The primary purpose of footwear is to provide comfort and protection for wearers against harsh conditions. This is why many prefer wearing Solid Rain boots since they ensure feet protection, warmth, and comfort.

But did you know that rain boots have many essential features? Apart from securing your feet and legs from being soaked by the rain and mud, actually, there are more! Check out the list of rain boots’ essential qualities we made below.

1. Fit
The popular phrase “the last is first” by shoemakers reinforce the vitality to create a properly fitting footwear. A shoe last is a foot-shaped tool that is used to assist cobblers in pattern making, sizing, and fitting.

Getting the right fit is crucial in choosing any type of footwear as it directly influences comfort. More than that, boots will not correctly function if they do not fit well, no matter how well they were constructed.

2. Comfort
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We all know that footwear is used to provide comfort for wearers. But how can you identify a comfortable boot from a non-comfortable one? The comfortability feature solely relies on the wearer’s subjective preferences since there are several attributing factors.

Some individuals base their choices on materials and design, while others base it on their safety and satisfaction of use. This is why many rain boot manufacturers nowadays produce a wide variety of boot materials and designs to meet the needs of every consumer.

3. Support and Stability
Another essential feature of rain boots is the support they provide. The stability of your boots is attained with proper cushioning, medial support, and curved or semi-curved last. In addition, the more surface area in contact with the ground, the more support the boot offers the foot. Hence, rain boots that have soles as wide as the upper can be beneficial to get extra foot movement support.

If you want to know if the rain boot you plan to buy is stable or not, simply squeeze the rear part. Stable rain boots usually resist compression and twisting.

4. Traction
Traction is one of the main features of rain boots because it defines resistance to slippage. This is why many companies claim exclusive outsole designs or tread patterns as one of their boot selling features. It is placed at the outsole since this is the external layer that comes in contact with the ground.

Traction is usually made from carbon rubber and blown rubber. The latter is softer and lighter but wears faster compared to carbon rubber. Hence, carbon rubber is used primarily at the heel section, while blown rubber is typically placed at the forefoot of the boot.

5. Cushioning
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Cushioning is the ability of a boot to absorb shock. Most boot manufacturing businesses use the terms cushioning and shock absorption interchangeably, so if you see either one of the features, it meant the same thing.

Rubber was used as cushioning in the early days. But presently, cushioning materials vary due to manufacturers' innovative approach. Now you can see all sorts of air soles, fluid shoes, or pads for shock absorption purposes.

6. Breathability
Traditional rain boots often fail to provide enough foot ventilation, which causes discomfort to wearers, especially in hot climates. And if your foot feels too much heat with no ventilation to release heat moisture, skin problems like rashes, blisters, and other foot infection may occur. This is why rain boot manufacturers are now keen on producing breathable footwear that can match not only the cold and wet season but also the hot and dry climate.

7. Durability
The durability of rain boots depends on the material, storage, technology used, and duration of use. PVC rain boots are much more prone to abrasion damage compared to wellies or gumboots. A durable rain boot in the upper section is achieved through stitching and toe bumpers to reinforce toe and heel protection. Whereas durable boot in the sole area is attained with the use of proper materials and outsole design.

8. Weight
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Weight is another feature that needs to be considered in choosing the right rain boots. Most people prefer lightweight pairs.

Why is boot weight important? Weight is an essential factor, especially to those wearers who use rain boots in performing heavy-duty activities like farming or hiking, for heavy rain boots will only hinder the wearer’s performance. This is why the general trend nowadays is to lessen the boot weight as much as possible without sacrificing its performance, durability, support, and other features.