For the past few years I have used wellingtons together with felt linings during the Finnish winter. However it seems I have to start looking for new ones as they are not going to last forever, you know. It seems that the newest trend on the agricultural field is boots made out of polyurethane. It is better insulator and more durable than rubber so I ask you if you have any experiences with these kind of boots?
Polyurethane boots
- Thread starter Martti
- Start date
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forestwalker
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
In 1981 (IIRC) Helly Hansen made a "Lundhags" style boot with polyurethane instead of rubber. Much lighter. Never seen them before or later, but they were *quite* stiff even for Lundhags style boots.
These are the current model manufactured by Finnish Sievin Jalkine. The weight of a Sievi Light Boot is c. 750 g while my current Nokian are 1200 g each.
Martti,
ages ago I had a pair of polyurethane wellingtons....they cracked and split after a while. I always thought a rubber wellie would have a longer life.
Maybe today the polyurethane has improved...as I recall it was around the ankles they split..maybe due to flexing.
ages ago I had a pair of polyurethane wellingtons....they cracked and split after a while. I always thought a rubber wellie would have a longer life.
Maybe today the polyurethane has improved...as I recall it was around the ankles they split..maybe due to flexing.
Wellington boots are my footware of choice now I'm not hiking. They are comfortable and warm and I can't see why more UK bushcrafters don't use them as most do little or no distance hiking (not to say some don't).
Don't know what mine are made of but they are not rubber.
Thumbs up for the welly from me polyurethane or not
Don't know what mine are made of but they are not rubber.
Thumbs up for the welly from me polyurethane or not
What about the US military Bunny Boot, or whatever they call it? Good down to -40F or lower, apparently! It's apparently a double layer with a sealed-in felt or summat insulator. May be a little extreme for England, although probably not Finland (if my trips to St Petersburg in the winter are anything to go by...)
Wellies need a fleece insole and probably a couple of fleece socks Otherwise they loose heat way too quickly....
Wellies need a fleece insole and probably a couple of fleece socks Otherwise they loose heat way too quickly....
No they don't loose heat to quickly if you use appropriate to season socks. In fact the open top (should you leave them open) allow feet to breath far better than an enclosed boot.
Errr..... I think I said that....
Anyone know the thermal co-efficient of rubber compared to leather?
Does it matter? Plenty of farmers are out all day in welly's without coming to harm.Errr..... I think I said that....
Anyone know the thermal co-efficient of rubber compared to leather?
I know from the literature that the thermal conductivity of air (at 20°C?) is 0,026 W/m²K, while for polyurethane it is 0,126 W/m²K. I have no value for leather nor rubber but for comparison the same value for wool is 0,193 W/m²K and for cotton 0,461 W/m²K. I suspect that values for rubber and leather are between the ones for wool and cotton.
