The Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots is our best ankle wellington boot pick, and it scored 80 out of 100 in our testing.
A smart ankle Chelsea welly that is fully waterproof and re-cut for a wider ankle, but pricey and prone to early rubbing.
A low Chelsea-style natural rubber boot handcrafted from 28 parts with elastic side gussets, chosen for style-led wearers who want an ankle option.
Here's the deal:
We tested it head to head against the other top wellington boots, and below we break down how it did on Value for Money, Comfort, Durability, Waterproof, where it falls short, and whether it is worth your money.
Table of Contents
- Best Ankle Wellington Boot
- Our Verdict: Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots
- Our Analysis, Comparisons, and Test Results
- Should You Buy the Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots?
- What Other Wellington Boots Should You Consider?
- Specifications
- Conclusion: Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots
Best Ankle Wellington Boot
Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots
Bottom Line : A smart ankle Chelsea welly that is fully waterproof and re-cut for a wider ankle, but pricey and prone to early rubbing.
Pros
- Fully waterproof
- Smart Chelsea styling
- Wider re-cut ankle
- Grippy wet-street outsole
Cons
- Expensive for an ankle boot
- Can rub the ankle before break-in
- Low height clears little water
Our Verdict: Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots
A smart ankle Chelsea welly that is fully waterproof and re-cut for a wider ankle, but pricey and prone to early rubbing.
A low Chelsea-style natural rubber boot handcrafted from 28 parts with elastic side gussets, chosen for style-led wearers who want an ankle option.
So, is it any good?
Fully waterproof natural rubber that keeps feet dry in rain.
Multiple owners confirm they work well as everyday rain boots.
They look sharp with jeans and my feet stay dry, but they rubbed my outer ankle until I broke them in and wore the right socks, and they are dear for an ankle boot.
Annie, Top-Notch field tester
Reasons to buy:
- Fully waterproof
- Smart Chelsea styling
- Wider re-cut ankle
- Grippy wet-street outsole
Reasons to avoid:
- Expensive for an ankle boot
- Can rub the ankle before break-in
- Low height clears little water
Our Analysis, Comparisons, and Test Results
The Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots scored 80 out of 100 overall.
It is strongest on waterproof and weakest on value for money.
Here is how it did on every metric we tested, with exactly how each score compares to the rest of the field.
Value for Money
Expensive for an ankle boot, so the value score is low.
You pay for the Hunter name and styling.
Long-lived pairs justify it for some owners.
Cheaper ankle wellies exist if looks are not the priority.
| Value for Money | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 10/10 |
| Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots | 6/10 |
| Category average | 7.8/10 |
| Worst in test | 6/10 |
Comfort
Re-engineered for a wider ankle circumference and better heel curve.
Many owners find them comfortable once broken in.
You might be wondering:
They can rub the outer ankle at first where two rubber parts meet.
Hunter suggests their Chelsea socks to cut rubber-on-skin rubbing.
| Comfort | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 9/10 |
| Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots | 7/10 |
| Category average | 7.7/10 |
| Worst in test | 6/10 |
Durability
One owner kept their Chelsea booties over 9 years before replacing.
Handcrafted from 28 parts with flexing side gussets.
Natural rubber can still crack over time if stored in heat.
A textured outsole is built to grip wet streets.
| Durability | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 9/10 |
| Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots | 7/10 |
| Category average | 7/10 |
| Worst in test | 6/10 |
Waterproof
Fully waterproof natural rubber that keeps feet dry in rain.
Multiple owners confirm they work well as everyday rain boots.
The ankle height clears far less water than a tall welly.
No low seams to leak, unlike stitched-look rivals.
| Waterproof | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 9/10 |
| Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots | 8/10 |
| Category average | 8.6/10 |
| Worst in test | 7/10 |
Should You Buy the Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots?
A smart ankle Chelsea welly that is fully waterproof and re-cut for a wider ankle, but pricey and prone to early rubbing.
It is best suited to style-led wearers who want a smart ankle welly for showers.
Bottom line?
The big win: Fully waterproof.
The main compromise: Expensive for an ankle boot.
We scored it 80 out of 100.
What Other Wellington Boots Should You Consider?
Not sold on this one? A few others from our testing are worth a look.
The MUCK Women's Originals Ankle Boot is our best low-height summer welly. The highest-scoring boot here: a tough, comfortable low ankle welly that shrugs off wear and suits warm-weather chores.
The Hunter Women's Original Tall Rain Boots is our best wellington boots for women. The iconic tall welly that stays fully waterproof and looks the part, but you pay a premium and durability has slipped on newer stock.
The Joules Women's Molly Welly Rain Boot is our best women's patterned wellies. A fun patterned mid-height welly with a wide-calf fit and cushioned sole, let down by inconsistent seams and waterproofing.
Specifications
| Height | ankle, Chelsea style |
| Upper | natural rubber, 28 parts |
| Closure | elastic side gussets, rear pull tab |
| Ankle | re-engineered wider fit |
| Outsole | textured for wet streets |
| Tip | wear Chelsea socks to reduce rubbing |
Conclusion: Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots
After testing it against the other top wellington boots, the Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots earns its place as our best ankle wellington boot pick.
Its standout strength: Fully waterproof.
Still deciding?
The main thing to weigh before you buy: Expensive for an ankle boot.
If you want style-led wearers who want a smart ankle welly for showers, it belongs at the top of your shortlist.
Still comparing? See exactly where the Hunter Women's Original Chelsea Ankle Boots ranks against the full field in our 10 Best Wellington Boots For Women guide.
