Alright so I finally got around to this rain boot showdown I’ve been meaning to do forever. Honestly, it started ’cause my feet got soaked again walking to the bus stop last Tuesday. Just my usual cheap ones totally failing me. Again. So I said screw it, time for a real test.
The Grand Plan (Kind Of)
First thing I did? Dug through my closet, my partner’s muddy boot pile, and harassed a couple neighbors. Ended up grabbing:
- My busted pair (let’s call ’em Brand X)
- Neighbor Bob’s fancy ‘OutDry’ ones
- My old hiking ankle boots (‘TrailTuff’ or something?)
- And the new Dakota Rains I saw online and just bought
Plan was simple: Make ’em all suffer like my feet did.
Setting Up the Torture Chamber
Wednesday afternoon looked grim. Perfect. I filled up a big plastic tub my kids usually use for toys – guess what for? Cold water, obviously. Deep enough to cover the boot tops. Then I grabbed the garden hose and dialed it up to “angry storm.”
Round 1: The Soak Test
Slammed each boot into that tub. Left ’em there for a good fifteen minutes while I drank coffee and watched. Pulled ’em out one by one. Stuck my hand in.
- Brand X: Squish city instantly. Like a wet sponge inside. Duh.
- OutDry: Felt okay at first? But then… damn. A little damp spot near the toe seam. Not soaked, but definitely got in.
- TrailTuff: Oh man. Soggy mess. These aren’t rain boots, my bad.
- Dakota: Bone dry. Seriously. Felt like I just pulled them off the shelf. Took them straight from the tub to the hose test.
Round 2: Hose Fury
This was the fun part. Aimed that hose right at the boots – focusing on the seams, the tongue, everywhere water sneaks in during a real downpour. Went to town for another five minutes per boot. Really blasted them.
- Brand X: Might as well have been made of tissue paper. Water poured in.
- OutDry: Did better. The upper part stayed kinda dry… but water definitely found its way in around the laces and the lower seams started feeling damp inside.
- TrailTuff: Forget it. Swamp feet guaranteed.
- Dakota: Took the spray like a champ. Seriously, felt almost unfair. I pressed hard on the seams while spraying – nothing got through. The inside felt exactly like before I started – dry and warm.
The Walking Bit
Okay, lab part done. Thursday I actually wore the Dakota Rains and the OutDrys to work. It drizzled all morning. The OutDrys? Felt… fine while walking. Not wet inside. But sitting at my desk? My feet started feeling cold and clammy. Not soaked, just… damp and uncomfortable after maybe 3 hours.
The Dakota Rains? Walked through the same drizzle, sat through the same boring meetings. Feet stayed dry and felt normal temperature. No weird clamminess. Felt kind of unreal after my usual soggy sock disasters.
The Weigh-In (Literally)
After the soak test, I was curious. Picked each boot up.
- Brand X: Like lifting a brick. So waterlogged.
- OutDry: Felt noticeably heavier.
- TrailTuff: Like concrete boots.
- Dakota: Surprised me. Still felt pretty light and easy to pick up. Guess they just didn’t hold any water in the material.
Final Thoughts
Look, the OutDrys aren’t awful. They held up okay to the hose, mostly. But they cost nearly twice as much as the Dakotas! And that dampness after a long, wet day? Nah. Not for that price. My fancy hiking boots? Shoulda known better. And Brand X… well. They belong in the trash.
Bottom line: These Dakota Rains? They blew me away. Passed every stupid test I threw at ’em. Bone dry inside, light enough, and didn’t cost an arm and a leg. Feels like I finally found boots that won’t betray me the minute it starts spitting. Wallet hates me a bit less this time too. Happy camper here.
