Sloggers Rain and Garden Review

Fairly lightweight, the Rain and Garden boot is glossy and straightforward. Made in the USA with up to 50% recycled materials, they are one of the shortest of the mid-calf boots we tested, measuring only 10.5 inches from the floor. No lining and a wider toe box, there's not much else going on with these boots besides style and traction.

Performance Comparison

With a traditional construction, the Sloggers boots are practical and affordable.

Weather Protection

These shorter mid-calf boots don't offer nearly as much weatherproofing as those with taller shafts. However, they are tall enough to get the job done. They did not leak on us and faired well when wading across a stream.

Comfort

Unfortunately, comfort wasn't a high-point for this boot. Despite boasting all-day comfort insoles, after thirty minutes of walking, our lead tester experienced a hot spot on her left heel and achy feet. While the shaft is flexible enough to move around in, the all-day appeal is greatly diminished after feeling the onset of a blister. The shaft did not dig into the shin on an incline, however, and thankfully the collar of the boot is lined with nylon. Many online customer reviews mentioned Sloggers cutting into their legs when the boots did not have this nylon around the lip (which is a different version of this boot which we do not recommend). Driving in them was only a tad cumbersome. A true plus, the footbox was roomy for thick socks and provided ample space for our toes to spread out.

The Rain and Garden boots are comfortable to wear across flat surfaces, but not necessarily for long distances.

Style

If you like patterns and a variety of colors, these rain boots come in an overwhelming number of designs. The model we tested was a simple polka-dot pattern with a high gloss rubber. We felt that such patterns are either a hit or miss when it comes to versatility and style appeal. You either rock the high-fun patterns no matter what your outfit is or you opt to only wear them sparingly. Because of the potential for a wardrobe clash, they are not as transferable as some of the more elegant options we reviewed.

The playful patterns on the Sloggers accented well with all the fall colors.

Traction

Despite the basic appearance of the pair, the soles on these boots were some of the most aggressive of the fleet, scoring right along with the award winners. Certainly stable across flat, wet terrain, they were also reliable in the snow and up a grassy incline. Living up to their garden association, the off-road capabilities are notable.

The tread on the Sloggers boots is surprisingly aggressive.

Warmth

With no lining, the Sloggers still maintain a fair amount of heat due to the very nature of their waterproof rubber. Best for mild temperatures, things got cold fast when it came to the snow, despite having some room for thicker socks.

The Rain and Garden boots fared well in colder temperatures over short periods, as the roomy toe box allowed for a pocket of insulated air.

Fit

Sloggers only come in whole sizes 6-11 with a recommendation to size up if you are of a half-size. Sizing up to an 8 was a good choice for our lead tester. The footbed was roomy, but the heel slippage was almost too much. We noticed a frog-like sound with some steps. Nonetheless, the short stature and the wide, 14-inch circumference of this mid-calf boot allowed ample space for our calves and even pants.

The Sloggers boots are ideal for flat surfaces and casual activity. With any notable incline, hot spots began to form on our heels.

Value

Made in the USA, the Sloggers Rain and Garden boots are one of the cheapest in our fleet. With decent weather protection and high traction, these boots are a fair and practical buy.

The Sloggers boots are fun and cheery to wear and pair the best with leggings.

Conclusion

Fun to wear and walk casually in over short distances, they are more than adequate rainwear, but simply not as comfortable as they could be.