Hunter Original Back Adjustable Tall - Women's Review

The women's Hunter Original Back Adjustable Tall is a high-performing boot with incredible coverage. These boots have the tallest flood height of all the rain boots we tested, meaning they will keep your feet dry in over a foot of water. The Hunter Original is stylish enough to wear in urban environments, while still functioning properly in rough weather. Each boot is handmade with natural rubber and lined with soft recycled polyester. They have great traction, they are warm, and they look good with a wide variety of outfits. This iconic boot continues to be a crowd favorite year after year.

Weather Protection

In terms of weather protection, the Hunter Original Back Adjustable Tall cannot be beat. Or at least, it has not yet been beaten by any other rain boot we have tested. This boot has a 17-inch flood height, meaning it will keep your socks dry in up to 17 inches of water. This allows for a much greater variability of environments you can use the boots in - from lakes, to rivers, to swamps, and even if you need some extra splash protection on the streets during your commute to work.

The shaft is expandable with the rubber gusset and buckle, making it easy to slip your feet in before cinching it tight around your calves. The certified vegan rubber is molded in one solid design without any seams, eliminating the possibility of leaks.

Comfort

We tested the Hunter Original Back Adjustable Tall by walking through creeks and rivers, hiking up mountains, and tromping on trails. We wore them throughout our daily activities—commuting to work and going to the grocery store. We wore them all day and took notes on how our feet, legs, and back felt in the process.

One of our shorter testers did not enjoy how the tall shaft rubbed against her kneecaps and hit the backs of her knees when she took steps. She found them very uncomfortable while sitting down, riding a bike, or driving, as the top edge of the boot would rub the backs of her knees raw. That being said, our taller testers did not have this problem. They did, however, mention that the tall height made it difficult to get a full range of motion while biking in the boots. So, with that, make sure your lower legs are long enough for the tall shaft of these boots, and if not, Hunter also offers a short version of the same boot that might be better for anyone under 5'6" or so.

The rubber of these boots is quite sturdy and less flexible than some of the other models we tested. We think this will help the boots' durability, but you probably wouldn't want to wear them without pants underneath, as the boots might rub or dig into your legs uncomfortably. The adjustable buckle allows wearers with different leg circumferences to cinch down the shaft in whatever way feels best for them, which may help with any discomfort that may arise from the boot rubbing against their legs.

The footbed provides more support than we have experienced in most other rain boots, which, to be honest, is still not that much, but for a rain boot, it is significantly above average. Our feet felt supported and happy in these boots, even after wearing them for a full day. The foot box felt narrow compared with most other boots we tried, which might make for a difficult fit if you have a wider foot. If you can, try them on before committing to a size and purchase.

Traction

The tread on these boots was designed more for urban use, yet we found it quite confidence-inspiring on difficult terrain. We wore these boots walking up mountains, on wet grass, in rivers and lakes, and on snow and ice, and we were pleasantly surprised by how steady they felt underfoot. Compared with other boots in our lineup, the traction of the Hunter boots fared well above average.

We will mention that these boots struggled to keep their grip on slimy, wet river rocks. The Hunter Originals are best used for urban, casual use, rather than as work boots - but if you need to use them as work boots, they will still get the job done.

Wearability

These boots are extremely popular in rainy coastal cities. They are dependable and come in a wide array of fun matte colors. Walk through any college campus on the East Coast on a rainy day, and you'll see numerous students trodding through puddles with Hunter boots, keeping their feet dry.

The tall shaft height of the Hunter Original Back Adjustable Tall makes them super weather protective, but also might deter some people, as they aren't going to be as comfortable for everyday use as a shorter boot might be. Weighing in 4.3lbs for a size 8 pair, these boots are quite heavy and not super easy to lug around. If you need a packable boot that can slip in and out of your backpack for a commute to work, then these might not be your top choice. But if you don't want a commuter shoe but a boot that you can wear all day in various settings - work, school, grocery store, even dog walk - then these are great.

As far as style goes, these boots are fairly good-looking. They look great over skinny jeans and leggings, or even with tights and a short dress. The one style point they might miss right now is that they don't work as well with wide-leg pants. With the cinchable shaft, it is possible to wear wider style jeans over these boots, but that somewhat defeats the purpose of wearing a tall rain boot, as the bottoms of your pants will get wet. Keep that in mind when deciding what height of boots to buy - if you mostly wear wide-leg pants, a shorter boot will look better, but if you tend to wear straight or skinny jeans and leggings more often, a taller boot will work great.

Warmth

Warmth is not where the Hunter Original Back Adjustable Tall shines. These boots are not built with snow and ice in mind, which actually might be a positive attribute for some wearers! If you are going to be using your rain boots in a climate from about 40°F to 70°F, these boots are the right choice.

Instead of insulation, these boots have a thin, recycled polyester lining. Without any added insulation, we felt the chill of icy river water much faster through these boots than other boots we tested. They are not designed to withstand temperatures below freezing. So if you are working in a cold, snowy environment, these boots will probably not be your top pick. But if you are tromping around in warm swamps and marshes, or through rivers and lakes in a warmer climate, you will be glad to have less insulation around your feet and calves.

Should You Buy the Hunter Original Back Adjustable Tall?

If you want a boot that is protective but still fashion-forward, then the Hunter Original Back Adjustable Tall is the one. It has the tallest flood height (a full 17 inches!) of all the boots we tested, and is more than enough to protect your feet from deep waters or big splashes; it will keep your feet dry in all sorts of weather without looking like a work boot. It does come with a hefty price tag, and the tall height might actually be a problem for some, so make sure you get a chance to try them on before committing.

What Other Rain Boots Should You Consider?