I bought a pair of Derri boots this time last year when I became fed up with the ill-fitting alternative winter boots I was wearing at the time. The Derri boots were recommended to me by a friend, and the salesman on the phone backed up my friends advice.

At around £45 they cost slightly more than I wanted to pay but I used the, 'you get what you pay for ' philosophy and exercised the moths from my wallet. When they turned up I was immediately pleased with my purchase. They look like serious boots!

They have removable fleecy inner linings made of polyester that display the label, 'Made in Great Britain' - always a bonus. I found that the big chunky soles with superb looking 'safety' grip made me feel like I'd switched into four wheel drive mode when wearing them on the bank. In the cold weather they do a great job of keeping your feet as warm as toast. Although the boots come up slightly higher than usual wellies to just below my knee, the actual water proof limit is around 3 inches below the top part of the boot. The top section is a soft cushioned material that adds to the comfort when wearing them.

Being so big and chunky does have one slight draw back. When wearing them I feel very cumbersome and clumsy - especially with a couple of pounds of mud wrapped around the bottom of them. Overall, if you're in the market for a new pair of winter boots you can't do much better than the Derri boot though your wallet may disagree!

Price £45.99

BFW rating 8 of 10

Available from www.hinders.co.uk

Andy Frances October 2001

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