Best Retailers for Women's Rain Boots
Rain boots are essential footwear for trekking about in inclement weather, keeping the feet dry and warm while sloshing through the puddles. For women, rain boot styles run the gamut from straightforward, no-nonsense designs to more elaborate and fashionable boots. When shopping for rain boots, make sure to take the quality of the traction into account as much as the level of waterproofing each pair of boots offers, in order to prevent slipping and injury in particularly heavy rainstorms. All rain boot prices quoted in this article are accurate as of October 2011.
Piperlime
Piperlime is one of five retail stores that are actually part of Gap Inc., and this online store sells over 80 different styles of women's rain boots. The price range for Piperlime's rain boot selection is $35 to $350. The least expensive women's rain boots are represented by footwear such as the "Bog" boots, manufactured by Chinese Laundry. A practical and stylistically minimalist rain boot, "Bog" is a tall, calf-high boot made of 100% rubber, with a 1 inch heel, high set arch-over buckle, and traction outsole. At the high end of the Piperlime rain boot price range, the stylish and elegant "May" is a tall shaft dress rain boot, with an upper constructed of waterproof Italian calf suede, a microfiber lining, an inside zip closure with goring, and a 3 inch stacked heel, which gives this rain boot a more formal feel.
REI
For women who want their rain boots from a renowned manufacturer of tough, durable outdoor wear, an excellent retailer choice is REI, which has been in the business of outdoor outfitting since the 1930s. There are 14 different women's rain boots to choose from on the official REI store website, with a price range of $35 to $140. The lowest priced REI rain boot is the Baffin Prime Rain Boot, a black, waterproof, calf-high slip-on with a rubber upper and outsole, a gelflex midsole, and a synthetic lining. The highest priced REI women's rain boot is the Tretorn Aspelina Winter Boot, which is designed to be worn in wet but temperate conditions as well as in icy winter snow trekking. The Tretorn Aspelina is a black, waterproof, mid-calf height lace-up with an upper constructed of a blend of rubber and leather, a lining of brushed nylon, and an outsole made of gum rubber.
DSW
Designer Shoe Warehouse offers numerous brand-name, designer lines of women's footwear, with 50 different styles of women's rain boots. The price range for DSWs selection of women's rain boots is $10 to $130, and the cheapest pair of rain boots is the Sperry Top-Sider Women's Pelican Nautical Rainboot. The Pelican Nautical Rainboot exudes a jaunty, seafaring feel, with its yellow and black waterproof rubber upper, adjustable side strap with elastic panel, and sailboat logo positioned towards the top of the boot. This boot also features a micro-fleece lining and a heavy-duty rubber sole with razor cut Wave-Siping for superior traction. The most expensive pair of women's rain boots available through DSW is the Sorel Women's Sorellington Rain Boot, a black calf-height boot with a full-vulcanized waterproof rubber upper, and a red, removable inner sock lining with a quilted felt cuff.
