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Oct 22, 2024

Hunter vs. Planone short rain boots | CNN Underscored

When it comes to rain boots, Hunter is one of the best-known brands, and it’s been churning out rubber soles for over 160 years. The sleek design, durability and instantly recognizable logo has made

When it comes to rain boots, Hunter is one of the best-known brands, and it’s been churning out rubber soles for over 160 years. The sleek design, durability and instantly recognizable logo has made its boots a seasonal favorite when the weather turns wet, but with its cheapest rain boots starting at $80, we wanted to see if we could nail down what exactly makes Hunter boots a fan favorite.

We shopped around on Amazon, looking for some of the bestselling and top-rated rain boots to test against Hunter’s Play Short Rain Boots. Finally, we settled on the under-$50 Planone Short Rain Boots. We took our time trotting, splashing and “muddying” the two pairs to see if paying more truly gets you more.

A shorter version of Hunter’s classic boots, these Play Short Rain Boots have a build that’s both sturdy and sleek. While the thick, cushioned sole does add some weight to the shoe, it also gave our feet lots of support and stability while we trekked.

For under $50, the Planone boots impressed us with how well they kept our feet dry. They’re not as sturdy or plush as more expensive rain boots, but if you need a pair to keep in your closet for those occasional drizzly days or for stomping through damp grass, these are a comfortable and lightweight option.

US 5 through 11

US 6 through 11

9 color options, plus limited additional colors on Amazon

6 color options

Rubber

Synthetic rubber

Recycled polyester lining

Polyester cotton lining

Pull tab

Pull tab

1.4 inch

1.1 inch

2.8 lbs

1.7 lbs

Right out of the box, both pairs of boots have an attractive look. I’ve never owned a pair of Hunter boots, but I’ve seen their classic, clean silhouette many times before. No doubt their appealing design has played a big part in the popularity of Hunter’s boots, but the Planone ones are not all that different. It all comes down to the details; the Hunter boots are monochrome from top to bottom, with a subtle band of design that runs around the circumference of the boot’s opening. And of course, no Hunter boot is complete without the brand’s front-facing red rectangular logo.

The Planone boots are also minimal in their design. The outsole on the boots I tested was a brown shade that subtly contrasted the olive green of the rest of the shoe and the brand’s logo is on the boot’s side instead of the front.

Once on my feet, both of these shoes have the same general shape and silhouette; the main difference is just the logo placement.

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When testing these shoes, I took cues from my colleague Michelle who just did her own thorough testing of rain boots for our best rain boots story. I tried to follow her model as much as possible, looking at the durability, comfort, traction and waterproof performance of the two boots.

To test comfort, I walked over two miles in each of the boots. The final verdict: both are pretty comfy. As someone with slightly wider feet, I’ve had rainboots in the past that make my feet feel tight and compressed through the toe box. Surprisingly, I didn’t have any issues with the Planone or the Hunter boots. I also felt no irritation on the back of my heels or ankles from either shoe.

The Hunter boots are heavier than the Planone ones by about a pound, which some people may find a bit clunky. I felt that the thicker sole, which contributes to most of the weight difference, gave me more cushion that separated my feet from the ground, which provided more support while walking across varied terrain.

While the Planone boots don’t offer as much support, they’re still a darn comfy boot — I even sported them to the office on a drizzly NYC day. They’re much lighter both in hand and on foot than the Hunter boots which is nice if you need to tote them around or pack them for travel.

I also liked the wide opening on the Hunter boots which made it easy to slip them on and off without even needing to use the pull tab on the heel. The boots are also roomy without feeling oversized, and give ample space for your thicker cold-weather socks. I needed some added force to put the Planone boots on, which had an overall tighter and more narrow fit around my ankle. Though they were harder to casually slip on, the narrow opening of the Planone boots did sit more flush with my ankles and calves, which lessened the gap where water droplets might be able to slip in.

The most important question when shopping for rain boots: will they keep my feet dry? Luckily, both the Hunter and Planone boots performed well in my water tests.

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To check for any cracks or leaks, I slipped the boots on and submerged my feet until the water was about even with the bottom of my ankle bone. Then, I stood still in the rolling waters of the Hudson River for two full minutes. I also walked up and down the dock ramp, stepping in and out of water, and testing to see if the boots felt slick or lost traction on any of the surrounding surfaces before finally doing some shallow water jumping to see how splash-resistant the boots would be. I even brought spare pairs of dry socks to make sure each boot was evaluated fairly.

My feet stayed about 95% dry during these tests, with the 5% dampness really being more due to the height of the boots than anything else. One of the pitfalls of shorter rain boots is that it’s much easier for water to find its way through the boot’s opening and directly to your socks. Most of the dampness I experienced came from water and waves splashing over the very top of the boot near my ankle, something that taller under-the-knee rain boots are better at keeping out.

Due to their wide opening, the Hunter Boots are slightly more prone to letting water in this way. Though we tested the boots separately, both Michelle and I came to the same conclusion about the Hunter Play Boots; while the wide collar makes the boots easy to move in and slip on and off, it also provides more opportunity for rain and water to get in.

The Planone boots also have an opening, but it’s not as wide so it’s harder for water to get in. However, even when I felt like my feet were dry and no water had gotten in, I would still take off my boots and see some mysterious dampness on the top of my socks from where water had splashed in unnoticed. Though, as I said, I think this is mainly due to the shorter height of the boots than anything else.

Both the Planone and the Hunter boots provide good traction on terrain like sand, wet concrete and slippery river rock. Once inside, though, the Hunter boots felt slippery on smooth, wet floors — like my bathroom tile — and lost almost all their traction (something Michelle also experienced), while the Planone boots still had a good grip. I know you’re not likely to be wearing your rain boots too far inside your home, but the sudden slickness from the Hunter boots was a bit disappointing.

One testing element we can’t always control is the weather. New York City was not as rainy or muddy as I hoped it would be while testing these boots, but to simulate muck and mud I whipped up a concoction of cocoa powder, honey, flour and water and left it to sit on the boots. With warm water and minimal elbow grease, both boots became clean of my makeshift mud in just a few minutes.

I did notice some minimal scuffing on both of the boots, but no major staining on the outside. While not visible when you have the boots on, there was also some staining to the interior lining around the opening of the boots, but it was easily spot-treated with some mild soap and warm water.

I was surprised by how similar these two boots turned out to be. With the Hunter boots, I do think you’re getting what you pay almost $100 for; the boots feel well-made with a thick, sturdy outside and comfortable inside, plus intricate design details and a sleek look that won’t go out of fashion. The only downside is that while the large opening makes the boots easy to slip on, it also leaves more room for water to splash in .

For under $50, the Planone boots held their own better than I expected. They’re lightweight and comfortable to wear on your feet all day, though if you’re doing long bouts of walking the Hunter boots offer more cushion.

Determining which boot is better for you is going to come down to where you live and what lifestyle you have. If you live in cold, rocky areas where your feet need lots of protection from rain, snow and the elements, I would opt for the thicker, sturdier and roomier Hunter boots. But, if you only reach for rain boots a few times a year or plan to use your boots more as gardening or boat shoes, the Planone boots will still get the job done for a lot less.

Jillian Tracy is an associate editor at CNN Underscored who covers topics that span the lifestyle vertical such as fashion, health, sustainability, beauty and outdoors. You can find her trying to catch up on her Goodreads goal, planning her next travel adventure or rewatching "RuPaul’s Drag Race."