Workwear; or, Dandy rigouts in which to perform manual labour.

Any suggestions for decent wellies? I've had some cheap decathlon ones for a couple of years and they're starting to leak. I don't want to spend a million quid but would rather get more than a couple of years out of the next set.
Disclaimer - I'm glued to a laptop for work these days so the most abuse they'll get is walking the dog around some quite muddy south London parks.

Dunlop make great wellies at the cheaper end of the spectrum.

Muckboots every time, the Wetlands model is excellent, circa £100 but I shopped around and got them or £80. If you live in wellies, particularly in cold weather, Le Chameau Vierzonord are absolutely superb, but are probably nearer £200 by now, mine are 4 years old.

I'm 35 and grew up on a farm before finding myself in a career that does necessitate occasional wellie wearing and in that time I think I've only owned two pairs of wellies (one feet stopped growing), both Aigle.
Spend the money on some posh wellies and they'll last for ages. They'll be a lot comfier and chafe less too.

I quite like the idea of the neoprene top of the Muckboots. It seems like it'd be more comfortable for my chunky calves than rigid rubber. Might give them a go based on that.

For standard wellies, what does a fancy pair like Aigle do that a cheap pair like Dunlop doesn't? Are they just more comfy?

I’d say any wellies are vastly improved by a pair of liners when it comes to comfort. Stops your socks slipping under your heels or general clammy feeling.

Aigle are as comfortable as slippers and have much better treads, they are the cosiest footwear on the planet. Unfortunately, they only last for about 9 months on me, but I wear them virtually 24/7. The lower fields behind my place flooded yesterday, I probably won't wear trainers again until April.

A note for anyone tempted by Goretex lined boots: they're great but will spring a leak, generally sooner than expected, you can't repair the membrane.

That's true, but only for cheapies, not necessary for 'good' (read expensive) wellies.

And while we’re here. Hi vis waterproof winter jackets?

Looking at this:
https://www.workwear.co.uk/portwest-dx430-dx4-hi-vis-class-2-waterproof-winter-jacket-orangeblack.html

Stretchy, insulated and waterproof. It’ll get covered in horrible shit and end up in the bin eventually, but looks alright and while more than I’d usually spend, it’s still within reasonable spending at £72 posted.

For the same usecase as yourself, I followed the advice on here recently and bought a pair of muckboots. These ones, actually, with the laces and they have changed the game. You don't get any of the 'slop' that I find makes wellies hard to wear for too long. Having to deal with the laces makes them slightly less convenient to slip on and off, but I have no other complaints so far.

I work in telecommunications, and I live in northen Sweden so we have proper winters here.

This may be a stupid question but are you supposed to pay for your own work clothes in the UK?

employers have to provide PPE (personal protective equipment).

the line between PPE and work clothing can become blurred, though.

Depends if you're self employed (many trades are) or employed.
Or if you want to wear work clothes as a fashion thing.

I am a subcontractor, so self employed and therefore provide my own work clothes. But also on site they provide specific PPE like chemical suits, wellies etc. I could probably get a pair of the steel toe boots they provide. But obviously they are the cheapest and shittest that meet the spec required for work on the site.

The solid gear boots arrived today. Almost eerily lightweight, and maybe a touch taller than I need, but I reckon they’ll be good. Although you’d hope so for the price.