Where We Test
Our testers have put in years working in unrelentingly uncomfortable conditions — as sheep, cattle, and vegetable farmers, as ecological field researchers, as outdoor guides, and as environmental journalists. In each of these jobs, our testers go out no matter the weather. As a result, they've found just about every different type of rough weather you can think of — from thundersnow to ice-muck! Our testers spent long days counting leaves on high-alpine aspen trees while hiding from thunderstorms, docking lamb's tails in dumping snow in New Zealand, slogging through and shoveling shin-deep mud while building a rammed-earth home in Argentinian Patagonia, and washing artisanal organic carrots in sub-freezing temperatures in northeastern Maine. They've also worn and destroyed a troubling amount of footwear, so they know exactly how to tell whether a boot is worth the money, as none of their jobs have ever paid much.
To determine what boots stand out, our testers found the most uncomfortable tests they could endure while trying to avoid long-term damage to their own feet. The most casual tests involve wearing rain boots on every adventure they go on, throughout all the weather they can find, which can encompass balmy (sweaty) 80°F temperatures by Californian beaches to feet of snow and 5°F temperatures up in the Northern Rockies. Our testers also assessed these boots in controlled environments, at work (indoors and out), and on concrete.
Testing Weather Protection
To test weather protection, our testers waded in Puget Sound, Resurrection Bay, the Yakima River, the Clark Fork, the Bitterroot River, as well as a series of rivers and ponds in rural Alaska. Our testing is based on real-world experience testing each pair of boots in harsh conditions, from hunting and fishing in Alaska's backcountry to standing in sub-freezing conditions in the muck and rain; all of our products have been through the wringer.
To support our field testing, we also perform repeatable and controlled tests to further our analysis. We measured the flood height of each boot by walking into a body of water until water started to seep in at the lowest penetrable point. We then measured how high the water was on the boot when it started to seep in. We then remained in the water for five minutes with the boots just below flood height. We evaluated for any penetration or wetness within the boots. We continued to monitor and assess the weather resistance of the boots over the 10-week testing period.
Testing Comfort
To test comfort, our testers spent extensive time in each of these boots, upwards of 15 hours continuously in one pair! From working to hunting and fishing to rainy hikes, we've spent dozens of hours wearing rain boots. For our repeatable and standardized test, we first took each on a one-mile walk that incorporated multiple surfaces, including concrete, mud, grass, stones, and a steep creek bank. We evaluated each for any sign of discomfort, such as blisters, heel lift, or arch pain. We then stood stationary in each boot on concrete for 15 minutes to test their standing comfort. Lastly, we evaluated their comfort over the 10-week testing period, taking note of how the comfort changed over time and in what settings the boots were most comfortable.
Testing Traction
To test traction, we slipped around on soggy hills, wobbled across mossy logs, shuffled around on damp concrete, and skidded on snow and ice. We sought out a variety of terrain and surfaces to put every boot's traction to the test. We started our testing with a visual inspection to assess the tread pattern, lug design, and lug depth. We then completed a smooth surface test consisting of taking each pair of boots on wet concrete, smooth river stones, and a moss-covered log. After the smooth surface test, we conducted a rough and uneven surface test by walking up and down a steep, slippery hillside as well as a muddy riverbank to assess their traction on more uneven surfaces.
Testing Wearability
While wearability is a somewhat objective metric, we strive to make it as objective and measurable as possible. We define wearability as the ability to wear the boots in a variety of settings and their ability to function in those settings. We wore each pair of boots in multiple settings ranging from yard work, fishing, hiking, around town, and even bicycle commuting. We then evaluated which setting these boots were most appropriate for and where they were most at home. We assessed their ease of taking on and off and gauged whether they could be slipped on or required hands. We also conducted a flex test where we folded the toe of the boot to see how the flex impacted the usability of the boots.
Testing Durability
Durability is a key component of any footwear and one metric we take very seriously. We conducted a repeatable wear test on each boot where we sanded the toe flex point and a lug on the sole with 120-grit sandpaper for one minute and evaluated their wear. We conducted a visual inspection of each boot, examining seams and material contact points to assess for any potential areas of weakness, and wore the boots extensively over the 10-week test period to see how well they held up to consistently rigorous use.
We've been testing rain boots through all seasons since 2014. Our testers have brought these boots around the world during their testing. Testing locations have included British Columbia, Southern California, and Joshua Tree National Park in the winter, snowy Minneapolis, the Chiricahua Range of Arizona, the Red River Gorge, Vedauwo, Wyoming, Olympic National Park, Glacier National Park, Rainier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Teton National Park, Red Rock Canyon, down the entire Grand Canyon, the Oregon Coast, Acadia National Park, Niagara Falls, Lake Tahoe, and Southcentral Alaska. After testing each boot in the real world, we ran repeatable tests on our testing metrics to gather quantifiable data. Our combination of real-world testing and laboratory analysis provides an in-depth, thorough investigation of every pair of boots we test.
