The Best Rain Boots of 2024

Are you searching for the best rain boots to weather any storm while maintaining function and style?

Well, we slid our feet into some of the best rain boots on the market to produce our definitive buyer’s guide, a lighthouse in the storm to guide you through the turbulent waters and rocky outcroppings as you sail the seas of rain boot shopping.

For this exhaustive group test, we rigorously assessed seven top contenders in western Pennsylvania’s bustling city streets and wet and rocky woods. Our criteria included comfort, traction, durability, and water resistance.

Armed with a wealth of review experience, lead tester Eric McKeegan scrutinized each boot’s performance under real-world conditions. We were blessed and cursed with record-setting amounts of rain and spared no effort in our quest to identify the best rain boots in these demanding conditions.

Shopping for rain boots online can be overwhelming, but fear not — our guide is here to empower you. We’ve sifted through the noise and distilled the essential information, putting you in the driver’s seat to make the right choice the first time.

Whether you’re seeking simple function or extreme cold weather protection, we’ve curated a selection of top-rated boots to suit every style and preference. Scroll through our top picks to confidently navigate the world of rain boot shopping and find the perfect pair for your wet-weather recreation.

Explore our buyer’s guide, FAQs, and comparison chart to learn more about considerations when choosing a rain boot.

The Best Rain Boots of 2024

Rain Boots Comparison Chart

How We Tested the Best Rain Boots

We extensively evaluated seven top-notch rain boots over a rigorous two-month period. Our testing ground was the diverse landscapes of western Pennsylvania, where we traversed city streets, wooded trails, and everything in between, from leisurely dog walks to rain-soaked hikes and even a few wet bike rides.

At the helm of our testing endeavors is Eric McKeegan, a veteran reviewer with a track record spanning 20 years. With a storied career that includes a distinguished tenure as Tech Editor for two leading cycling magazines, he brings expertise and insight to the table. Beyond his expertise in the realm of bikes, Eric’s passion for outdoor pursuits extends to boating, camping, and hiking, making him highly qualified to assess the performance of rain boots across a spectrum of activities and environments.

We combined real-world use and controlled testing to provide you with the most accurate and trustworthy recommendations. From waterproofing and traction to comfort and durability, each boot is meticulously evaluated to ensure that only the best earn our seal of approval. With our experience and dedication, you can trust us to guide you toward the perfect pair of rain boots for your next adventure, knowing that our recommendations are backed by decades of experience and a passion for delivering the best buyer’s guides. Check out our Best Rain Boots for Women guide if you’re looking for women-specific choices.

Testing Specifics

Our testing focused on the following aspects:

Waterproofing: All boots spent time in the rain and some late-season snow. We also used a 100-year-old clawfoot tub for immersion tests. Waterproof boots float, so we submerged them for an hour using bricks inside the boots and stones on the toes. All boots passed this test, and no leaking was detected.

Comfort/Fit: The boots were worn on pavement, trails, and along the shores of rivers. Driveways were shoveled out, and bikes and motorcycles were washed. Comfort was evaluated for both standing and walking. We noted stiffness, sizing, and insole quality.

Traction:  Traction was evaluated on multiple surfaces including pavement, rocks, dirt, mud, and wet wood. Other than the cheapest boots on the test, all the boots handled a wide variety of slippery surfaces well.

Durability: All boots were examined after the test period to check for excessive wear, delamination, or defects. We will continue monitoring durability over the next year and update this guide periodically with our findings.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Rain Boots

Style of Boot

The classic tall rubber boot is the default rain boot for good reason. The 12-16” stack height protects clothing, allows for walking through deep puddles or shallow streams, and is easy to keep clean. But tall boots are heavy and must fit more loosely to slip on and off. This looser fit makes them less suited for long walks or hikes. Also known as gum boots, wellingtons, wellies, or in Welsh as “esgidiau glaw”. The Baffin Enduro is a good example of the most basic of this boot style.

A shorter boot (6-8”) won’t provide the same level of protection as a tall boot but will be substantially lighter, fit more snugly, and work better for longer walks. The Xtratuf Ankle Deck Boot Sport is a slip-on example of this boot.

Rain boots are rarely lace-up, but the L.L. Bean Men’s Bean Boot (not a typo, L.L. Bean is the company, Bean Boot is the boot name, maybe we should just call it the LLBBB, or 2L3B) is an interesting hybrid of hiking and rubber boots. This is the original that has spawned many knock-offs. If comfort and support are important shopping considerations, these are worth a serious look over slip-on styles.

Materials and Construction

Rubber and neoprene are used in most of these boots. Both are proven to be durable and resilient. Rain boots are usually constructed with a glued-on outsole and some type of liner. As with most things, the connection points are the most common failure location. Before wearing them check the seams and liner for peeling or improper adhesion. All boots we tested passed visual inspection. The L.L. Bean Men’s Bean Boots have a few loose ends on the seams, but nothing turned into an issue.

Boot stiffness is affected by the liner and rubber. The Grundéns Crewman Tall combines thinner rubber and a thicker liner to be the flexiest tall boot. The Muck Arctic Ice Tall is by far the thickest and is easily the stiffest as well. The CLC Plain Toe PVC Rain Boots are an odd blend of stiff yet floppy. They had to be stuffed to support the stack for photos.

Also, keep an eye on the rubber uppers for cracking. This seems to be the most common complaint across all brands. Even a tiny crack can ruin the waterproofness, and with a single-year warranty on most of these boots, pay attention and act quickly if something appears.

Comfort and Fit

We had good luck following the manufacturer’s sizing guides for rain boots. It’s rare to find rain boots in half sizes, and everyone recommends sizing them up. Erring on the large size leaves room for thicker socks and more room for the rubber to fold and crease while walking.

We ordered all boots in size 10 except for the Bean Boots and found the fit to be consistent across the board. Most were a little loose on size 9.5 feet but worked OK with thin and thick socks. The Bean Boots actually recommend sizing down, and the size 9 fit decently well lengthwise. The volume felt small across the forefoot and toes on an admittedly high-arch, high-volume foot.

If you can’t try the boots on in person, make sure you can return them for a different size if needed. Also, keep in mind your calf size. There are tall boots with gusseted shafts or drawstrings that can help fine-tune that fit or snug up to keep out the elements.

Bogs offers sizes up to 21 in a few models, but most brands tap out at size 14. Bean offers D and EE widths.

Warmth

Most rain boots are three-season items. Uninsulated boots, such as the Xtratuf Ankle Deck Sport and Baffin Enduro, will keep your feet coolest in summer. Combined with a thicker sock, they should also extend well into the spring and fall.

Insulated boots like the Muck Arctic Ice, Bogs Classic, and L.L. Bean Boot Gore-Tex/Thinsulate are the ticket for winter but will become uncomfortable as the temperatures approach the 40s.

The Grunden’s Crewman Tall is lightly insulated and works best in spring and fall, but might be too hot in summer and not warm enough in winter.

There are no industry standards for warmth and everyone reacts to cold differently. So, what might work for one person in the cold (uninsulated boots and thick socks) might quickly leave someone else with frozen toes. If you are shopping for cold-weather protection, err on the side of being too warm rather than risking it with a less-insulated boot. And for big hikes where you need to stay warm, explore our Best Winter Hiking Boots guide.

Traction

Wet surface grip is very important for rain boots. A good lugged sole is the most versatile choice here, but a lower-profile sole can work well on most surfaces besides snow and mud.

Commercial fishing boats are notoriously slippery, and brands like Xtratruf and Grundéns are well known for making great boots for use in those conditions. If they will work well on a slippery wooden boat deck, they should also be excellent on land.

If traction is paramount, look for name-brand outsoles such as Vibram on the Muck Arctic Ice Tall or Michelin on the Grundéns Crewman Tall. Both of these boots provided excellent traction.

FAQ