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What’s This About
Hunter is a British maker of rubber Wellington boots, and its best-documented link with the royal family is a pair of royal warrants for waterproof footwear, from the Duke of Edinburgh in 1976 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1986.
This guide covers the brand’s history, its royal warrants and practical ways to wear rubber boots, such as:
Tall boots with tucked-in jeans at a muddy festival
Green boots with cord trousers and a waxed jacket in the country
Short rubber Chelsea boots with chinos in town
Rubber boots over a suit on a very wet commute
Warmer socks and a parka for snow and slush
and many more!
Choose the boot height for the ground you walk on, and dress the rest of the outfit for the weather.
Key Points
01Hunter traces its history to the North British Rubber Company, founded in Edinburgh in 1856.
02Its green Original boot was first made in 1955 or 1956 (sources differ).
03Tall boots suit deep mud; short and Chelsea styles are easier in town.
04Fit boots with the socks you will wear and check room in the calf.
Hunter is a British maker of rubber Wellington boots, best known for its tall green Original boot.
The company traces its history to the North British Rubber Company, set up in Edinburgh in 1856, which made trench boots for the British Army in the First World War and first made its green Original boot in 1955 or 1956 (sources differ).
Hunter boots are a familiar sight at muddy music festivals such as Glastonbury and on country walks, which is why many men search for celebrities wearing them.
This guide sets out Hunter’s documented royal warrants, then shows six practical ways to wear rubber boots, whichever maker you choose.
A Note on Celebrity Brand Claims
Festival and street photographs often credit a pair of rubber boots to Hunter without any confirmation from the brand, the wearer or a stylist.
Hunter’s best-documented link with the royal family is its royal warrants: it received Royal Warrants as a supplier of waterproof footwear from the Duke of Edinburgh in 1976 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1986.
A warrant shows that the company supplied the royal household; it is not a record of what either of them wore on a given day.
Warrants lapse after the grantor’s death, so these two date the connection rather than describe the present.
Many online lists name famous men in Hunter boots without a dated source, so we do not repeat them here.
Well-made tall rubber boots look right when the rest of the outfit is practical and suited to the weather.
1. At a Muddy Festival
Rubber boots keep your feet dry in a field that has turned to mud, and they rinse clean afterwards.
Wear trousers that sit over the boot or tuck neatly inside it; wide trousers bunched at the top of a tall boot look untidy and let rain run in.
Wear: a waxed cotton or waterproof jacket, a plain T-shirt or flannel shirt, slim or straight dark jeans tucked into tall black or green rubber boots, a cap and a light jumper for the evening.
2. On a Country Walk
For walks on wet ground, tall boots in green, navy or black sit naturally with country clothes in earthy colours.
Wear: a quilted or waxed jacket in olive or navy, a checked flannel shirt, a lambswool jumper, cord or moleskin trousers tucked into tall green rubber boots, and thick wool socks.
3. In Town on a Wet Day
Short rubber boots or rubber Chelsea boots are easier to wear in town, because they sit under the trouser hem like a normal boot.
Wear: a navy or khaki mac, a grey crew-neck jumper over an Oxford shirt, dark chinos or jeans, and short black rubber Chelsea boots.
4. With Tailoring in Heavy Rain
Rubber boots with a suit are an unusual choice, but on a very wet day they can save good leather shoes, which you can change into indoors.
This kind of relaxed rule-bending is often linked to men such as Gianni Agnelli and other classic style icons, though nothing here suggests they wore rubber boots.
Wear: a grey or navy wool suit, a white shirt, a dark tie, a long navy raincoat and short black rubber boots, with leather shoes carried in a bag for the office.
5. In the Garden or on the Allotment
For outdoor jobs, comfort and easy cleaning matter more than looks, and a boot with a good tread is safer on wet grass.
Wear: a canvas or quilted gilet over a sweatshirt, sturdy work trousers or old jeans, tall or short rubber boots with a deep tread, and gardening gloves.
6. In Winter Snow and Slush
Plain rubber does not keep feet warm on its own, so in cold weather add thicker socks or an insulated boot liner.
Wear: a padded parka, a wool roll-neck jumper, flannel-lined trousers or jeans tucked into tall rubber boots, thick wool socks, a scarf and a beanie.
Choosing and Fitting Rubber Boots
Try boots on with the socks you plan to wear, because a thick sock can take up a full size.
Check the calf width: tall boots should leave room to tuck in trousers without pinching.
Your heel will lift a little in a pull-on boot, but it should not slip so much that you walk out of it.
Rinse mud off after use and dry boots away from direct heat, which can crack rubber.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do men wear Hunter boots?
Yes, Hunter sells men’s boots in tall, short and Chelsea styles, and rubber boots are common menswear for festivals, countryside walks and wet weather.
Q. Are Hunter boots good for walking long distances?
Rubber boots are made to keep water out rather than to support long hikes, so for long walks a waterproof walking boot is usually more comfortable.
Q. Should I wear tall or short Hunter boots?
Tall boots suit deep mud and long grass, while short boots and Chelsea styles are easier with everyday trousers in town.
Q. What colour rubber boots go with most outfits?
Black, navy and dark green sit well with most outdoor clothes, and green suits country colours such as olive, brown and tan.
Styling Beyond Hunter Boots
Knowing how a brand is worn is a useful start, but your own wardrobe works best when it suits your build, your colouring and your plans.
For other well-known brands, see our list of luxury brands favoured by very wealthy buyers.
Our guide to styling by occasion, location, season and time of day explains how to adapt outfits to each setting.
Further reading: dressing for your body type, seasonal colour palettes, garments, accessories and the old money style guide.
1. Check Your Body Shape
Start with our body shape quiz for men.
2. Find Your Seasonal Colours
Then take our seasonal colour quiz for men.
3. Find Your Fashion Style
Then take our fashion style quiz for men, and read more about personal fashion style.
Personal Help From The VOU
Our styling services for men are paid consultations; the shop page lists what each one includes.
You can read about The VOU’s image consultants and stylists before you book.
To ask a question first, contact us.
Mandy Meyer’s focus at The VOU is men’s body-shape styling, garment fit and outfit proportions. Her coverage addresses the practical questions behind a wardrobe choice: how a jacket sits across the shoulders, how trousers fall and how different cuts change the silhouette a wearer wants to create.
Her subject areas include the triangle, inverted triangle, rectangle, oval, trapezoid, hourglass and diamond labels used in body-shape styling. These provide starting references for comparing visible proportions; they do not capture every body or prescribe one correct way to dress. The focus connects those observations with garment shape, construction, length and the relationship between the upper and lower parts of an outfit.
Mandy’s editorial coverage combines visual comparisons with fit checks for comfort and movement. Readers can consider whether a cut gives them the room they need, where clothing pulls or gathers and which changes might support their preferred look. The aim is to make menswear choices more understandable while keeping personal preferences and the wearer’s own styling goals central.