Leather and water, famously, don’t tend to get along. So, for much of human history, soaked-through leather shoes were just another inconvenient fact of daily life (depending on where said life took place, naturally).
This began to change in 1844 when the inventor Charles Goodyear first vulcanized rubber, allowing the naturally impermeable material to be crafted into footwear for the very first time. In just a few years the American inventor Henry Lee Norris set up shop in the UK to produce the Wellington boot, a calf-height rubber boot based on a riding style preferred by the Anglo-Irish duke of the same name (as Wellington’s most famous victory, the Battle of Waterloo, was fought on a muddy day in Belgium, he likely knew a thing or two about the importance of staying dry). The world wars saw further developments in waterproof technology, and 1969 witnessed the accidental discovery of Gore-Tex, a waterproof yet breathable membrane that further increased the variety and availability of weather-proof footwear.
Puddle-jumpers today are practically spoiled for choice, whether they prefer the shape of a classic rubber Wellie, a Chelsea style, or even a hiker. We’ve assorted a more-or-less impermeable range of possible footwear choices below; take a good look and stay dry out there.
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Blundstone Men’s Thermal #566
Image Credit: Blundstone Since its founding in 1870, Blundstone has made itself synonymous with a certain Aussie sense of rugged adventurism best expressed by its flagship Chelsea boot. The Thermal #566 is an all-weather version of that same boot, upgraded by such features as a waterproof leather upper, thermal insulation and genuine sheepswool lining. Â
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Le Chameau Men’s Vierzon Jersey Lined Wellington Boot
Image Credit: Le Chameau Established in a seaside Norman village in 1927, Le Chameau is France’s foremost purveyor of the rubber Wellington boot. Built from the brand’s proprietary Chamolux rubber—which is made according to a secret recipe passed down by founder Claude Chamot—each boot proves soft and pliable in addition to being 100% waterproof. Brand signatures include a tartan jersey lining and an adjustable tightening strap.
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L.L. Bean Gumshoes
Image Credit: L.L. Bean The rainy-day equivalent of the label’s famous boot, L.L. Bean’s Gumshoes feature the same waterproof bottom on a lower (and easier to slip into) shape. Like its taller cousin, the gum shoe also features a leather upper with triple-needle stitching and a rubber outsole with supremely grippy chain-shaped treads. It also continues to be made in Maine.
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Sorel Cyprus Men’s Waterproof Boot
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Hunter Men’s Original Tall Rain Boots
Image Credit: Hunter A UK icon on par with Land Rover Defenders and waxed Barbour jackets, Hunter’s Wellington boots were first introduced in 1956. The mid-calf boot is built from 28 separate pieces of natural rubber, which are assembled over the course of three days using a proprietary last. Each has a clean, matte finish and the iconic “Hunter” logo positioned just below the topline.
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Stutterheim Puddle Walker Rain Boots
Image Credit: Stutterheim Founded in 2010 with a single product—a black raincoat—Stockholm-based Stutterheim has gone on to become a streetwear favorite and a full-body outfitter. Where feet are concerned it offers the Puddle Walker, a fully waterproof rubber style based on the Chelsea boot silhouette. It also features a treaded sole and a handy pull tab at the top.
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SeaVees Men’s Beyond & Back Boot
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Grenson Milo Welted Waterproof Leather Chelsea Boots
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Danner Mountain Pass
Image Credit: Danner An even lighter-weight version of the Oregon-based maker’s iconic Mountain Light hiker, the Mountain Pass simplifies things further with a streamlined construction combining the lasting board, midsole and shank. While it features classic hiker looks with a full-grain Horween leather upper, it also benefits from Gore-Tex lining that makes it waterproof. A stitchdown construction means that it can be recrafted for many more years of wear.
