Sunday, March 13, 2016

Favorite Rain Boots + Hunter Boots Regular vs. Kids

Sperry Hingham Quilted Rain Boots 

Rain boots are not something I get to use very often.  Especially right now, since California is in the middle of a drought, we don't get a ton of rain.  Still, I love taking advantage of the few rainy weeks we have in the winter and beginning of spring, and wear my favorite boots around.

Hunter Boots are a classic- the black/navy ones go with nearly anything and are wicked good at keeping your feet dry.  They don't keep your feet warm though, so don't wear them in the snow, and make sure to wear socks of some kind.  I own both the original and kid's sizes, which I'll be comparing below!

Sperry's Hingham boots are lined with a faux-fleece material, so they are perfect for keeping your feet toasty.  The vegan leather is also okay to get wet, so these are awesome for wading and jumping in puddles.  These come in earth tones, so they are super versatile.  I was quite lucky to snag a pair of these, since they are rarely available.

My two other favorite rain boot brands are Burberry and Joules.  I have one pair from Burberry (these ones), which I don't wear very often so I didn't photograph them.  I have yet to get a pair by Joules, though!

Hunter Boots:  Regular vs. Kids Size

First of all, let's talk about price.  The women's Original Tall Rain Boots are $150, while the Original Kid's Rain Boots are $80.  They are the same price whether you get them in the regular or gloss finish- my women's are regular finish, while my kid's are gloss finish.  The kid's boots are great for people with smaller feet.  They go up to a size 5, which is equivalent to a women's 7.   I attached a size chart below with Women's Equivalent sizes.

The Women's boot shaft height is 16", while the Kid's has an 11" shaft height.  On me, that means the Women's hit just below my knee, while the Kid's hit on the upper calf.  The calf part is pretty loose, so when I walk, it sometimes rubs against my jeans or leg in the middle of my calf, which can get a little uncomfortable after a few hours in thin pants without boot cuffs.  I don't have this problem with the women's since it hits higher on my leg.


The kid's boots also have reflector patches on the back, which some people love and some people find pesky.  Personally, I'm not a fan of these, and have tried to peel them off, but they're not removable.  

I wear a 6.5 and I have the size 5 in both women's and kid's.  The kid's ones fit me when I'm wearing very thick socks, like J. Crew camp socks or Hunter's boots socks.   The women's fit when I'm wearing regular thickness socks.

Overall, I prefer the regular women's boots, mostly because of the lack of reflectors.  I also like that they are a little taller, so I don't have to wear huge socks to avoid chafing.  However, the price difference is quite staggering- $70!  Luckily, I've found some great deals on Poshmark, where I got my black women's boots.  However, I think Hunter boots are well worth the price for the quality you get, especially if you'll be using them frequently in a rainy area.

Cleaning Your Hunter Boots

Hunter boots often develop white salt deposits when you wear them out in the rain.  Hunter does offer a cleaning liquid and maintenance tools, but they're pricey and there are much cheaper home remedies that work well.

The first method is to rub them down with a cooking oil.  I had to borrow some oil from my neighbor, and what he gave me was a bit too much.  What's pictured is probably double what you'll need.  Just a little bit on a paper towel should do the trick!  Rub off all the white salt deposits, then rinse it off with water and dry the boot's exterior with another clean paper towel.  The above photo is one boot after the full cleaning process and one boot with the white salt smudges. 

Dish soap and warm water should also work, but will probably take a little longer and require more effort.  Make sure your water is not too hot, as it could damage or even melt the rubber in prolonged exposure.  What you'd normally take a bath in is fine.


Hope this post and guide were helpful!  Let me know where your favorite boots are from.

20 comments:

  1. I love Hunter boots. Unlike LA, in my part of the world they are very needed, but I still didn't buy me a pair. Need to put that on top of my shopping list :)
    Ivona from www.thesmokedetector.net
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. These are a total staple, especially if you get a ton of rain! Thanks for reading.

      Delete
  2. I had no idea that cooking oil worked so well! My Hunters definitely need a swipe of this!

    https://forsevenseasons.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. hunters!!
    kisses from dubai ❤️
    www.mahryska.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is a really awesome breakdown of rain boots! So important because the rainy season has already started!

    www.rdsobsessions.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I get a TON of use out of my Hunter boots up in Portland!! They are my favorite
    -Olivia
    Miss Olivia Says

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for this amazing post! I always opt for kids sizes if they fit since the price difference is so wide. I don't like the reflectors either but I think it's worth the $70 savings. I've been wondering how to clean my boots too so this is really useful!

    Chelsea
    Chow Down USA
    Instagram

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great post dear. I did not knew that cooking oil would do wonders to it. Definitely gonna try that on my father's hunter shoes. Thanks for sharing it and was lovely reading the post... :)

    http://www.colossalcloset.in/stuck-in-second-gear-souled-it-out/

    ReplyDelete
  8. I LOVE my Hunter boots! Great tips for cleaning them! Joules has such adorable wellies too!

    www.rosyoutlookblog.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I actually don't own any hunter boots but I love the tall black ones.

    XO Chelsea http://www.shesaidhesaidfashion.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love a good pair of rain boots and you cannot beat Hunters!

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hunters are the best! A must have for spring!

    Heidi || Wishes & Reality

    ReplyDelete
  12. Appreciate it due to this wonderful write-up! Which i decide on young children sizing's as long as they healthy because selling price change is large. When i do not like this reflectors often although I'm sure it truly is value this $70 benefits. Appears wanting to know the best way to fresh the shoes far too which means this is very practical!

    ReplyDelete
  13. The post is written in very a good manner and it contains many useful information for me. Men Jeans
    women Boots

    ReplyDelete
  14. Etsy.com/shop/rockintherain

    ReplyDelete
  15. Do you wash your boots out inside as well and what is the best way to dry them out if they get wet inside?

    ReplyDelete
  16. One of my best buddies recommended this website and I owe it to her. She helped me to find this nice website. I appreciate your nice work. Keep continuing helping others. I will refer this site to other people like my best buddy. Thanks.
    Hug & blesses!
    Click this post to read more.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...