The best men’s rain boots are like a calendar for your feet. Spring is here, which means it’s getting warmer, but also—at least for now—wetter. And when those April showers really start coming down, you’ll be glad you copped a pair of droplet-defying boots—or completely bummed you didn’t. Because your sneakers just aren’t going to save you from dreaded wet sock, and as the weather gets more volatile every year, it’s even more important to be prepared, with a raincoat, an umbrella, and certainly a pair of proper waterproof boots.
And these days, the best ones aren’t just rain boots. They’re rain boots that also keep your feet from slipping with a grippy outsole, and maybe also keep them from freezing thanks to warming insoles. Not only that, they should also work well through mud, slush, and perhaps even snow, answering the high calling of a winter boot. It’s truly a lot to ask of one pair of shoes.
We’re happy to report that there are plenty of ideal waterproof shoes on the market that will check off these requirements to varying degrees. So before April showers begin helping all those May flowers get ready, make sure you are properly booted up.
The Best Men’s Rain Boots, According to GQ
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Best Rain Boots Overall: Blundstone Thermal Chelsea Boot
Some Chelsea boots lean heavily into their rockstar appeal, while others skew utilitarian, expressly designed to protect you from the elements. Then there are the rare pairs that gracefully straddle the line between. Essentially an undercover rain boot that also looks great, Blundstones are a stone cold classic. Even better, this Thermal edition is souped up for better all weather wear with waterproof leather, extra insulation, and a cozy sheepskin footbed—critical in winter, removable the closer you get to summer. I really can’t think of a better knockabout all-weather boot to have in your closet. For added proof, look down next time you’re on the subway on a rainy day—you’ll see plenty of Blunnies pleasing their owners.
Best Budget Rain Boots: L.L.Bean Bean Boots
The archetypal duck boot was born over a century ago and has held its reputation as a go-to waterproof boot ever since. It’s unmistakable rubber toe and outsole give the shoe its signature watertight properties while the gusseted leather portion keeps moisture and debris out. They’re also mad comfortable thanks to the built-in steel shank within the insole, which provides arch support for all-day wear.
Best-Looking Rain Boots: Le Chameau Vierzon Jersey Lined Boot
The Vierzon is the boot I imagine when I close my eyes and dream of rain boots. Le Chameau has been making these since 1965, in this classic green. Jersey lined for some warmth, the waterproof rubber—each pair is heavily tested for watertightness—will keep you comfortable while a shock absorbing outsole and steel shank make them comfortable for hours of wear. Of course, the height of the boot doesn’t make them the most versatile on this list, especially for city wear. But can’t you see yourself tucking your thick corduroys into the tops of these bad boys and taking a misty morning walk with your labrador?
Best Lightweight Rain Boots: Aigle Dual-Material Closed Clog
Low gardening clogs have been all the rage the past few years, but Aigle’s version puts a real gorp spin on a style that can otherwise easily veer into twee. A low slip on, the closed clog is designed, as they say, for heavy duty gardening, which makes them ideal for puddle jumping on the way to get coffee. The foam lining adds some well-deserved cushion, while the natural rubber construction is completely waterproof and meticulously tested. And at this price point, that’s more than you’d honestly expect.
Most Comfortable Rain Boots: Merrell Agility Peak 5 Zip Off 1TRL Shoes
These look like they’re a Tokyo-only exclusive you might lust after for months on (Japanese auction site) Buyee. Lucky for us, they are available all across these United States. Two shoes in one, the Agility Peak is made with a Gore-Tex zip-off outer shroud, protecting the base shoe, which is made with a more breathable mesh. At ground level, the Vibram sole keeps you gripped to the road. But the real sell here is Merrell’s famous comfort: These have a lightweight FloatPro™ Foam midsole and a removable EVA foam footbed.
Best Rain Boots for British Guys: Hunter Original Short Rain Boots
Hunter is a day-one rubber boot manufacturer dating all the way back to the mid-1800s, when vulcanized rubber first came on the market. In the 1950s, after several decades of supplying waterproof boots to civilians as well as the British army, the iconic Original Boot (aka Wellington, aka Wellies) was born. They’re embraced by everyone from British royalty to everyday gardeners, and are a wardrobe staple. The Original Boot looks great in its natural habitat with chinos and a waxed jacket, but with a track record of high-end collabs with brands like Stella McCartney and Saint Laurent, it can easily be worked into your more capital-F fits.
Best Rain Boots for Active Guys: Arc’teryx Vertex Alpine GTX Approach Shoes
This—from wet-weather savants Arc’teryx—is technically a trail running shoe, which makes it an ideal all-terrain choice for slippery weather. The Gore-Tex membrane keeps you dry without coming across as overly rain boot coded, and given that it’s designed for clocking impressive mileage, it’ll also help you chase through the rain to catch that bus.
More Rain Boots We Love
XTRATUF Elite Series Neoprene Insulated Fishing Boots
Moonstar Alweather RF Black Boots
Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge Hiking Shoes
Danner Rain Forest 8 Boots
Bogs Tillamook Bay Rain Boots
Palladium Offbound WP+ Zip Shoes
Tingley 1300 Work Rubber Overshoe
Bogs Ten Point Boots
Crocs Crush Rain Boot
Timberland Classic 6-Inch Waterproof Boots
How We Test and Review Products
Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.
Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.
How We Make These Picks
We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.
To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets.
We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.
Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.
Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there’s bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ’s testing process here.)
