Le Chameaus

[GBS]

I have had a pair of Le Chameau Vizernords for over five years, worn them regularly and absolutely loved them.

 

They split recently across the sole on both sides and in the same place. I do not begrudge them splitting after this time as they have been brilliant and had a hard life.

 

However, whilst in Norfolk at the weekend I found some for sale in a small gunshop for £115 (considerably less then anywhere else I have seen them) but they felt flimsy compared with my old pair (flopped over when stood up), the neoprene looked thinner and there were a number of blemishes on the rubber.

 

So, my question is:

 

Were these a cheaper "second" or has anyone else noticed the quality of these boots dropping?

 

I am now in two mind as to whether to get another pair of these or a pair of the Aigle equivalent.

 

Thanks, George

[WGD]

Have a look at the Seeland Estate boots, £120 with 5mm neoprene (Le Chams 3mm) and a Vibram sole - top quality boots at reasonable money.

 

Don't know about the wellies, but the Mouflon leather lace up boots have been reputedly having "quality issues" for a while now, in other words people are complaining they are falling to bits!

[hyflier]

Yeah, my local RFD stocks them and they've noticed a drop in quality (It ain't just you )

[natcot]

I had a pair of Hunter Balmoral Sovereign leather lined boots that were a replacement for Aigle Parcours ISO neoprene ones. The Hunter's leaked at the lower part of the zip and and when I discussed getting a replacement the shop told me they have the fewest warranty issues with Aigle boots. I've now got the Aigle boots again with the leather lining this time and they are fantastic, I would have got the neoprene ones again but they were actually too hot for me!

[Dunkield]

I have made comments on this forum about the difference between Chameau's of old and new, I think there is a difference.

Topical thread as I have spent some time this morning gluing mrs dunkield's Chameau's - they are no more than a year old and have both split in exactly the same place on each boot.

Mine are ancient and feel heavier, when they go I will have to think long and hard what to replace them with, and before anyone says Aigle, my mates Aigle's have split in exactly the same way as the Chameau's - so it won't be them.

[jammiedodger]

I have made comments on this forum about the difference between Chameau's of old and new, I think there is a difference.

Topical thread as I have spent some time this morning gluing mrs dunkield's Chameau's - they are no more than a year old and have both split in exactly the same place on each boot.

Mine are ancient and feel heavier, when they go I will have to think long and hard what to replace them with, and before anyone says Aigle, my mates Aigle's have split in exactly the same way as the Chameau's - so it won't be them.

 

have a look at the garlands neoprene wellies, I`ve not worn them but for the price they could be on the cards when my expensive, cold, flimsy Chameau`s invariably split. Or you could buy the vierznord extreme these cost more and are built like the old le Chameau with thicker neoprene.

 

Me thinks le Chameau are taking le p***

[al4x]

its a catch 22 some people find the thicker neoprene too sweaty so it may be to account for that, personally since having a set of leather hunters I will probably not go back to neoprene, though at the cost you do need to buy them when on special offer!

[GBS]

Thanks for all of the replies.

 

I tend to agree that they may have reduced the thickness of the neoprene in the standard Vizernord so that the thicker one is considerably different.

 

I am tempted by the Aigles as they are £105 against the Chameaus at £140.

 

Would continue to wear the Chameaus when dry though.

 

gb

[Dunkield]

IMO 5mm of neoprene is way too much, 3mm is ample, as/when I change mine I may not even get neoprene.

 

He is a picture of the split anyways, it is covered in Aquasure but yuo get the idea.

 

These are 5 years old and worn fairly regularly, but never left out in the sun:

 

[Beardo]

i thought you said you'd gone for these ones...

[al4x]

once you've had a leather set you won't go back,

 

I see you're not a beater that walks through brambles from the state of them

[Dunkield]

To clarify.

No I don't walk though brambles beating (well only on one drive not used that often)

I wear leather walking boots and gaiters for beating not my wellies

These are the missus's wellies (who also wears walking boots and gaiters for beating)

I would be reluctant to invest in leather Chameaus if they are going to crack like that, they are made from the same rubber no?

 

[i am still trying get the cement off mine ]

[al4x]

they are all meant to be made from pretty good quality natural rubber if you've had two pairs go i would be writing to them and asking questions you never know they may make you a goodwill gesture. There are differences in rubber though, I had various pairs of neoprene hunters but they are a long way off the quality of the sovereign I've got now. These are looking hardly used after a year and I do tend to wear them hard as they do go in the brambles when beating and shooting, as well as walking the dog daily. I've never heard a complaint about the leather le chameaux and most of my local keepers seem to wear them which either says they are paid too much or they seem to last

[Ian E]

You can pick the 3mm vierznord up for around £100 if you look hard, maybe even less on ebay if your lucky.

 

I bought a pair off 11's off ebay late last year that were to big, I put them back on and sold em for £115, I then paid £147 for a pair of 10.5's but got a free leather gun case that I flogged on ebay for £100, so in grand total my ones cost £32 lol

 

I put Yellow Bear on here onto some wellys, 5 mm neoprene with a full length rip for £50, hes only had em a matter of weeks but Iam sure if you PM him he will be able to give you the details of were he bought them from, at that type of price if they only last 18 months your well in.

[GBS]

Ian E

 

The new ones at £115 that i looked at didn't appear to have as much as 3mm neoprene. This is, i think, why they felt more flimsy than my existing pair. I wonder if because of the external blemishes on the rubber Le Chameau finished them in lesser quality neoprene and flogged them off cheap.

 

G

[WGD]

I know these Seeland boots are relatively new to the market but if you're after decent neoprene lined boots these will take a LOT of beating and, due to the standard sorbothane insole are superbly comfortable.

 

http://www.wellieboots.com/product/1460/Se...ellington_Boots

 

[tikka tom]

I have had a pair of Le Chameau Vizernords for over five years, worn them regularly and absolutely loved them.

 

They split recently across the sole on both sides and in the same place. I do not begrudge them splitting after this time as they have been brilliant and had a hard life.

 

However, whilst in Norfolk at the weekend I found some for sale in a small gunshop for £115 (considerably less then anywhere else I have seen them) but they felt flimsy compared with my old pair (flopped over when stood up), the neoprene looked thinner and there were a number of blemishes on the rubber.

 

So, my question is:

 

Were these a cheaper "second" or has anyone else noticed the quality of these boots dropping?

 

I am now in two mind as to whether to get another pair of these or a pair of the Aigle equivalent.

 

Thanks, George

iv got le chemeau all tracker and the were floppy but iv had them for 3 years and there fine just get them

[Horrocks]

I'm unhappy with chameu, i bought a coat off've them at the game fair a couple of years ago and within 8 months most of the poppers had totally popped off, of course by this time i'd lost the warranty and receipt, but a reputable brand like them should surely be producing better quality goods.

 

As far as the boots go, all rubber boots seem to be going down-hill at the moment, especially in my field of work which is boats, yachting boots split ridiculously quickly, Gill e.t.c. were terrible last year although Aigle are still seeming good, if the wellies are as good as their yachting Kit they'd be fine

 

I think the quality of imported rubber must be going down, i spoke to Gill and they said it was becoming harder and harder to get proper unadulterated rubber imported, so the stress points on boots like those shown on the pictures on the previous page are splitting far more quickly.

 

Frustrating, since the outlay on these products doesnt seem to be getting any cheaper.

[nipper]

I was told last year that they had started a new supplier to make the boots(cheaper no doubt!).Probably means they are now made in china or india ?? I did buy a pair ,but they are nowhere near the old quality and standards .

 

Cheaper production == More profit .

[Dunkield]

I like the look of the Seelands, and IMO a Vibram sole is a bonus if you do lots of walking.

But we won't know if they are any good or not for a few years.

[MC]

StuartP/Dunkield,

 

How often did you treat the rubber? You should have got a can of treatment with the boots and if done twice a year they should never split/perish like that.

[Dunkield]

MC I was told by a Chameau rep at the CLA not to use their stuff but to use Amorall instead, which is what I have used on mine almost since I got them (when I can remember to do it)

I have used it on the missus's boots, but couldn't say it was twice a year.

Mine <look> like they are perishing but don't seem to be, but they are sort of MK1's if you like, back when they were thicker and the sticker on the front was rectangular not oval like it is now.

 

I would like to know the answer, as on the face of it they are great boots.

[al4x]

I've a set in the cupboard that are probably about 8 years old now and they have the same effect on the surface but it is only on the surface and no further, I can safely say these have never been treated. This is a tad boring video but vaguely interesting about their manufacture. Personally I don't think you'll find the correct answer as the net is full of differing opinions and lets face it its an expensive mistake to make buying two pairs that split again. But I would send pictures etc off to them and ask what is going on, as a reputable company they should reply

 

name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="

type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>">

name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="

type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="480" height="385">