I tried a pair of expensive winter boots to see if…

I tried a pair of expensive winter boots to see if they were worth the price tag

Let's be honest, wellington boots can sometimes come at a hefty fee, and I often wonder if the weather resistant footwear is worth the price tag or not.

We're thoroughly in to boot weather now and let this be your sign to put down the trainers and get yourself a pair of cute new wellies - your wet socks will thank you. I have a love-hate relationship with wellington boots - while they may be the only option for muddy field dog walks or wet weather school runs they're often ill-fitting, cold, uncomfortable and, dare I say it, a bit ugly.

That's why when I heard about Merry People's Bobbi boot that is said to be 'designed for utmost comfort' and available in a range of stunning block colours, I had to give them a go.

Now I must admit I had my doubts, first off Merry People is an Australian brand and a quick Google search confirmed my suspicions that we Brits see more than double the amount of rain than our Aussie friends. So what would they know about making a practical rain shoe (or gumboot as they call them)?

It turns out my doubts were unfounded however.

The Bobbi boot is an ankle length welly that is made with natural rubber, neoprene-lined and vegan. The aforementioned bold colours include beetroot and light pink, pear green, mustard yellow and black, and orange and pomegranate.

I went for the orange and pomegranate as not only was it a stunning autumn colour but also matched a lot of the dark greens and browns that I tend to wear in the colder months.

Putting the boots on for the first time was incredible. You know when you try a shoe on and you just know they're a good fit? Yeah I've never had that with wellies before. Wellies always feel a bit odd, a bit unsupportive, a bit like you're putting your foot into a wide and shapeless bit of unmoveable plastic. The Bobbi boot has a fabric lining that not only keeps your feet warm but also has some give to it so is quite supportive. My feet felt snug.

Given the typical winter weather in the UK it wasn't long until I had some perfect ground to give the boots a proper test drive, with not only mud and rain but also a bit of ice and slush too for good measure.

The boots have a durable tread and the grip is pretty decent on them considering they're not hiking or trail boots. They are, as you would expect, 100 per cent water proof so walking through wet fields, rainy streets or muddy woodland is effortless. They're also nice and easy to clean and I managed to get most of the dirt off with a simple wipe down.

The boots come in a number of colours like lavender (Merry People)

While the boots have fabric at the ankle, meaning you couldn't go wading through incredibly deep puddles, for general wet weather walks these are fantastic.

As for the all-important look of them, I was genuinely surprised by how many outfits they look good with. I was expecting them to pair well with my typical work clothes - black skirt and tights - but I wasn't sure if the same would be said about green tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie. But no, they don't look out of place at all. Not only are they a practical solution to my work commute but they have also added a pop of colour to my usually dark winter outfits.

All-in-all the Merry People Bobbi boot would make a great choice for anyone looking for a pair of cute wellies they can throw on for the dog walk or the walk to work. If I had managed to score Glastonbury tickets they would definitely be the shoes I'd be taking as they would no-doubt take on the muddy fields but also stand out as a colourful pair of shoes to go with a summery festival outfit.

The Bobbi boot is available from Merry People for £79.95. Shop the full range of colours here.

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