NorthSole Kids Wellies Review: fleece‑lined dinosaur boots that actually keep water out

I got these NorthSole dinosaur wellies in Light Blue for my son (UK 9 child) because his old supermarket pair kept letting water in around the top. We’ve used them for about two weeks now: school runs in the rain, a muddy park trip, and one very wet Saturday at the playground where he aimed for every puddle on purpose. So this isn’t a lab test, just normal parent use in very typical British weather.

Right away, the main thing that stood out is the drawstring closure at the top. That’s actually why I picked them. His waterproof trousers ride up when he’s running, and with his old boots, water just poured straight down the leg. With these, I could tighten the top around his calf and it genuinely kept the splashes out. After about an hour stomping around, his socks were still dry, which is already better than the last two pairs we’ve owned.

Another point: they’re fleece lined, which I was a bit unsure about at first. I thought it might make them sweaty or hard to get on. In practice, it’s been fine. His feet stay warm on cold mornings, and he hasn’t complained once about them being itchy or too hot. We’ve used them around 5–6 times so far, mostly in temperatures between 4–10°C, and he’s been happy to keep them on for a couple of hours at a time.

They’re not perfect. The boots are a bit bulkier than his previous pair, and the drawstring cord is long enough that I ended up tying a knot halfway down so it doesn’t dangle. But overall, for basic rainy-day use and muddy play, they get the job done. If you just want to know whether they leak or not: so far, no leaks, no wet socks, and no complaints from the kid, which is pretty solid in my book.

Price-wise, these sit above the cheapest supermarket wellies, but below some of the big brand kids’ boots. For that middle price, you’re getting a few real upgrades: full fleece lining, a functional drawstring cuff, and decent grip on the soles. Compared to the last £10–£12 pair we bought from a supermarket, these feel sturdier, warmer, and – most importantly – they actually stop water getting in from the top. To me, that alone justifies paying a bit more, because soggy socks on the school run are just annoying.

On the other hand, they’re not some fancy fashion item with premium packaging or anything like that. The presentation is basic, and the design is clearly aimed at kids, not parents who want something stylish. If you’re just after the lowest possible price for occasional light use, you can definitely find cheaper boots that will do an okay job in mild rain. Where these make sense is if your kid is out in proper mud and puddles quite often and you want something that holds up and keeps them warm through autumn and winter.

In terms of cost per wear, if my son uses these through one full cold season – say, a couple of times a week for several months – I’ll be happy with the purchase. If they last long enough to be handed down, that’s a bonus. I don’t see any obvious reason they wouldn’t survive that long, unless he has a big growth spurt and outgrows them faster than expected. Given that I’ve had to replace cheaper boots mid-season before due to leaks or cracks, paying a bit more for something that seems sturdier feels like good value overall.

So, are they the bargain of the century? No. But they’re fairly priced for what they offer: proper waterproofing, warmth, and a design kids actually want to wear. If your priority is dry, warm feet rather than saving every last pound, these make sense. If your child barely goes out in bad weather, you might not need the extra features and could stick to a budget option instead.

The overall design is very kid-focused: bold dinosaur graphics on a light blue background, flat sole, and that thick fabric cuff at the top with an adjustable drawstring. My son is four, and this hits the right level of fun for him. It’s not subtle, but that’s kind of the point at this age. The print goes all the way around and looks consistent, no weird gaps or misaligned shapes on my pair. After a few wears in mud and puddles, the print hasn’t started peeling or fading yet, which is a good sign.

The main functional design feature is the drawstring closure. It sits on a nylon-style cuff stitched to the top of the rubber. You pull the cord to tighten it around the leg, and there’s a plastic toggle to lock it. In practice, it does what it’s supposed to: it closes the gap where water usually sneaks in. On my son’s skinny legs, I can cinch it right down so the fabric hugs his trousers. The only annoyance is that the cord is a bit long, so it swings around if you don’t tuck it in or knot it shorter. I ended up tying a simple knot halfway down to reduce the length.

Another small design detail is the shape of the boot opening. It’s fairly wide, which helps a lot when trying to get chubby toddler feet inside, especially with thicker socks. He can’t fully put them on by himself yet, but he can pull them off alone, and I only need to help a bit to get the heel in. The heel and toe areas are quite rounded, so there are no sharp spots or seams that might rub. The sole is flat with a simple tread pattern – nothing fancy, but it looks functional and easy to hose off.

If I compare them to cheaper supermarket wellies we’ve had, these look a bit more thought-out: cuff to stop splashes, fleece inside, and decent grip pattern. The downside is they look bulkier and a bit more winter-boot-like, so if you want slim, lightweight boots for summer rain only, these might feel overkill. But for autumn/winter mess and snow, the design makes sense and feels aimed at that kind of use.

Comfort-wise, my son has worn these for up to two hours at a time on walks and at the playground, and he hasn’t complained once about sore feet or rubbing. That’s usually the first sign of a bad boot for us – he’ll start asking to be carried or to go home. With these, he just gets on with running around. The fleece lining definitely helps with comfort, especially around the ankle and calf, because it softens the inside compared to bare rubber.

The boots are not ultra-light, but they’re not bricks either. I’d call them medium weight for a fleece-lined rubber boot. My son can run, climb steps, and go up and down slides without tripping over them. You can see they’re slightly heavier than his trainers, but that’s expected. He did say once that his legs were “tired” after a long walk, but that was after a solid hour of puddle jumping, so I’m not blaming the boots entirely for that.

In terms of warmth, the fleece lining does its job. On a 5°C windy day with normal cotton socks, his feet came out warm, not sweaty. On a slightly milder day, around 10–11°C, I switched to thinner socks because I didn’t want him overheating, and that seemed fine. I wouldn’t use these on a hot summer day – they’d be overkill – but for cold rain and light snow they make sense. The lining also helps with fit: the boot hugs the foot a bit more, so his feet don’t slide around as much as in totally unlined wellies.

If I have to nitpick, the bulk around the ankle is the one downside. Because of the lining and the thicker rubber, they’re a bit stiffer than very cheap, thin wellies. For my four-year-old that’s manageable, but I could see really tiny toddlers finding them a bit clumsy. Also, because the insole isn’t removable, if your child has very wide feet or needs special insoles, it might be tricky to adjust. For an average-foot kid like mine, they’re comfortable enough for regular use in bad weather, and that’s really all I need from them.

The outer material is natural rubber, which is pretty standard for better kids’ wellies. It feels reasonably thick and flexible, not that thin plasticky stuff you sometimes see that creases badly and cracks after a season. When I bend the boot by hand, the rubber gives without any crackling sounds and springs back into shape. There are no obvious defects in the molding on my pair – seams are clean, and I didn’t spot any bubbles or rough patches around the sole join.

Inside, the fleece lining is the main difference compared to basic wellies. It runs all the way down the shaft and across the insole. The fleece isn’t ultra-plush, but it’s soft enough and consistent. After a few wears with muddy socks going in and out, there are no bald patches or loose threads yet. It does pick up bits of fluff and dirt, as you’d expect, but a quick shake and wipe sorts that out. This kind of lining is good for warmth, though it will probably be a bit too warm for hot summer days. For autumn, winter, and early spring, it’s pretty useful.

The cuff at the top is made from a synthetic fabric (feels like nylon or polyester) with a light padding. It doesn’t soak up water easily, which is good, and when it does get splashed it dries fairly quickly on a radiator or by the door. The drawstring and toggle feel basic but functional. I tugged on them quite hard to see if they’d pull out of the cuff, and they held fine. Over time, I could see the toggle wearing if kids constantly fiddle with it, but so far it’s holding up.

Overall, the materials feel decent for the price. You can tell they’re not super high-end, but they’re a clear step up from the cheapest boots in discount shops. My only minor concern is long-term rubber cracking, which is always a risk with rubber boots. I’d probably avoid leaving them sitting next to a hot radiator for days on end, just to keep the rubber from drying out too fast. But based on first impressions and a couple of weeks’ use, the materials feel solid enough for at least one full season of heavy kid abuse, maybe more if you’re lucky.

I’ve only had these boots for about two weeks, so I can’t pretend I know how they’ll look after a full year. But based on what I’ve seen so far, they feel more solid than the budget pairs we’ve burned through before. The rubber hasn’t shown any white stress marks yet, even where the boot flexes most near the toes. My son is pretty rough on shoes – he drags his feet, climbs on things he shouldn’t, and scrapes them on concrete – and there are only minor scuffs on the front so far, nothing dramatic.

The sole is firmly attached with no visible gaps where it meets the upper. I pressed and bent that area by hand to see if anything opened up, and it all stayed sealed. On cheaper boots we’ve had, that join sometimes starts to peel after a few heavy uses, which then lets water in. No sign of that here yet. The tread hasn’t worn down in any noticeable way either, though obviously two weeks isn’t a long time. For a typical child who outgrows shoes fairly quickly, I’d be surprised if the soles wore out before the size does.

Inside, the fleece lining is holding up better than I expected. Sometimes these linings start to flatten badly or pull away at the heel where kids shove their feet in without loosening anything. With this pair, the fleece is still attached all around, and there’s no obvious thinning at the back. I’m making a point of helping him get them on properly, which probably helps. If your kid just rams their feet in constantly, I could see the lining eventually tearing, but that’s pretty standard for this type of boot.

The only area I’m slightly cautious about is the drawstring and cuff. If a child constantly yanks the cord or plays with the toggle, that’s the part I could see failing first. On ours, the stitching still looks tight and there are no loose threads. If something is going to go eventually, my bet would be on the toggle cracking or the cord fraying, not the rubber itself. But again, at this price and for how fast kids’ feet grow, I’d be happy if they last one full autumn/winter season and can then be passed on to a sibling or friend. So far, they look like they’ll manage that without drama.

In practice, these boots do the key thing they’re supposed to do: they keep water out. We’ve tested them in deep puddles (up to about halfway up the boot) and thick mud at the park. Each time, I checked his socks when we got home. So far: completely dry, including around the top where his other boots usually failed. The rubber seems properly waterproof, and I haven’t seen any moisture seeping in through the sole or seams after about six wet outings.

The drawstring closure is the real upgrade here. When it’s raining hard and water splashes up, or when he jumps into a puddle, the usual problem is water going down inside from the top. With the cuff tightened, that just doesn’t happen, unless the puddle literally goes over the top of the boot. We had one moment where he stepped into a ditch that was a bit deeper than I realised; water reached near the top but didn’t go over, and his socks still came out dry. That’s exactly what I wanted from this design.

The non-slip soles are decent. I wouldn’t say they’re magic on ice, but on wet pavements, grass, and muddy paths, he’s had fewer slips than with his old very smooth-soled boots. He still managed to fall once running down a wet hill, but that felt more like speed and gravity than the boots being useless. The tread pattern grips well on playground surfaces and doesn’t get clogged too badly with mud. Cleaning the soles with a hose or under the tap is straightforward, and the mud comes off without much scrubbing.

Temperature-wise, they perform well in cold and damp conditions. His feet have stayed warm on frosty mornings, and because the lining isn’t super thick, they haven’t turned into sweat boxes either. I haven’t tested them in deep snow yet, but for slush, cold rain, and general winter mess, they do the job. Overall, performance is solid for everyday family use: school runs, walks, farm visits, and puddle jumping. They’re not technical hiking boots, but they don’t pretend to be. They’re just reliable kids’ wellies that handle bad weather properly.

Out of the box, it’s pretty straightforward: one pair of boots in a simple plastic bag, no fancy extras, no spare insoles, nothing like that. If you’re expecting nice packaging or a storage bag, there’s none. Personally I don’t care for kids’ boots, I just recycle the plastic and move on, but it’s worth mentioning if you’re buying this as a gift and expecting something a bit more presentable. You’d probably want to put them in your own gift bag or box.

The boots themselves look like typical kids’ wellies at first glance: glossy rubber, bright light blue base colour, and a dinosaur print all around. The print is actually pretty clear and not blurry like some cheap ones I’ve seen. My son spotted the dinosaurs right away and was sold before even trying them on. There is also the fabric cuff at the top with the drawstring, which makes them look a bit more like mini snow boots than plain wellies.

Inside, you can see and feel the fleece lining straight away. It covers the full inside of the boot, not just the insole. The insole is also fleece, and it’s not removable on my pair (at least not easily – I tried to see if it would lift out and it felt stuck). That’s fine for us, but if you like to swap insoles or air them out separately, that’s something to keep in mind. There’s no strong chemical smell when you open them, just a standard rubber smell that faded after a day in the hallway.

Size-wise, I ordered UK 9 child and it matches his trainers size pretty closely. There is some room for thick socks, but they’re not massively oversized. If you’re between sizes, I’d probably still go up one because of the fleece lining and winter socks. Overall, the first impression when you unbag them is: bright, kid-friendly, practical, not premium or fancy, but they look like they’re made for rough use rather than for show.