These Iconic Rain Boots Are Back in My Suitcase This Season-Here’s Why

I’ll be honest: For a long time, I thought I had outgrown rain boots. To me, they were tied to a specific memory: puddles, playgrounds, and the vague feeling I looked a bit like a duck every time I wore them. Even when designer Wellies had their trendy fashion moment, they always felt a little too “festival field” for me. Functional? Yes. Chic? I wasn’t convinced. And yet the Tall Gloss rain boots from Hunter are back in my suitcase this season—and something tells me they’ll be one of the most useful things I pack.

My first pair of Hunter rain boots actually came from my grandmother, who has an incredibly sharp eye for great shoes (and zero patience for flimsy ones). When I was a teenager, she bought me a pair of tall Hunters in a glossy light silver. They were practical, of course, but also strangely cool—metallic enough to feel a little dramatic, subtle enough to still work with everything in my wardrobe. I wore them constantly for years: on rainy afternoons, muddy sidelines, and long walks when the weather was questionable.

Somewhere along the line, I stopped reaching for my Hunters—convinced I had moved on from rubber boots entirely. They felt a little too embedded in the early-2010s uniform of tall boots and skinny jeans. After decades as a heritage British staple, Hunter Boot Ltd. hit a rough patch, entering administration in 2023 after financial strain and an over-expanded product line. But instead of disappearing, the company respectfully restructured under new ownership and returned its focus to the boot that made it iconic in the first place: the Original Tall rain boot. The result feels less trend-driven and more back-to-basics—in an honorable, sure-of-itself sort of way.

Right on time, this past Christmas, my fashion-expert of a grandmother did what she tends to do when she believes a shoe deserves a second chance: She bought me another pair. This time, the classic tall gloss in red. (She knows me really well.)

I didn’t expect my red Hunter rain boots to become one of the most useful things I travel with. They’re durable, but far lighter and more flexible than people assume. The rubber isn’t stiff or bulky, which means they can actually bend a bit in your suitcase rather than taking up a rigid block of space (like some other tall boots do). I usually angle them along the side of my checked luggage and then roll socks—sometimes even a small scarf or packing cube—into the shaft. It’s one of those small packing tricks that saves a surprising amount of room.

The real reason they’ve earned a permanent spot in my travel rotation is simple: They remove stress. If you travel often to and through Europe, you know the situation. You land somewhere beautiful—London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam—and within a few hours, it’s drizzling. Cobblestones become slick, the sidewalks puddle, and suddenly the “cute shoes” you packed feel like a mistake.

This year, rain clouds followed me across the globe on trips from Scotland to the Catskills. I didn’t mind the rain when I packed properly; with my Hunters, I walked through puddles and wet pavement without thinking about it. My rain boots were my go-to shoe on both trips—and not because they’re the most fashionable options in my suitcase, but because they’re comfortable and equipped to handle all the elements.

Their practicality is also why they’re trending again. Even Vogue Scandinavia recently styled them with oversized coats and simple tailoring— the kind of simple outfit you see from Oslo to Edinburgh, and every cool-yet-rainy city in between. Today, these rain boots work best with looser styles and silhouettes: a mini skirt with a long coat, wide-leg trousers, and travel pants that skim the top of the boot with thick socks peeking out. (Speaking of socks, I was disappointed to learn that the brand no longer makes its socks that fold over the boot ever-so-nicely—but there are some other great options on the market).

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Free People

Viola Over-The-Knee socks

$18

Free People

And while the bright red colorway is bold, they behave almost like a neutral. Perfect with black, navy, or camel-colored clothing—red makes for a small flash of color that turns an otherwise basic outfit hip. My favorite part? They’re not trying to reinvent themselves every season. They’re simply that reliable pair of very good rain boots you can wear in any and every city.

I used to think packing rain boots meant I was being overly cautious—planning for bad weather that might never happen. Now I see it differently; I’ve traveled enough to know that the weather will probably turn at some point, and when it does, it’s nice to be wearing the right shoes. Hunter’s classic rain boots aren’t having a loud makeover, but they’re proving why the OGs worked so well in the first place—and why they’re worth packing again.

Below, we rounded up some more reliable rain boots worth considering this season, from trusted brands like Hunter, Dr. Martens, L.L.Bean, REI, and more. All of these on-trend styles are durable, packable, and water-resistant enough to weather any rain day.

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Hunter

Diana rain boots

$160

Hunter

$160

DSW

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Hunter

Eloise rain booties

$195

Hunter

$195

DSW