Who Sells Hunter Garden Boots

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A pair of fully waterproof, durable, and comfortable boots is a must during the rainy season.
Hunter boots, famous for its Original Tall Boot ($150) was created in 1856 and makes a variety of styles.
We tested three pairs of Hunter boots on the rainy streets of New York City and shared our reviews.

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Hunter boots are a ubiquitous sighting on rainy days. Come gentle sprinkles or torrential downpours, you can expect to see a few pairs of these short and tall boots splashing through streets, no matter where you are.

The funny thing about Hunter's rubber rain boots is that they have quite a simple design, yet they're still so recognizable and iconic. An easy way to differentiate them from other brands is the Hunter label at the front opening of the boot, or by their rich color and glossy finish.

The history of Hunter boots

The classic boots have a rich history, going back to 1856. In Scotland, an American named Henry Lee Norris founded the North British Rubber Company (which later became Hunter) and made boots using a new patented process that created more durable rubber products. During both World Wars, the company was commissioned to create boots for soldiers.

In 1955, Hunter created the Original Green Wellington, otherwise known as the Original Tall Boot. The versatile, comfortable, and durable handcrafted style is still the brand's most popular shoe.

Other than the Original Tall Boots, Hunter now makes a variety of boot styles for men, women, and children. It has also expanded into outerwear and bags.

The materials

Hunter Boots are made from natural latex rubber that's flexible and waterproof — and sourced from sustainable and ethical plantations in China and Southeast Asia.

Another reason to shop with the company is that it recycles old boots in the UK and donates fully functional boots to local nonprofits, particularly those that help victims of political conflict or natural disasters.

You can find Hunter boots at Nordstrom and Amazon, as well as the Hunter website. Something you should consider when you're deciding where to buy them is the warranty policy. If you buy directly from Hunter, your boots are covered by a two-year warranty.

Here are our reviews after trying 3 pairs of Hunter rain boots:

A pair of adjustable, fashion-forward rain boots

These slick black boots are the perfect look for a rainy day, and I appreciate that they have fewer rubber layers so they feel particularly lightweight. They do the simple job of keeping my feet dry, and the adjustable strap at the top can be tightened for added protection against serious downpours.

But they're not the most comfortable to wear. I got my standard size (9), and my heel rubs up against the back of the shoes while I walk. I'd consider sizing up, especially if you plan to wear them with socks thicker than your everyday pair, but Hunter currently only offers full sizes. If you're an 8.5 or even an 8, these may be the perfect fit for you. For me, I'll probably stick to my Everlane rain boots — despite how much heavier they are. —Mara Leighton, Insider Reviews senior reporter

A pair of classic canary yellow boots

When all the dreary days of winter seem to blend together, sometimes all you need is a pop of color to brighten your day. At least, that was my reasoning behind choosing these yellow boots that would also help me stand out from a pack of black-clad New Yorkers.

The color, durability, and comfort of the boots make me instantly excited to trek through the rain, even though this California girl generally hates any precipitation. They feel sturdy, but they're not too heavy, and the outsole has a secure tread.

You should be fine with your usual size. I found while wearing my normal socks that there was a good amount of wiggle room, so once weather conditions really become dire, you'll be able to wear thick socks to stay warm. If you have thick calves, you should consider these shorter boots versus Hunter's classic tall style. Tall boots can sometimes be difficult for me to take off, but I could put on and take off the pair above easily without worrying about being stuck in them. —Connie Chen, Insider Reviews senior reporter

A pair of insulated boots to keep your legs really warm

As far as warmth goes, these boots are all you need for a cold, wet day — they even work well in the snow. I put a pair of shearling insoles in mine for added softness and warmth around my toes, but the faux-shearling liner keeps my legs perfectly cozy. As far as insulation goes, I've literally walked on the beach in a 30-something degree day while letting ocean water lap over the boots, and my feet stayed perfectly warm and dry.

One thing to note about sizing, though, is that Hunter's tall boots have pretty narrow calves. I have this pair in a wide-leg size, which the company no longer makes, but they do have a shorter mid-calf pair that works well even for wide calves.

Another thing to note is that the rim of the boots may hit the back of your thigh a bit as you go up and down the stairs. I'm a little over 5 feet tall, and this is an issue I have with any stiff knee-high boots, but if you're any taller than 5-foot-3-inches, you should be fine. Overall, these are a really warm upgrade to Hunter's OG tall boots. —Sally Kaplan, Insider Reviews deputy editor

Shop all Hunter boots at Nordstrom or on the Hunter website.

Connie Chen is a senior reporter on the Insider Reviews team, where she leads coverage of home textiles, home entertaining, and food and drink. She specializes in all the things that enhance life at home, from the most comfortable bed sheets and fluffy pillows to cool online wine clubs and bartender-approved cocktail shakers. She combines rigorous testing methods, conversations with professionals, and active knowledge of the home and kitchen space to help readers get the most out of their money. When she's not changing duvet covers or washing towels twice a day for articles, she loves talking about and trying the newest snacks, drinks, and food gifts. You can see more of her testing process and other behind-the-scenes of being a product journalist on her Instagram @connayreviews. Connie joined Insider Reviews as an early member in 2017 and has also reported on products and services in the style, tech, fitness, travel, and e-learning spaces, with a particular interest and expertise in emerging startups. She has represented the team at CES and moderated panels on media business and the future of retail. Connie graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in media studies and business administration, which help inform her perspective on and coverage of industry trends, as well as the competitive e-commerce landscape at large. Read some of her work: The 4 best cocktail shakers in 2021 The 7 best women's bathrobes in 2021 The 5 best wine openers and corkscrews we tested in 2021 The 5 best bed sheets we tested in 2021 The 5 best cordless vacuums we tested in 2021 12 direct-to-consumer kitchen startups that are changing the way we shop for cookware and knives 8 tableware startups changing the way we shop for dishes Even chefs experience cooking burnout — here's how they get re-inspired in the kitchen How businesses create successful virtual experiences 50 cookbooks from famous restaurants across the US that will help you recreate their best dishes at home Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Learn more about how we test kitchen products.