The 5 Best Rain Boots for Women and Men Reviews 2024

Rain, rain, go away. If you live where wet conditions put a damper on your activities, rain boots are a necessity. We’ve reviewed the best rain boots for women and men to help you find what you need today.

Sometimes they are called galoshes, rain shoes, or waterproof footwear. They are often labeled as either men’s or women’s boots but you don’t have to stick to one category. What matters is that the boots feel comfortable and meet your style requirements.

Let’s talk about choosing the best rain boots.

What is the best brand for women’s rain boots?

Once upon a time, everyone had L.L. Bean duck boots. Nowadays, Hunter rain boots are very popular. And if you’re from Alaska, you probably have a pair of Xtratufs by your door.

Let’s not go by brand, though. Instead, let’s look at features.

How to pick the best rain boots for women and men

Rain boots by their nature need to be waterproof. A water-resistant coating isn’t good enough. So, let’s start with materials.

What are the boots made of? Vulcanized rubber is a traditional material for rain boots. It’s durable but it’s heavy. It’s not as lightweight or flexible as ethylene-vinyl acetate, foamed neoprene, or other polymers.

Are there insoles? Galoshes pull on over your shoes but rain boots go over your feet. Most people seem to wear socks with their boots and that helps manage moisture and adds a little bit of padding to prevent blisters. The best rain boots have moisture-wicking insoles for cushioning.

How tall are the boots? There are short, medium, and tall rain boots. If you’ll be working outdoors in the wet, we recommend tall boots. If you want something lightweight to wear to the office or run errands, short boots might be more convenient. Keep in mind that people with muscular calves may find short boots more comfortable, too.

How do they fit? Should you buy rain boots a size bigger? It depends – will you be wearing them with custom orthotics or a thick insole? What kind of socks will you wear with them? Most rain boots don’t have laces so fit is crucial.

Before shopping, take the time to measure your feet. Here’s an easy way to do it at home.

How to measure your feet for rain boots

It’s easier to do this if you have another person to help.

• Grab 2 sheets of standard size printer paper or notebook paper. (You may only need one depending on the size of your feet).
• Take off your socks and shoes and stand relaxed on the paper with your heels against a wall.
• Draw an outline around each foot as close to the skin as possible. (This is where having another person helps).
• Measure both feet from the back of the heel to the tip of the longest toe (which may not be your big toe)
• If you have wide feet, measure the widest part across.

Use a shoe size chart to find your size based on the measurements.

There’s a Cliff notes version of measuring your shoe size. Simply stand on a measuring tape and take note of the measurements.

Go up half the size to a full size if you’ll be wearing custom orthotics or insoles like Superfeet.

How do you know if you have the right size rain boot? Put them on and walk around. Can you wiggle your toes? Do the boots slip off your heel or rub or pinch anywhere? How do they feel?

As you might imagine, it’s much easier to shop online for rain boots if you purchase from a place that allows exchanges. Check out our favorite rain boots for women and men below:

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Best Rain Boots for Women and Men in 2024

Xtratuf Ankle Deck Boot

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Xtratuf boots are beloved by Alaskans and now they’re catching on in the lower 48. They slip on easily and keep your feet warm and dry. They are lightweight and flexible, with plenty of grip on a variety of slippery surfaces.

We selected the rubber ankle-high Deck Boot for review, but there are other options like the leather ankle deck boot. The main differences between the men’s and women’s versions are the color selection and range of sizes.

Let’s take a closer look at the features of these unisex rain boots.

First, they are easy to pull on and take off. They have a wide opening and a kick tab (for literally kicking off your shoes). The toe box is rounded instead of tapered which provides wiggle room.

Second, flip them over and look at the tread. They don’t usually pick up gravel as some boots do. Plus, the soft rubber sole doesn’t slide on wet surfaces. That’s not surprising as the Chevron outsole is SRA-rated slip-resistant for extreme conditions.

Third, they have a mesh liner called XPRESSCOOL. It lets your feet breathe and keeps them from soaking in sweat. Moreover, you can pull out the EVA insoles and replace them with something else if you wish.

Pros:

• SRA-rated slip-resistant outsole
• Mesh liner and removable EVA insole keep the foot comfortable and dry
• Ankle high version accommodates muscular calves
• The boot is easy to drive and walk in
• Easy to pull on and kick off
• Wide range of sizes and colors
• Available in men’s and women’s versions

Cons:

• If it’s raining hard or you’re wading in water, some moisture may enter through the top of the boot as it has a wide mouth
• Made for tucking pant legs into the boots, not tucking the boots into the pant legs

Bogs Men’s Workman Waterproof Insulated Work Boots

These are the best men’s rain boots for work and they are popular in Maine among both outdoors people and regular folks. Here are the highlights we love.

Where to start? How about the seamless construction that keeps out the water and stands up to hard use.

Then, there’s the fit. Each pair comes with two removable inserts. Why? This allows you to wear different kinds or quantities of socks. It makes it easier to prevent cold toes and sweaty feet. After all, these boots are rated for wear down to -40°F.

Furthermore, the firm and supportive sole has heavy-duty lugs for impressive traction on all sorts of surfaces.

Inside the boot, the wicking fabric circulates moisture away from the skin while the gel-cushioned EVA footbed makes it feel like you’re walking on clouds.

Pros:

• Excellent durability because of the seamless construction
• Moisture-wicking fabric and gel-cushioned insole for maximum comfort
• Rated for wear down to -40°F
• Sturdy, high-traction sole with heavy-duty lugs

Cons:

• Can be worn for all sorts of activities, but is a little pricey for infrequent use

Crocs Women’s Jaunt Shorty Boot

What about the best women’s rain boots for walking? If you love to go for a stroll in inclement weather (or need to rush to the subway in the pouring rain), now you can wear Crocs. They make rain boots, too.

Yes, these boots are lightweight and have the same comfy bounce as the original sandals. They are made of Croslite ethyl-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam which is much lighter than rubber. These aren’t clunky boots. They practically beg you to get out of the house and jump in puddles.

They have a cute racing stripe around the sole and a rubber bottom for superior traction and durability. The inside has arch support and plenty of room for the toes.

If you get them muddy, it only takes a moment to hose them clean.

Pros:

• Best women’s rain boots for walking
• Lightweight and cushiony Croslite EVA foam construction
• Rubber outsoles for durability and traction
• Arch support and lots of toe room

Cons:

• It looks like the women’s version has more colors than the men’s, but there still aren’t as many as we’d like

Crocs Men’s All Cast Rain Boot

Who says guys ought to wear clunky rain boots? The men’s Crocs are very light and well-cushioned. They are made of Croslite EVA foam – the same stuff that provides energy return in running shoes.

Who should get them? If you want to keep your feet dry when you walk to the coffee shop, run errands, or catch the metro to the office, they’re perfect. They’re great for walking the dog or puttering in the garden.

What’s the downside? There aren’t many colors available in men’s sizes. Some guys have said that the ankle bend is tight although the boot fits well on the foot once it’s on.

Pros:

• Made of ultralightweight Croslite EVA foam
• Well-cushioned and comfortable
• Perfect for urban wear
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Not many colors available

Hunter Women’s Original Short Rain Boot

If you live in a seriously rainy place (here’s looking at you Mobile, Alabama) you might want to invest in a better pair of rain boots that you can wear for years to come. The Hunter brand originated in the UK where it produced military footwear during World War I. How did they end up becoming a fashion icon? We’re not sure, but they have some good looking boots.

What’s more, these are well-made rain boots formed from vulcanized natural rubber. They are more durable than foam or polymer boots. Moreover, it sounds incredible, but they are handcrafted from 28 separate parts.

The highlights include a quick-dry lining and a cushioned insole. However, there is no arch support so feel free to add your own insole.

Flip them over and check out the outsole. They have channels like tires on a car to shed water. This tread has outstanding traction and durability. Also important, it doesn’t trap gravel.

Yes, the boots are noticeably heavier than the Crocs or Xtratuf boots. They aren’t quite as comfortable to wear hour after hour, either. And yes, they may develop a weird white bloom on the surface. That’s actually normal for rubber and it can be cleaned easily.

The women’s boot is available in a wide range of colors and sizes from 5 to 11.

Meanwhile, the men’s rain boots generally come in fewer colors in sizes from 7 to 13.

Pros:

• Handcrafted and durable vulcanized rubber
• Special tread on the outsole channels water away from the boot and doesn’t trap gravel
• Quick-drying liner and cushioned insole
• Available in several different colors

Cons:

• Heavier and not quite as comfortable as other options
• No arch support

Conclusion

Quit walking around in wet sneakers. Keep your feet dry and comfy with rain boots. There are many different brands, styles, and colors. We rounded up the best rain boots for men and women and reviewed them here. We hope that the reviews help you find exactly what you need today.