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Oct 14, 2024

The 8 Best Rain Boots for Women of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. With these reliable rain boots, wet weather won’t interfere with your plans. Rena

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

With these reliable rain boots, wet weather won’t interfere with your plans.

Rena Behar is a freelance journalist and editor focusing on tech, travel, and gender. She has contributed to Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy, and more.

In This Article

Travel + Leisure / Frances Crouter

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, says Devon Vanoostveen, global marketing manager at Merrell. 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.

These boots are practical, comfortable, and fashionable.

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, but also won’t be 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 and 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: 5 to 11 | Rubber | 1.69 pounds per shoe

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

They aren’t available in half sizes and 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 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 15 different colors, so you could even pick up two to match your favorite travel umbrellas.

The Details: 4 to 12 | Rubber | 11.8 ounces per shoe

These boots are attractive, durable, and fully waterproof.

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 Vermont’s intense summer 2023 flooding 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 of course, no moisture snuck in at any point while wearing them.

The Details: 6 to 11 | Nylon and rubber | 2 pounds per shoe

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

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 testing, 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 4 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 19 different color combinations to choose from, so there’s something for everyone.

The Details: 5 to 12 | Rubber and neoprene

These boots are practical and super comfortable, and can be worn as both hiking and rain boots.

They may look out of place in dressier situations, and are on the heavy side.

If your travels are covering a lot of outdoor territory, the Cloudrock 2 may be the best rain boots for you. As hiking boots made by a running shoe brand, they cover a number of bases, and still looked basically new after a week on rainy New York City streets. We found them comfortable, breathable, and supportive, though a little bit heavy. They also have excellent traction and waterproofing, and repelled water like it was nothing. They may not be the best fit for formal outfits, as the sporty hiking-boot look is a hard one to dress up, though they do come in five different colors from lilac to all black.

The Details: 5 to 11 | Rubber, polyester, TPU | 15 ounces per shoe

The wide cut and elastic sides make these boots simple and comfortable.

We have some concerns about their long-term durability, and they aren’t the most comfortable if you’re spending long days on your feet.

These uncomplicated boots can easily slide into your travel wardrobe. The wide sizing makes them roomy and easy to fit. The rubber isn’t the most breathable material, but will keep you dry, and elastic side panels give them some extra fitting ability and flexibility. The traction is sufficient for grass and concrete. The lack of arch support and firm insoles make us think they won’t be ideal for long days of walking, but if most of your time won’t be spent on your feet, they’ll still keep you plenty dry. Just avoid higher puddles, as the elastic sides aren’t waterproof and will let splashes in. We also had some concerns about the durability of the single piece of rubber. However, they’re priced well, and the nine colors and simple structure will easily blend well with a variety of outfits.

The Details: 6 wide to 10 wide | Rubber | 1.15 pounds per shoe

These hemp-based boots feel durable and look cute.

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, and can easily be worn out and about for the day. 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.

The Details: 35 to 46 | Hemp plastic

Sorel combines unique style with excellent traction and build quality.

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, your best pick is this edgy style 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 threw at them, 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: 5 to 12 | Leather, EVA footbed and midsole | 1.12 pounds per shoe

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 super breathable and left the bottoms of our feet a little sore, so we think they're best for short jaunts.

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 1 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 1 to 2 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 5 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 6 months and updated our findings accordingly.

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.

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.

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.

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. We also recommend spot-cleaning over putting them in the washing machine, which could damage both the boots and your machine.

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.

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 winter boots when you're spending long periods of time outside in freezing temps.

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

Columbia Switchback III Jacket: This tried-and-true rain jacket is perfect for warm, humid weather. It's incredibly lightweight and fully waterproof while remaining breathable to prevent overheating.

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 be 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 also offered at a good price point considering its features.

For this story, T+L editors tested nearly 40 pairs of waterproof boots and Rena Behar compiled their notes and added additional insights based on her years of experience as a professional gear reviewer and shoe enthusiast. She also interviewed Devon Vanoostveen, global marketing manager at Merrell, for her expert insights.

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