The 8 Best Rain Boots for Women, Tested and Reviewed

Those art gallery hours aren’t going to change just because it’s raining, even if you’re only in town for a day and hoping for sun. Rather than staying in your hotel room to avoid the weather, pack a good pair of rain boots that will take you from museums out to dinner without squeaking or sliding along the way.

In order to choose the best rain boots for you, consider how you’re going to use them. If you’re going to be frolicking outside for long hours at a time, you’ll want to prioritize insulation and comfort, while someone who’s zipping between indoor attractions should look for something with better traction and style.

We tested 38 different pairs of rain boots over a six-month period for fit, durability, performance, waterproofing, and value to find the best women’s rain boots out there.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Hunter Short Rain Boot at Amazon $89

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Best Everyday:

Merry People Bobbi Rain Boot at Merrypeople.com

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Best Lace-up:

SALE

 Sperry Torrent Rubber Lace Up Boot at Amazon $100 $72

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Best Budget:

Asgard Chelsea Ankle Waterproof Rain Boots at Amazon $27

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Best Midcalf:

SALE

 Bogs Sweetpea Tall Rain Boot at Amazon $95 $60

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Best Tall:

Salter House Plasticana Hemp Wellies at Salter.house

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Best Platform:

SALE

 Sorel Women’s Brex Boot Chelsea at Amazon $180 $79

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Best Slip-resistant:

Xtratuf 6 Inch Ankle Deck Boots at Amazon $105

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Best Overall

Hunter Short Rain Boot

Credit: DSW

$89 at Amazon$150 at Nordstrom$150 at Zappos

Why We Love It

• These classic pull-on boots are practical, comfortable, and come in a ton of colors.

What to Consider

• They don’t have a lot of arch support and can get a little sweaty.

If you’ve walked around any city in the rain, you’ve probably encountered a pair of Hunters, so you won’t stick out on your travels with this style. We wore them multiple times a day, sometimes even without socks and over pajama pants for quick walks, and stayed comfortable all the while thanks to the cushioned liner. There isn’t a lot of arch support, and they do get a bit sweaty during prolonged wear, but they feel high-quality and well-balanced weight-wise so you don’t have to worry about any punctures when you’re out in nature. You also won’t feel weighed down on long days of walking.

The traction holds up against wet grass and pavement and despite being short, they’re still high enough to block out any puddle splashes. A slip-resistant sole keeps you sturdy on cobblestone streets, they’re easy to get on and off, and the adjustable buckle gives them a little more customizability. Plus, their color selection numbers in the double digits, though they don’t come in half sizes.

The Details: Sizes 5-11 | Rubber | 1.69 pounds per shoe | Pull-on

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Best Everyday

Merry People Bobbi Rain Boot

Credit: Merry People

View on Merrypeople.com

Why We Love It

• These boots are supportive, stylish, and comfortable for all-day wear.

What to Consider

• The insoles tend to come out when you take them off.

Merry People’s Bobbi boots are comfortable and versatile enough to wear even if the forecast doesn’t necessarily call for rain, so you won’t be squandering suitcase space on them. We experienced some slight pinching on wider feet at first during our initial testing period, but they loosened up after a few hours of breaking-in and felt like a hug on our feet from there. There was no soreness or discomfort even after four straight hours of wear.

They’re easy to slip on thanks to the neoprene lining, and the cushioned sole provides a good amount of arch support. The length hits right above the ankle so you’re protected from puddles, and they are still comfortable even with thick socks (though your calves will still be exposed). They’re a little heavy but have lots of traction, so there’s no need to worry about slipping. The insoles did slide out whenever we took them off which was a minor nuisance but not enough that we won’t still consider wearing them even if it’s dry outside. There are also 17 different color combinations to choose from, so there’s something for everyone.

The Details: Sizes 5-12 | Rubber and neoprene | Pull-on

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Best Lace-up

Sperry Torrent Rubber Lace Up Boot

Credit: Sperry

$100$72 at AmazonView on Sperry.com

Why We Love It

• Durable and completely waterproof, these boots can also be tightened for extra protection from rain.

What to Consider

• The laces are a little difficult to cinch because the rubber is so stiff.

We wore these lace-up boots several times around the rainy streets of Seattle and were thoroughly impressed with their comfort and waterproofing abilities. They fit true to size and leave enough room for a thick pair of socks you might want to wear on colder days. These felt comfortable right out of the box and didn’t require much breaking in. Designed like a traditional rubber rain boot, these have relatively flat soles but enough padding to keep feet comfortable. We wore these on walks as short as 20 minutes and as long as two hours and never experienced any pain or discomfort. With a rubber outsole and upper, these boots offer superior protection from moisture — we splashed in as many puddles as we could find, and our socks stayed completely dry. They also have excellent traction on dry and wet surfaces, including wet grass and sloping pavement. The laces are adjustable, but we found them hard to tighten because the rubber material that makes up most of the boot is so stiff, but we do like that we can cinch them around our ankles a little bit if we need to. After several rainy outings, these still looked and felt brand-new, so we’re confident they’ll last many years.

The Details: Sizes 5-16 | Rubber, neoprene | Lace-up

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The 17 Best Waterproof Boots for Women, Tested and Reviewed

Best Budget

Asgard Chelsea Ankle Waterproof Rain Boots

Credit: Amazon

$27 at Amazon

Why We Love It

• These solid rubber boots are easy to put on and give you plenty of mobility when walking.

What to Consider

• Not every size is available in half sizes, and they don’t have a lot of internal support.

Maybe you’d rather spend your money on souvenirs, or you live in a dry climate and are simply traveling to a damp one. In that case, Asgard’s Chelsea boots are your best bet. We found they run true to size when wearing regular socks, though they did get a bit warm when we were indoors. The insides are fairly basic in terms of comfort, without very much padding or support, but are still comfortable enough and ready to wear out of the box.

They felt sturdy but not heavy and had a good amount of traction even in a muddy field and when tramping through flowing gutters, and they kept our feet dry the whole time thanks to the thick rubber. The pull tabs to get them on were especially helpful, as were the elastic sides. Bonus: they come in more than a dozen different colors, and you can’t beat the price.

The Details: Sizes 5-13 | Rubber | 11.8 ounces per shoe | Pull-on

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Best Midcalf

Bogs Sweetpea Tall Rain Boot

Credit: Zappos

$95$60 at Amazon

Why We Love It

• These boots are attractive, durable, and fully waterproof.

What to Consider

• They’re only available in whole sizes and in two colors.

For a straightforward, easy rain boot, go for the Bogs Sweetpea. These held up against intense flooding in Vermont without any slipping, and they gripped solidly on gravel, pavement, wood, and stone, so you can wear them wherever your travels may take you. The design is also unobtrusive and easy to blend with whatever you’ve packed.

They don’t come in half sizes, and we found ours to be just a bit on the large side but believe the size down would have been too small. That said, they didn’t rub anywhere or create any hot spots, and they didn’t require any breaking in. The thick material feels long-lasting without being heavy, and they have excellent traction. And most importantly, no moisture snuck in at any point while wearing them.

The Details: Sizes 6-11 | Nylon and rubber | 2 pounds per shoe | Pull-on

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Best Tall

Salter House Plasticana Hemp Wellies

Credit: Salter House

View on Salter.house

Why We Love It

• These hemp-based boots feel durable and look cute.

What to Consider

• They only come in one color and are unlined.

Salter’s Hemp Wellies aren’t just sustainable: they also feel supportive and run true to size. They do require a break-in period, but they offer support for both the ankles and arches, and their tighter calf helps prevent any moisture from sneaking into the top of the boot. They’re also a little heavy, but they have good traction, with no slippage occurring. The construction feels sturdy and long-lasting, and while they only come in one color, it’s an attractive neutral that will look good with whatever you pair it with, so you don’t need to worry about it clashing with the contents of your suitcase. These are your best bet if you want a pair of tall boots to trudge through the mud with — perfect for rainy festival days.

The Details: Sizes 35-46 | Hemp plastic | Pull-on

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The Most Comfortable Boots for Women, Tested and Reviewed

Best Platform

Sorel Women’s Brex Boot Chelsea

Credit: Nordstrom

$180$79 at Amazon$180$117 at Nordstrom$180$72 at Backcountry

Why We Love It

• Sorel combines unique style with excellent traction and build quality.

What to Consider

• The tight ankle opening can cause some chafing — wear them with long socks to stay comfortable.

If you want a trendier rain boot for city travel, check out this edgy Chelsea boot platform from Sorel. The Brex run true to size but are on the tighter side, so they’re a bit tricky to get on. But once you’re in, your feet feel comfortable and supported. The high-quality rubber and thick sole mean they’ll be able to stand up to whatever mileage your agenda throws at them. Both the rubber body and elastic panels repelled all the water we trudged through, and the grooved soles provide both style points and excellent traction. We did find that the upper edge rubs against the ankle if you aren’t wearing long socks, so make sure you pack socks that will keep your ankles chafe-free.

The Details: Sizes 5-11 | Leather, EVA | 1.12 pounds per shoe | Pull-on

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Best Slip-resistant

Xtratuf 6 Inch Ankle Deck Boots

Credit: REI

$105 at Amazon$115 at REI

Why We Love It

• These feature a grippy rubber outsole that provides excellent traction on wet and dry surfaces.

What to Consider

• We would like to see a little more arch support for comfort.

When you need to be assured you won’t slip while walking in the rain, reach for these boots from Xtratuf. We didn’t experience any slipping or sliding during testing, even when walking in wet conditions. The nonmarking chevron rubber outsoles provide excellent traction while still keeping the bottom of the boot flat, which makes them more versatile to wear in different conditions. We loved that these boots were comfortable upon our first wear and remained comfortable even after several hours of standing and walking at a time. They passed our waterproofing tests with flying colors and didn’t show any signs of wear and tear after several days of regular use. We did find that the wide ankle opening allowed some debris to get into the boots when we wore them in nature, so we recommend wearing long pants that can go over the top of the boots if you’re going to be walking around sticks, small pebbles, or other things that could get inside. Overall, we think these are sturdy, slip-resistant boots that will keep your feet nice and dry in rainy weather.

The Details: Sizes 5-11 | Rubber, neoprene, EVA | 1.25 pounds per shoe | Pull-on

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Other Women’s Rain Boots We Liked

The following boots fell a bit short of the others on this list during our tests, but were still worth an honorable mention:

Hunter City Explorer Short Neoprene Boots: The City Explorers are well-constructed and provided good arch support during testing, but we noticed scuff marks after the first few wears, as well as some dulling on the color of the platform. The traction was excellent, but we felt the extra space in the heel made them a little uncomfortable to walk in.

Ilse Jacobsen Rub Rain Boot: Contrary to their name, the Rub boots are extremely comfortable, with just the right amount of room and a soft cotton lining. We appreciate that they’re handmade, but this meant we unfortunately noticed a few minor quality control issues like irregular cutting on the tongue and some split rubber near the heel pull.

Kamik Heidi 2 Rain Boot: While the Heidi 2 fit great at first, after walking more than a mile, we found they became less comfortable due to the lack of cushioning and no arch and ankle support. They weren’t very breathable and left the bottoms of our feet a little sore, so we think they’re best for short jaunts.

Our Testing Process

We tested a total of 38 pairs of waterproof boots in our quest to find the best women’s rain boots. First, we examined them out of the box, checking out the build quality and weight as well as features like laces, straps, and soles. Then we wore them inside for at least an hour to break them in.

Once they were ready for their outdoor debut, we wore the boots on at least two outings of at least one to two hours each. We focused on fit, comfort, traction, and durability. We also stuffed the boots with paper towels or tissues and ran them under a steady stream of water, then let them sit for five minutes to see if any of the paper inside got wet, just to make sure they were extra waterproof. We continued to wear them for six months and updated our findings accordingly.

Tips for Buying Women’s Rain Boots

Prioritize comfort

Rain boots are designed to serve a purpose, and while many pairs may look cute in the process, you’re still here for function more than form. And because they’re often made of rubber, they won’t stretch the same as leather or canvas would. Make sure they’re comfortable out of the box, because the fit probably won’t change all that much over the course of wear.

Consider traction

Wet ground is usually slippery. If you’re frequently going to be walking in mud or over uneven stone streets, make sure your rain boots have sufficient traction so you aren’t sliding around. Usually that’s indicated by larger lugs and more texture on the soles.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What’s the best way to pack rain boots?Since they’re usually made of thick rubber, rain boots aren’t always the easiest item to pack. If the tops can roll down or the boots can fold, that will help them fit better into your luggage. If they can’t, you can also stuff them with smaller items like underwear, socks, or rolled-up shirts to optimize your packing space. As with any other pair of bulky shoes, rain boots should go into your bag early in the process so you can put them on the bottom and work around them. If the boots are not too tall, you can also pack them in shoe bags to keep them from touching the rest of your clean items.
• How do I clean rain boots?The best way to clean anything is by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Luckily, your rain boots should be pretty sturdy by default, and most dirt and other ick should easily come off with a wipe or wet cloth, especially if the boots are rubber. We also recommend spot-cleaning over putting them in the washing machine, which could damage both the boots and your machine.
• How should rain boots fit?Comfortably! Rubber doesn’t have a lot of stretch to it, so you’ll want to make sure you have room to wiggle your toes and walk comfortably from the first wear. Most rain boots only come in full sizes; check the manufacturer’s advice for sizing, but most recommend you size up rather than down if you’re between sizes.
• Can I wear rain boots in the snow?While you can wear rain boots in the snow, they probably aren’t the best footwear options. True, the waterproofing capabilities of rain boots will prevent your socks from getting wet, but rain boots are not designed to add much warmth. Even with a cozy pair of socks, your feet will probably get too cold after being outside in the snow for a while. While rain boots can hold you over for a run to the mailbox, stick to insulated winter boots when you’re spending long periods of time outside in freezing temps.

You May Also Need

Heading out in the rain? Don’t forget these other items that will help you and your stuff stay dry.

Kari Traa Women’s Voss Jacket The buttery-smooth jacket is lightweight and breathable yet durable and thick with impressive protection from the elements.

Weatherman Travel Umbrella: The best travel umbrella we’ve ever tested, this one from Weatherman will keep you protected from the wind and rain. It’s also impressively sturdy and won’t get blown inside out easily.

Helly Hansen Stockholm Backpack: This simple, stylish backpack is as waterproof as it gets, completely protecting your things from any kind of moisture. It’s our best overall waterproof backpack out of all the ones we tested, and it also has a fair price point considering its features.

Casetify Bounce Extreme: A convenient and versatile waterproof phone case for those who want to avoid the bulk of traditional waterproof cases, this case boasts a snug fit, secure seals, and shock-absorbing corners.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

For this story, Travel + Leisure editors tested nearly 40 pairs of waterproof boots. T+L contributor Rena Behar compiled their notes and added additional insights based on her years of experience as a professional gear reviewer and shoe enthusiast.