Grub’s Warehouse Bearline 8.5™ in Black Review
DISCLOSURE -THIS ITEM WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW. ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE THE REVIEWER’S OWN.
Reviewed by Laura B
The humble Wellington boot. Otherwise known in our household, as… gum boots, wellies, goloshes, waterproof boots or just plain ‘boots’.
Did you know that the name Wellington boots, originated from the Duke of Wellington (victor of the Battle of Waterloo 1815)? And, in 1916, during the First World War, a pair of Wellington boots was included in soldiers’ winter kits to prevent ‘trench foot,’ a medical condition caused by prolonged exposure to damp. When the war was over, the soldiers brought them home and were introduced to everyday life, becoming increasingly popular with farmers, gardeners, horse owners, dog walkers, and, latterly, the humble Wellington boot became a necessary item for folk attending festivals.
We have a German Shepherd puppy, and we are fortunate to live in rural Devon, only a few steps from the beach, close to the South West Coast Path and just a short drive to Dartmoor and Exmoor. Waterproof boots for every member of our family are an absolute must!
The boots made by GRUBS and called BEARLINE 8.5™ are designed for everyday use, ensuring that you will always have comfortable, warm, dry feet all day.
As I was looking for a new pair of boots for my other half as a gift for the outdoors, I was never going to say no, when I was offered the opportunity to review the GRUBS Wellington boots.
GRUBS specialise in outdoor, agricultural, safety, equestrian, walking & leisure boots, they are a member of the British Footwear Association, and pride themselves in being family-owned and British-designed.
The ONLY remit my other half has for a new pair of boots is that they should be of a classic style, a high-quality boot and suitable for the countryside. Well, the GRUB’S Warehouse Bearline 8.5™ was a boot that was always going to tick all the boxes for him.
My partner doesn’t like boots with ‘extras’ such as buckles, gussets, extra fleece liners, or the option of a huge range of fancy styles or colours, all of which are definitely not something that he would choose.
His choice will always be a straightforward boot that will do the job. The GRUB’S Warehouse Bearline 8.5™ is a boot that is designed for everyday use. Tick. The boot will ensure that you have comfortable, warm, dry feet every day. Tick.
Those are the exact main features that ‘tick his boxes’ in a perfect boot.
This is all down to, the fact, that the GRUB’S Warehouse Bearline 8.5™ boot is designed using modern technology and materials. Such as, the 8.5mm INSUFOAM-ULTRA™ that is wrapped 360° around the foot, providing comfort and insulation even in the harshest environments.
Alongside, the DURAPRENE™ which allows the wearer to experience real durable rubber whilst the FOOTFRAME™ underfoot technology gives you added support.
With its HARD-TOE™ protection, the BEARLINE™ boot is designed to withstand the toughest conditions.
Moving to the sole of the boot, the Grubs Warehouse boots feature BEARPAW™, this is a cutting-edge sole which is crafted from DRY-RUBBER™ sheets and textured to give it the same roughness of a bear’s paw in order to deliver ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE™ on slippery surfaces.
You may well ask?, Are these features necessary? Or are they a gimmick? Do they work? And my goodness, I can absolutely report that they do.
There was one day, during our test week, that we were on a short hike along the local coast path where we encountered a particularly muddy, slippery stretch of ground, on a steep area of the path, and whereas my other half remained completely upright in his GRUB’S Warehouse Bearline 8.5™ boots, to his amusement, I took a tumble, due to the inferior soles of my old walking boots, and ended up, not only wet and muddy, but having lost some of my dignity!
The GRUB’S Warehouse Bearline 8.5™ boots were worn each day outside on our dog walks, to the beach, up in the woods and on the moors. I can report back that he found them to be extremely comfortable (he experienced no blisters or chaffed ankles), they were supportive (he has a high instep and can struggle with footwear), didn’t leak and despite having all the modern fancy technologies incorporated, to make this the perfect boot, they were a simple, straightforward style that he was happy to accept as a gift and wear! I chose the classic black colour boot in a size UK 11. If you want to wear thick socks with your boots, I would suggest sizing up.
The Grub’s company have been in business since 1776. Eight generations of the family have been crafting fine sporting goods for over two hundred years. And just this week they won a prestigious local award, ‘Best Family Business’ in the Bolton News Business Awards ceremony. They also support Bolton Mountain Rescue as a company and donated their footwear to each member of the rescue team.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £129.95
This product can be purchased from GRUBS Warehouse via www.grubswarehouse.com
This style is available in black or green.