The Best Rain Boots for Puddles, Mud, and City Sidewalks

It can be tough finding a great pair of rain boots that suits your style, feels good to wear for hours on end, and that will actually hold up season after rainy season. But it’s not impossible. This episode, outdoor gear writer Kyle Fitzgerald explains what makes a well-designed rain boot. Drawing on years of real-world testing through floods, mud, and city downpours, Kyle shares top picks for city commuting, quick errands, and heading into the great outdoors. This episode includes: What construction details to look for: One-piece molded rubber boots or heavily sealed seams along the sole and upper prevent leaks. How to pick the right tread for your terrain: Flatter treads excel on city sidewalks while deeper, wider treads keep mud from clogging your grip. How to prevent clammy feet: Swap cotton for wool or moisture-wicking synthetic socks to absorb perspiration trapped inside non-breathable rubber boots. When rain boots can double as snow boots: Rain boots paired with wool socks can handle chilly 35° to 40°F weather. If it’s colder than that, you’ll probably want designated snow boots. Products we recommend: A great boot for city walking: Merry People Bobbi Ankle Rain Boot A boot that doesn’t slip on pavement: Xtratuf 6-Inch Ankle Deck Boots in Men’s or Women’s A classic rain boot for mixed terrain: L.L.Bean Bean Boots in Men’s or Women’s The best calf-height boot: Hunter Original Short Rain Boots in Men’s or Women’s The best tall boot: Original Tall Gloss Rain Boots A fashionable tall boot our style expert loves: Ganni Country Boots A great boot for the mud: Bogs Classic Seamless Tall in Men’s and Women’s A leather shoe worth waterproofing: Blundstone Men’s Originals #500 A cowboy boot that can handle the weather: Tecovas The Earl Additional reading: The Best Rain Boots of 2026 The Best Kids' Rain Boots The Best Winter Boots of 2026 I Still Wear the L.L.Bean Boots I Got 38 Years Ago How to Clean and Care for Rubber Rain Boots I Scoured Secondhand Sites and Outlets for These Rain Boots. Extreme-Weather Reporter Judson Jones’s Packing Tips We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and Website Instagram: /wirecutter Threads: /@wirecutter Twitter: /wirecutter Facebook: /thewirecutter TikTok: /wirecutter LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/ Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel. Studio support from Maddy Masiello, Nick Pitman, Kyle Grandillo, and Samantha Winter. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Daniel Ramirez, and Sophia Lanman. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset. Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.