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The argument involving Aigle vs Le Chameau; which is better? has been going on for quite some time between lovers of wellies.
Walking around in a pair of cheap and poor-quality rubber boots might not be something that you will like.
While a lot of people prefer these wellies due to how pocket-friendly they are, it wouldn’t hurt if you spent some more dollars on wellies of higher quality.
The Aigle and Le Chameau wellies are of a good depiction of quality and high cost. Both are on the higher end, which means they cost more compared to others and I think their durability matches their cost value.
Let’s run through a quick detailed review and analysis of the Aigle and Le Chameau wellies. This will help you to make a better purchasing choice.
Major Difference between Aigle and Le Chameau Wellies
There are many differences between these two wellies, like the fact that Aigle is handmade in France while Le Chameau is also handcrafted in Morocco.
The major difference between these two wellies is their build quality and design.
On the build quality, the shock absorber in most of the welly boots is made up of rubber soles, and the efficiency is dependent on how well-padded these soles are.
The padding in Aigle boots is done with only three layers of the rubber sole which acts as a shock absorber, while that of Le Chameau boots is done with a 5-layered sole.
The design of Aigle wellies mostly supports an all-enclosed shaft or a strap buckle, while the Le Chameau wellies usually come with an extended side zipper or a side gusset for fastening the shaft onto the calf in case of a loose fit.
Further, the Le Chameau wellies have a better terrain grip, unlike the Aigle wellies which do not function best on some surfaces.
Review of Aigle Wellies
The Aigle wellies are made by the Aigle foot and textile company, formerly known as Flexible Rubber Company. It was founded in 1853, as the inventory of Hiram Hutchinson, an American businessman.
He started the production after obtaining a patent from the famous Charles Goodyear, to use his vulcanization invention to produce boots.
He moved to France and started the establishment which he named L’Aigle, in reference to the iconic American Eagle.
However, the Aigle wellington boots were not launched until 1989, and they further started dominating the front of other wet boots.
The first store where these boots were sold was opened in St Germain-Des-Pres in Paris, France.
The boots are stylish enough to put you in the mood for work, with the anti-fatigue feature which plays a crucial function in the outsoles of these boots.
The Aigle rubber boots are actually the first among wellies to feature the anti-fatigue technology and since then I believe they have not dropped the ball on that.
These wellies are made with natural rubber, traction outsoles, and a good shaft height to protect the calf. It features a neoprene lining which adds to its warmth and resistance against elements, especially water.
If you are worried about the durability, then you shouldn’t because these boots are reinforced with an insulated neoprene sole which is hard to bore by holes.
The closure type is quite easy as you can easily slip your foot in and pull them out easily.
There is a gusset by the side of the most recent boots made by Aigle, which adds more flair to the design and can be also adjusted to fit the size of the calf.
Pros:
- Durable wellies
- Anti-skid function.
- Easy to wear and take off.
- Features shock absorber.
- Very comfy
- Provides enough warmth for your feet.
- Good for long walks and strolls.
- Long shaft for anti-abrasive function
Cons:
- A bit costly
- Lack of all-around terrain grip.
- The shock absorber fades quickly, due to the number of sole layers.
Review of Le Chameau Wellies
Claude Chamot founded the Le Chameau rubber boots, also known as ‘wellies’ in 1927. Chamot who is a shoemaker at the time had to listen to the decry of most of the farmers and fishers, who complained about how unreliable their boots has been.
They mentioned issues concerning durability, comfort, and fitting, so Chamot set out to produce new sets of boots for the people. His new boots brought good reviews and it fueled his quest to do more.
In 1939, Chamot moved to a bigger production space in Normandy where he entertained more works.
In order to expand, he took the growing business out of France to a bigger factory in Casablanca, Morocco where they are still produced today.
He renamed the business to ‘Le Chameau’, a French word meaning the camel which he used as a pun to represent the durability of his products.
The Le Chameau rubber boots are specially handcrafted by a group of trained workers known as Maitre Bottier, which translates to ‘Master Boot-makers’.
These individuals are meant to pass through a nine-month training to be certified qualified for the job, and it says a lot about how much quality is valued by the company.
The material used in their production is sourced from naturally occurring rubber, ordered from Vietnam.
The boots are made to last, using a unique rubber formula and quality-inspired production process.
They are the first wellies to be made with a leather lining, but the lining is currently made with neoprene fabric.
Most Le Chameau wellies often come with a side-zipper closure which is used to fasten the shaft to the calf size, while newer designs feature a gusset on the side which performs the same function.
Pros:
- Built to last.
- Slip-resistant outsoles.
- Saltwater and chemical resistant.
- Premium shock absorber.
- Great terrain grip.
- Can be worn casually.
Cons:
- Can be heavy.
- On the higher end.
- Side zipper easily gets prone to failure.
- Sizing is difficult.
- Very expensive.
Head-to-Head Comparison of Aigle and Le Chameau Wellies
You might find it hard to distinguish between these two rubber boots, without the visible logo that already draws the line of disparity.
Other things make the two of them comparable, like the level of warmth offered by each, comfort, and build quality. However, my comparison will be based on the following terms:
Aigle vs Le Chameau: Build Quality
Build quality refers to how well or poorly a product is made, and I believe none of these boots are poorly made.
They are the product of a well-calculated process, by experienced craftsmen who work tirelessly to give us these boots.
But to compare the Aigle wellies to Le Chameau in terms of build quality, the Le Chameau has more credit than Aigle on that.
I see Le Chameau as advanced Aigle wellies because they probably came after Aigle and have tried in every possible way to beat them in their own game.
Aigle uses 3-layers of sole density natural shock absorbers, while theirs comes with 5 layers. Is that not a game changer?
They equally adopted a traction formula for their outsole, which they derived from a technology developed by a car company, which makes their outsoles more formidable on most terrains than the Aigle boots.
Aigle vs Le Chameau: Material
Natural occurring rubber is the core material used in the production of these boots. The rubber is sourced directly from rubber plants instead of synthetic petrochemical-based rubber.
Both Aigle and Le Chameau use this rubber variant to mold the upper body of the boots and including the outsoles.
Moreover, the Aigle boots are lined with a neoprene fabric which provides added comfort and protection to the feet.
On the other hand, Le Chameau boots use leather, jersey fabric, or neoprene as lining for their boots.
This difference in lining variants makes these differently lined boots have their unique feel and appeal on the skin when it comes to comfort and warmth.
Aigle vs Le Chameau: Price
Both the Aigle and Le Chameau welly boots are on the higher end, which reflects in their market value. They are regarded as the top spot occupants of welly boots, both in quality and price.
The price of the Aigle welly boots is past the $100 threshold which most cheap welly boots find themselves in. It is priced as high as $130 on popular e-commerce stores like Amazon or e-bay.
Even with its high price, I find the Le Chameau to be more exorbitant. Yes, they are priced slightly higher than the Aigle welly boots.
The Le Chameau boots are what you can call the “Jimmy Choo” of all wellies because it combines quality and high cost.
Aigle vs Le Chameau: Durability
Finding out which of these boots lasts longer, is a difficult task due to they are both well-made.
Nevertheless, to determine this we need to reference the build quality of the two of them since the durability is a reflection of the build quality.
From the build quality, it is clear that the Le Chameau welly boots have a stronger build quality and as such tend to be more durable than the Aigle.
Conversely, I believe the Aigle has a longer lifespan as the brand has been around for a very long time and understands what it means to produce welly boots that can stand the test of time.
Then again, the durability of a welly boot (Aigle and Le Chameau) boils down to use and maintenance.
Aigle vs Le Chameau: Design and Style
The Aigle welly boots usually come with a side gusset which is used to fasten the shaft on the calves.
I also noticed that the brand logo is placed by the side of the boots, the same side as the gusset.
The style behind this boot is strictly for work because wearing it on a more formal note might be awkward due to how they look.
The most popular Aigle boots, the Parcours 2 edition are made in this form.
Le Chameau on the other side comes in two openings, length zip for collections like Chasseur and a gusset for their best boot Vierzon.
The brand logo is placed in front of the boot, right on top, and close to the leg opening. You can wear these boots for both work and also for urban use.
Aigle vs Le Chameau: Comfort and Warmth
Comfort is another factor that most people look out for when choosing willies and these two willies do their bidding in providing this function.
The level of warmth provided by the welly boot adds to its functionality. Examining these two boots, it is obvious that they are not found wanting in any of these areas, as they are both made with precision and quality.
But the Aigle boots have more prominence in providing warmth than Le Chameau because of the Outlast technology which makes it neither hot nor cold.
I find it difficult to feel comfortable in Le Chameau boots because their fitting is often off, and it is hard to find the perfect size for them.
Final Verdict
Although it was hard for me to draw a conclusion, I will now give my verdict.
I’m rooting for the Le Chameau welly boots because of the flexibility that they avail and also because it offers almost the same quality as the Aigle wellies with just a price difference.
It also offers more warmth and can also be worn as country footwear, unlike the Aigle willies which only look good for work.
Although the Aigle boots have a good terrain grip, I can easily go with the Le Chameau boots as it offers more anti-skid function.
I’m about quality and I try to stick to it even if it means spending a tad more than I should for fairly priced ones.
Conclusion
I believe that factors of comfort, warmth, and price are prime when choosing a better welly boot between these boots.
The Aigle and Le Chameau boots meet all these functions and I cannot discredit the latter because it is a tad more expensive.
I believe its market value is the reflection of the producer’s confidence that these wellies are of good quality.
However, I’m in no place to tell you how much to spend on a welly boot, but if you must stick with quality, then spending a little more shouldn’t be a problem.
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