Boot camp

It’s raining, it’s pouring, and while Israelis are loath to complain about the rain, it is getting a tad tiring. That said, the right gear makes it all easier. During a winter like this one, you need the right boots, perhaps a pair of Wellingtons, also known as wellies, rainboots or gumboots, which are rubber boots popularized by Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, and based on leather Hessian-style boots from the turn of the last century.

The right boot can change your entire rainy day mood, since there’s nothing worse than tramping around in wet shoes all day, with socks that remain permanently damp. Be warned, though, wellies aren’t always the most comfortable of shoes, lacking any kind of supportive sole or interior. Be sure to wear them with cushy socks, or look for a more shoe-like boot with a fleece interior.