Dubarry Boots: Are They Worth It? My Deep Dive into Second-Hand Countryside Luxury

Recently, I took a trip home to the countryside to spend some time with my family. If you’ve ever wandered through sprawling fields, navigated muddy tracks, or cautiously sidestepped a herd of slightly territorial cows, you’ll know that proper footwear is essential for a good walk. That’s when I found myself spiraling into a rabbit hole, a brief but intense obsession with Dubarry boots.

Now, I’m not usually one for countryside chic… until I watch Lydia Millen… Cue the inevitable: one binge-watch later, I’m convinced I need to replicate her effortless style. And what’s her go-to? Dubarry boots, which she seems to practically live in! Suddenly, they feel like the purchase to complete my perfectly curated ‘home for the weekend’ look.

But here’s the catch: Dubarry boots are eye-wateringly expensive - £379.. No way was I going to buy them full price. (Especially because they would be a worn once a year type purchase) I decided to go the second-hand route and jumped straight onto eBay. Problem solved, right? Wrong.

The Research: A Reality Check

Being the type of person who loves a deep dive into a purchase before committing, I started researching. What I found was... troubling…a lot of blogs and forums all telling a similar story, the Dubarry boots seem to have a major flaw: the sole tends to split or separate from the upper leather. And worse still, Dubarry apparently knows this but doesn’t offer repairs? I couldn’t believe it! A brand with such a high price tag but no proper repair service? It felt from my reading like a red flag.

The risk with buying second-hand suddenly felt much higher. Will people honestly flag a splitting sole in a listing? I imagined buying a pair, only to find myself with £150 worth of unwearable boots and having to go through the process of trying to get my money back. So, I decided to steer clear, thinking I’d dodged a muddy, overpriced bullet.

The Plot Twist: Mum’s Dubarry Boots

Back at home, I casually mentioned all of this to my mum. Imagine my shock when she told me she owns a pair! Now, my mum is not someone who would splash out on new Dubarrys, so she spilled the story: my sister had found them second-hand on Ebay. But yep, you guessed it, the sole had completely split away from the leather (the seller had flagged this).

Here’s the situ: instead of tossing them, she paid £100 per boot to have them repaired. The result? A pair of boots she now swears by - you cannot take them off this woman’s feet. Naturally, I slipped them on for a countryside walk, and let me tell you—OMG. It was like walking on clouds. A soft, warm hug for my feet. They are sensational. (please ignore the frizzy rained on hair)

Is It the Buyer’s Fault?

One common question is whether Dubarry’s infamous sole-splitting issues stem from improper maintenance. With leather boots, regular care—cleaning, conditioning, and drying properly—can extend their lifespan significantly. But does that excuse the problem? Probably not. Many buyers have reported that even with meticulous maintenance, the soles fail. It seems to be more about the materials and manufacturing process rather than buyer negligence.

That said, these boots are undeniably gorgeous. If the price tag has you hesitating, waiting for a sale might also be your best bet. Retailers like Cotswold Outdoor often drop the price from £349 to a more palatable £227.40 in the Boxing Day sales and Dubarry also put a few select lines down to £249. This could be the sweet spot for getting your dream boots while avoiding the risk of second-hand pitfalls.

What does everyone think? Faulty design, poor buyer care, or just the price of beauty? Like I said I do not own a pair and I am happy to be proved wrong because the look and feel of these boots are 10/10. Please know my mum’s Dubarrys are sensational and she lives in them. 

The Takeaway: Are Second-Hand Dubarrys Worth It?

After my mum’s experience, I’ve come to an interesting conclusion: if you’re going second-hand, you might actually want to buy a pair that’s already damaged. Yes, you’ll likely need to pay for repairs, but hear me out:

1. Older, Worn-In Boots Feel Amazing
   My mum’s boots had been worn in, and as a result they were so comfortable. A brand-new pair might not have the same feel, even if you splash out.

2. Repairs Transform Them
   Spending £100-200 on repairs sounds steep, and a damaged second-hand pair will likely set you back £50-£80, so you’re still looking at around £250- £280 total. But, that’s still a saving of £100 - think about it, you buy them new £379 - then you have to get them resoled in 12 months- it could cost you £579, as opposed to £280-£300?

3. You Avoid Being a Cheeky Sellers’ Victim
   Let’s be real: many sellers (naughty) won’t flag the state of the soles. If you know the boots need repairing from the start, you can avoid unpleasant surprises and budget accordingly.

So, Would I Do It?

Honestly? If I lived in the countryside…yes... My advice: find a pair that’s at least 12 months old, shows signs of wear, and go in knowing you’ll need to repair them. With the right approach, you’re looking at a pair of boots that’ll feel like a dream and last for years—for a fraction of the price of new ones.

What do you think? Have you had any experience with Dubarry boots, new or second-hand? Would you take the repair route, or is the risk too much? Let me know!

Lydia Millen loves them, and I feel she cannot be wrong.