A proper lace up rubber boot can help keep you dry when the heavy rain sets in. You’ll need to decide whether you want a 100% rubber lace up rain boot, or if you prefer a lace up duck boot. Duck boots combine a rubber vamp bottom with a leather or textile upper shaft to create a boot that is waterproof, but also comfortable to wear.
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These are my choices for best lace up rain boots:
- *Women’s* Sperry Women’s Saltwater All Weather Rain Boots (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Muck Boot Women’s Originals Lace Up Rain Boot (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Bogs Women’s Amanda Lace Up Waterproof Insulated Boots (click here to view)
- *Women’s* L.L. Bean Original Women’s Bean Boots (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Rocket Dog Women’s Rain Drop Lace Up Rubber Boots (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Skechers Women’s Quilted Lace Up Duck Boots (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Muck Boot Women’s Originals Side Lace Mid Rain Boot (click here to view)
- *Men’s* Muck Boot Men’s Muck Originals Lace Up Boots (click here to view)
- *Men’s* L.L. Bean Original Men’s Bean Boots (click here to view)
- *Men’s* LaCrosse Men’s 12″ Insulated Lace Up Rubber Boots (click here to view)
- *Men’s* Muck Boot Men’s Arctic Outpost Mid Lace Up Boots (click here to view)
- *Men’s* Sperry Men’s Cold Bay Chukka Rain Boots (click here to view)
- *Men’s* Sorel Men’s Cheyanne II Waterproof Insulated Winter Boots (click here to view)
- *Men’s* Sperry Men’s Avenue Waterproof Duck Boots (click here to view)
Obviously, you preferred style is going to play a large role in determining what boot is best for you. Some lace up rain boots will finish at the mid-calf, while other boots will finish near the ankle, and may even have a more casual, sneaker design. And as we discussed above, duck boots are another great option.
You will need to consider is whether or not you want your lace up rain boot to be insulated. Most of these boots are not insulated, but will provide a moderate amount of warmth. But if you are looking for boots to use in wet, wintry conditions, an insulated boot may be the best option.
L.L. Bean offers their lace up Bean Boots in several different type of insulated versions. Click here to view L.L. Bean’s Insulated Bean Boots available at llbean.com (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).
In this article let’s take a closer look at the best lace up rubber boots so you can find an option that fits your needs. Let’s also discuss several things to consider when buying these types of lace up boots for rain.
Best Lace Up Rubber Boots
Muck Boot Originals Lace Up Rain Boot
Muck Boot Company is a well known rubber boot company, and although they specialize in making farm and chore style rubber boots, they also make lace up rain boots . They offer these rain boots in both a men’s and a women’s version.
These boots are 100% waterproof and feature inner neoprene booties to add comfort and warmth to the boots. They are made with a traditional lace-up design. What makes these unique compared to a lot of rubber boots is they are ankle boots that don’t extend up the leg.
- Men’s Version – This men’s Muck Originals Lace Up Boot is 100% waterproof. Although there are laces, there is no tongue to this boot, so you don’t have to worry about moisture leaking in through the tongue. This is the current price of these men’s lace up Muck rain boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Women’s Version – This women’s Muck Originals Lace Up Boot is very similar to the men’s boot. It is 100% waterproof and although there are laces, there is no tongue to this boot, so you don’t have to worry about moisture leaking in through the tongue. It is available in several different colors. This is the current price of these men’s lace up Muck rain boots (affiliate link takes you to MuckBootCompany.com).
LaCrosse Men’s Pac 12” Lace Up Rubber Boots
Lacrosse is a well known rubber boot company, and I have owned these Lacrosse Lace Pac Rubber Boots for several years. These will be a nice option for those of you who prefer a boot that extends to the mid calf.
Here’s what these Lacrosse lace up rubber boots look like:
This is the current price of these Lacrosse rubber boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these lace up rain boots:
- Design – These boots are made with 100% rubber. They lace up near the calf, making it easier to tighten them to your preferred fit. This can be particularly important if you’re working in wet, slippery conditions. This boot is 100% waterproof.
- Warmth – These are winter pac boots that have foam insulation that insulates the foot area of this boot. They also have a 9mm wool-felt midsole to help retain warmth.
- Toe Type – This is a plain toe lace up rubber boot, but Lacrosse does offer this boot in a steel toe version as well. Click here to view the steel toe version of this boot available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
As I mentioned above, I have worn these LaCrosse Insulated Pac Boots for several years. Here’s a look at my Lacrosse Pac Boots:
Again, the thing I really like about these Lacrosse Boots is they are 100% rubber and provide me with a reliable waterproof barrier when I need it. The laces around the calf allow me to tighten the boot securely to my leg in wet work conditions.
Click here to buy these Lacrosse lace up rubber boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience, Lacrosse boots fit true to size. For farm work, visit our article about the best steel toe farm boots.
Best Lace Up Rubber Duck Boots
Sperry Women’s Saltwater All Weather Rain Boots
Duck boots are another nice option if you are shopping for a lace up rain boot. Traditional duck boots use a rubber vamp bottom combined with a leather upper to create a boot that is both waterproof and comfortable.
Some modern duck boots, like the women’s Sperry Saltwater boots, are built more for casualwear, and will incorporate other types of fabrics into the upper. These Sperry boots are offered in many different styles, including options that use wool in the upper.
Here’s what these Sperry women’s lace up duck boots look like:
This is the current price of these Sperry lace up rubber boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these boots:
- Design – These lace up rain boots are made with 100% rubber vamp bottoms. The shaft material can vary style by style. Some styles use leather for the shaft, while others use nylon or wool. Yes, these boots have a lace-up design and also have a side zipper.
- Duck Boot Style – These boots are duck boots, which means although they are made for rain, they won’t be made with 100% rubber. Some shaft materials may be more appropriate for wet conditions than others. These boots find a nice middle ground between performance and style.
Click here to buy these Sperry Saltwater lace up rubber boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Visit our article about the best insulated duck boots for winter options.
L.L. Bean “Bean” Boots
L.L. Bean offers their famous Bean boots (which are duck boots) in a wide range of designs for both men and women. Yes, these will be lace up rain boots, and although the standard version of these boots is not insulated, they also offer these boots in several insulated versions.
For example, some boots may use shearling to insulate above the ankle, and use synthetic insulation in the rubber portion of the boot. The synthetic insulations used will be either 3M Thinsulate or PrimaLoft, which are both very good at trapping heat while still being lightweight and non-bulky.
The weight of insulation can greatly affect the warmth of the boot. One thing I really like about L.L. Bean is they will assign a comfort rating to some of their insulated duck boots so you have an idea of what temperature range the boots fit. I’d advise you to learn more about their comfort ratings by clicking here. Here’s what you need to know about your options:
- Men’s Standard Bean Boot – This is the standard men’s Bean Boot that does not have any additional insulation. It has a traditional lace-up design with a leather upper shaft and a rubber bottom. L.L. Bean offers this boot in both a 6″ version and an 8″ version. These boots are handcrafted in the USA. Click here to view these men’s L.L. Bean lace up rain boots available at llbean.com (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).
- Men’s Shearling Lined Boot – The upper for this boot is insulated with sheepskin shearling and the rubber bottom is insulated with 200g of 3M Thinsulate insulation. L.L. Bean assigns a comfort rating of +25 degrees Fahrenheit for light activity with these boots, and a comfort rating of -20 degree Fahrenheit for moderate activity with these boots. These are handcrafted in the USA. Waterproof leather shaft with rubber bottoms. Click here to view these men’s L.L. Bean shearling-lined winter duck boots (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).
- Men’s Thinsulate Gore-Tex Bean Boots – This is probably their most popular men’s Bean Boot. This boot uses 3M Thinsulate for insulation and has a waterproof Gore-Tex lining. Although this boot is insulated, it won’t be quite as warm as some of their other options. These boots are handcrafted in the USA. Classic design with waterproof leather shaft combined with rubber bottom. Click here to view these men’s L.L. Bean Thinsulate lace up rubber boots (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).
- Women’s Standard Bean Boot – This is the standard women’s Bean Boot that does not have any additional insulation. It has a traditional lace-up design with a leather upper shaft and a rubber bottom. L.L. Bean offers this boot in a 6″ version. These boots are handcrafted in the USA. Click here to view these women’s L.L. Bean lace up rain boots available at llbean.com (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).
- Women’s Shearling Lined Boot – The upper for this boot is insulated with sheepskin shearling and the rubber bottom is insulated with 200g of 3M Thinsulate insulation. L.L. Bean does assign a comfort rating to these boots so you can match the temperature range to your activity level to get a better understanding of how warm they are. These are handcrafted in the USA. Waterproof leather shaft with rubber bottoms. Click here to view these women’s L.L. Bean shearling-lined lace up rubber boots (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).
- Women’s Flannel Lined Boot – The upper for this boot is insulated with 100% cotton flannel and the rubber bottom is insulated with 200g of 3M Thinsulate insulation. Just like with the men’s boot we discussed earlier, this is one of the few women’s insulated boots on the market that use flannel lining above the ankle. Classic design with leather shaft and rubber bottom. These are 8-inch boots and they are handcrafted in the USA. Click here to view these women’s L.L. Bean flannel-lined insulated duck boots (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).
As you can see, L.L. Bean has a wide variety of duck boots that function perfect as lace up rain boots and snow boots. I personally like the shearling-lined boots for winter. These boots have PrimaLoft insulation around the foot, then use shearling to line the leather shaft of the boot.
Here’s what mine look like:
These lace up rain boots use a thick shearling lining to keep my ankles and lower legs warm. As you can see below, the lining on my boots measures at almost 7mm thick. My size 11 boots weigh 1.91 pounds per boot:
I typically wear a size 12, but sized down to 11 for these boots and they fit perfectly, so I would recommend that you size L.L. Bean down. Click here to buy these L.L. Bean men’s insulated duck boots that I own (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).
4 Things to Consider When Buying Lace Up Rubber Boots
Height of Lace Up Rain Boots
The height of the boot can affect many things, mainly protection. Obviously, the taller the boot shaft, the more water, wind, and abrasion protection you get above the ankle.
But a tall shaft can also add weight to the boot, and usually increases price. It also affects the look and wear of a boot, so shaft height may just come down to your personal preference on style.
You can find lace up rain boots usually in the 6-12 inch shaft range, with exceptions. For example, L.L. Bean offers their popular Bean Boots in a slip-on ankle version as well.
Lace vs Slip On
In this article we have discussed lace up rubber boots, but there are some situations where a slip-on rubber boot might be the better option. Here’s the advantages and disadvantages to both options so you can determine which type of boot might be best for you:
- Lace Up – Having laces on a boot helps maximize the amount of control is passed from the boot to your foot. Having a secure fit can be critical in wet conditions. One drawback is laces can be a pain to tie and un-tie in wet conditions, especially if the laces get soggy and snow-packed. Laces also allow you to tighten the boots to keep your rubber boots dry.
- Slip On – Slip on boots are very easy to take on and off, and because they don’t have laces, there is not concern about water or debris slipping in through the laces. They provide a completely waterproof barrier. But because they don’t have laces, they don’t always provide a snug fit.
Slip on sizing can be a bit different too. To read more, visit my article: How do rubber boots fit?
Other Waterproof Boots
There are a wide range of waterproof boots on the market today, and if you are not happy with your lace up rubber boot options, then maybe one of the options below will give you the fit you need:
- Waterproof USA Made Boots
- Waterproof Pull On Boots
- Waterproof Chukkas
- Waterproof Moc Boots
- Waterproof Wedge Flat Sole Boots
- Waterproof Comp Toe Work Boots
- Boot Lace Length Chart
- Are Waterproof Boots Breathable?
Lace Up Rubber Boots Made in the USA
Unfortunately today, most rubber rain boots are imported. If you prefer to wear USA-made lace up rain boots, then I would recommend the L.L. Bean boots we discussed earlier in the article.
L.L. Bean has a wide range of their iconic “Bean Boots” that are still handcrafted here in the USA at their Maine facility. Click here to see L.L. Bean’s wide variety of Bean Boots (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com). You can also visit our article about the best rubber boots made in the USA.