Choosing the Best Rain Boots for Men

Every man's closet should have at least one good pair of rain boots in them. From adventuring, to work, to playing with the kids, rain boots are a must. They protect your feet from wet weather and keep them warm. Nothing can cut your day short like a pair of wet feet. This doesn't mean you should run out and buy the first pair you see. There are some important features to be aware of when looking for a good pair of rain boots.

You'll want to ensure that the boots are made of good quality waterproof leather or rubber. Any hardware, like eyelets should either be powdered or corrosion resistant. The soles should be made of rubber and have high traction, which is vital when operating in a wet environment. Every good rain boot should be lined for both warmth and comfort. Lastly, they should travel far enough up your let to protect you if the water gets too deep. All that rubber and waterproofing won't mean a thing if water starts flowing over the top of your boot! Now that you have an idea of what to look for, I've compiled a short list of some of the best rain boots available for men.

There are countless manufacturers of rain boots but there are a few companies that stand out from the rest. Clarks, Eagle Mountain, Mucks, and Norcross, consistently offer some of the finer products available. The first bootmaker we'll look at is Clarks.

While Clarks sells a wide variety of good shoes, they only have one really good rain boot. The "Acadia" is made from very attractive full-grain nubuck and has well-treaded rubber soles. The inside is lined with a comfortable waterproof membrane which offers very good insulation from the water. While their powdered eyelets are rust resistant, I find that it's low height to be troublesome if you're slogging around in deeper water. These boots retail for about $145. This is a great boot for quick trips but for all-day events I'd stay away from these.

Eagle Mountain puts out two very excellent rain boots, the "Bozeman" and the "Enforcer". The Bozeman looks somewhat like your typical work boot but with some very nice surprises. They're made of waterproof leather, rising well above the ankle and have rubber soles with good traction. The exterior hardware is made of brass, making it corrosion-proof. These boots use Goodyear welt construction and have a fire-resistant outsole as well. The inside of the boot is lined with an anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, breathable membrane liner. The Bozeman is very warm in cold weather and highly waterproof. They have one unfortunate design flaw, however. The boots have a golf shoe-like tassel flap over the toe for some reason. Luckily, this can easily be removed. These exceptional boots retail for around $115. These boots will provide comfort and protection all day.

The second boot from Eagle Mountain, the "Enforcer" looks very similar to a military boot. Made of waterproof leather, with high traction rubber soles, these boots measure eight inches tall, placing them well above the ankle. They offer the same impressive lining that the "Bozeman" does, with a little less thickness. The "Enforcer" is definitely made for the rugged outdoors and will perform admirably under some of the harshest conditions. These boots retail for just under $85 making them very attractive to your wallet.

MuckBoots puts out several great models of rain boot. With a dozen styles to choose from, let's look at just a few of the better models that come up above the ankle. We'll look at three of their best lines, the "Edgewater", the "Hoser Classic" and the "Chore-Boot". All three are lace-less, one-piece rubber boots. The "Edgewater" and "Hoser Classic" measure 12 inches in height while the "Chore-Boot towers a whopping 16 inches! Each model is completely waterproof and insulated, allowing you to work in sub-freezing temperatures. These are definitely hard working boots, not designed for tooling around town in. If you're going to be in real dirty conditions, these easily washable rubber boots are perfect. While not as stylish as other rain boots, they're low retail price of around $70-75 more than makes up for their plain looks.

The next boot, the "XTRATUF", comes from Norcross. These neoprene boots measure an impressive 16 inches tall and have exceptional flexibility and comfort. They're also corrosion-resistant, making them great for working with caustic materials. The seamless construction means no laces to worry about. While these boots are amazingly weather resistant, you'll want to wear extra socks in really cold weather because the lining is thinner than some other rain boots. These extra-tough boots retail for about $80.

The choice for best rain boot comes down to whether you prefer laced leather boots or seamless rubber construction. If you're looking for outstanding protection from water and aren't overly concerned with looks, then you'll want to look at one of the great MuckBoots available, with my preference edging towards their "Chore-Boot". On the other hand, if you're looking for a more versatile boot that still offers uncompromising protection from the elements then I would highly recommend Eagle Mountain's "Bozeman". With their unparalleled comfort and outstanding water-resistance, the $115 price is well worth it.