Recently, I became obsessed with acquiring a pair of Wellington boots. More specifically, the most iconic pair of Wellies of all time: Hunter’s Original Tall Rain Boots. Perhaps it’s the impending Oasis reunion that has me turning back to the iconic footwear, or maybe I’ve just scrolled past one too many pictures of Kate Moss wearing them with a sparkly mini-dress at Glastonbury in 2005, stomping fearlessly through the mud. (Imagine if Pete Doherty tucked those skinny jeans into a pair… next level.) Either way—these damn boots are a classic, and therefore a necessity.
I finally got my hands on a pair of Hunter boots, and they’ve exceeded every expectation I had. They’re fully rubber, so they’re just waterproof shields for your feet. Though they come without all the heaviness and, pardon my French, ugliness that most other rain boots seem to possess. Hell, I’ll wear these boots even when it isn’t raining. They’re my new go-to shoe, and honestly, if they aren’t yours this spring, I feel bad for you.
SHOP HUNTER RAIN BOOTS ON AMAZON
Hunter Original Tall Rain Boots
| Colors | Black, Dark Olive, Navy |
|---|---|
| Sizes | 7-16 |
| Materials | Rubber, Nylon Lining |
The Performance
Let me ask you something—do you think King Charles would wear any boots that were subpar in any way? Would the late and great Princess Diana? No and no—so you already have two royal seals of approval on these shoes.
Hunter boots have been popular since World War I, when the company was a military supplier to British troops. The shoes are built to perform—Hunter’s founder, Henry Lee Norris, actually patented the vulcanization process that Hunter’s rubber construction comes from, back in 1856. The Original Wellington Boot was first introduced a century later, and today, it still holds up. Everyone, from the Royal Family to Esquire editors, wear ‘em (and that is a very broad spectrum of people).
I do have to admit, these boots do squeak like crazy upon the first wear, but so do all rubber boots. Plus, I already wrote some advice on how to stop the squeak (my methods, though unconventional, are foolproof). The main thing about these boots are how durable they are. The entire shell is seamless and crafted from rubber, making them completely waterproof, and the shaft goes up to just below your knee, so you’ll stay very dry all day.
Plus, these are lightweight and comfortable. Aside from the squeak, no break-in period to make them more comfortable is required. I’ve rotated through many rain boots in my time, and usually, they come with heavy lug soles, ugly uppers, and aren’t even that waterproof. Hunter’s boots have none of this; they’re iconic in looks, hold up in terms of performance, and are comfortable enough for me to walk upwards of 10,000 steps a day in New York. And, I imagine, they would be equally as effective if I lived in a rural area; I stomped through Central Park to test it out.
The Details
Let’s get into why these boots are even better than I thought they’d be. If you think these are just hunks of rubber that you stuff your feet into, you’re wrong.
These boots have woven nylon lining, which makes the insides super comfortable; you should definitely wear socks, but you don’t need to find a super thick one. Plus, the latex-dipped rubber adds some flexibility to the shaft, which offers more freedom of movement than you’d expect.
And if you’re worried about whether or not these will fit on your calves, don’t be. There’s a metal buckle on the side of each shaft, which allows you to adjust a closer or wider fit of the boot (although you can also opt for the Original Short Rain Boots, if you prefer a more wearable fit). They fit true to size, so don’t size up for a larger fit unless you’re really ready to wear four pairs of socks with ‘em. They’re breathable enough to wear on a warm spring day, but they’re also lightly insulated, so you’re all set to wear them in winter, too.
And, finally, I must note how easy these are to get on and off. The other knee-high boots I own are all cowboy boots, and in the first few months of wear, getting them off of my feet is a two person job. These boots are seamless and easy as sneakers—but, obviously, so much better than sneakers are.
Is It Worth It?
Less than 200 bucks to stay warm, cozy, dry, and stylish for every foreseeable fall, winter, and spring to come? Yeah, I’d say that’s very worth it.
These boots aren’t overly expensive to begin with, and they’re a lifelong investment. The style has looked cool since the 1950s, and I’m not expecting that to change anytime soon. The performance has been perfected over the years. I mean, if they’re built for stomping around a muddy Cotswolds estate, they’re up to any other task.
This is the kind of shoe you can wear everywhere, too; at work, wear ’em with khakis or straight-legged pants, and on the weekends, jeans will do nicely. You’ll stay warm, dry, and fly in ’em.
SHOP HUNTER RAIN BOOTS ON AMAZON
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