots are getting worked.

I run a glamping site in Wales, which means my wellies go through it. Changeovers on the farm, dog walks in the rain, treks down to the beach, walks up in the Brecons — I wear wellies almost every day and I need them to perform. If that sounds like your life, read on.

Over the past year I've worn my Merry People boots for short dog walks, full days on the farm, beach trips, and multi-hour hikes. They've had a proper workout, and I can give you an honest picture of how they hold up.

Merry People Wellies, let’s break down my experience:

Comfort

Let me get straight to the point where I really struggled. Comfort was a problem, at first.

I ordered a size six bobbi boot in rust, because I tried on a friend's size fives and they felt too snug. Once they arrived, the size six was fine on one foot but felt a touch big on the other. I assumed, based on the glowing reviews online, that these boots would just be gloriously comfortable from day one. I was wrong.

I wore them on the Waterfalls Walk in Brecon, a three to four hour hike around Sgwd Yr Eira and by the end, the backs of my ankles were red raw and painful, basically neoprene burn marks. (Highly recommended walk before or after your stay at The Welsh Farm Glamping!)

I was in so much pain, but when you've committed to a long walk, there's not much you can do except push through, which I did, in genuine discomfort. For those wondering, yes, I was wearing thick socks. I was seriously disappointed, because they look so good.

Lower leg from above with a rub line just above the ankle going across horizontally on the leg from the Merry People welly boots. Background grass.

The fix that changed everything

After a bit of trial and error, I bought insoles from Amazon, glorious spongy, cushioned insoles, and they were a game changer. With the insoles in place, my fit improved and I guess the boot stopped moving around, and the ankle rubbing completely stopped. I can now do full dog walks and farm days without any issues.

This is worth knowing before you buy, because when your wellies cost around £89.95 you’re not factoring in another £10 on insoles. Add them to your budget.

Fit, Quality and Sizing

The sizing runs fairly true, but if you have short wide feet like me, you’ll likely need to size up. The fives were way too snug for me, the sixes a little loose.

I sat somewhere in between and could probably have done with a 0.5 (not an option). If you're between sizes, I'd lean toward the larger size and use insoles to fine-tune the fit. That worked for me.

The neoprene lining feels quality. The boot as a whole feels quality, solid, well-made, and easy to slip on and off. Overall for quality 5/5

Style vs Function

Let's talk about looks, because this is where Merry People shine. Mine are in rust — one of their best sellers — and honestly, they are stunning. A year in, after nearly daily use on a working farm, I can clean them up and they still look almost as good as the day I bought them. This really surprised me.

With other welly brands I've had in the past, namely Joules and Hunter, I find after a year they start to discolour, go a bit crinkly and split. My Merry People boots have a few scratches that I can’t fully rub out, but the overall condition is impressive for how hard they've been used.

Waterproofing and Mud Performance

No complaints here whatsoever. These boots are seriously waterproof. I've worn them down the beach, through muddy puddles, and across sodden fields, and I haven't had a wet sock yet. They are ankle boots rather than knee-highs, so I'm mindful of how deep I go in water, but within their design, the waterproofing is excellent.

Mud performance is solid too. They clean up well and don't hold onto mud in a way that becomes annoying or discolours the wellies.

How Do They Compare to Hunter and Joules Wellies?

I've previously owned Hunter wellies and Joules wellies, and I loved both for different reasons. My Hunters looked incredibly smart. My Joules were fun, patterned boots that felt very me.

But here's the thing: both of them degraded over time. They cracked at both my ankles and the flex point on the toe. Which obviously means leaks. I’d be inclined to call them fashion boots more than functional farm boots.

Merry People boots, despite their sleek styling, are built to last. After a year of near-daily use, walking the dog, hitting the beach, long hill walks and changeovers on the farm (and I cannot stress enough how hard all that is on a boot) they still look and feel as good as they did when I got them.

That's remarkable. I can run in them, jump in them, climb in them, hike in them. With the insoles in, they feel secure enough for all of it.

If you need a boot that will genuinely last and perform, Merry People has the edge. If you want something purely decorative and don't mind replacing it every couple of years, then cheaper options do the job.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

✅ Exceptional durability	❌ Initial comfort issues without insoles
✅ Genuinely waterproof	❌ Sizing can be tricky between sizes
✅ Looks great after a year of heavy use	❌ Premium price point
✅ Performs in all terrain	❌ Ankle boot height limits deep water
✅ Easy to clean

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Merry People wellies true to size?

Broadly yes, but the gap between sizes is noticeable. If you're between sizes, or have short fat feet, I'd suggest going larger and using insoles to dial in the fit.

Are Merry People boots good for wide feet?

Size up and get insoles. Try them on if you can, or order from somewhere with a good return policy.

How warm are Merry People neoprene wellies?

The neoprene lining does add warmth compared to a standard rubber welly. They've been comfortable for me across all seasons in Wales, including cold winters.

Are Merry People wellies worth the price?

Yes — with a caveat. They are an investment, but they genuinely hold up. A year of daily farm use and they still look and perform brilliantly. Compared to cheaper boots I've replaced every year or two, the cost per wear (so far!) works out favourably.

Where are Merry People wellies made?

Merry People is an Australian brand. For the most current manufacturing details, check their website directly.

My Verdict on Merry People Wellies

Merry People wellies are not perfect out of the box — I want to be honest about that. If you wear them straight into a long hike without insoles and the sizing isn't spot on, you will feel it. That initial experience genuinely put me off them for a while.

But a year on, with insoles in and the fit sorted, they are outstanding boots. The durability alone justifies the price tag. They still look incredible, they perform brilliantly in mud and water, they have grip and they've held their shape and colour far better than any welly I've owned before.

My recommendation: Buy them, buy insoles at the same time, and don't skip the break-in period. They will earn their place as your go-to outdoor boot.

Have you tried Merry People wellies? I'd love to hear how you've got on with them — especially if you're a fellow dog walker or glamper. Drop a comment below.