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've 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.

Photo: Sara Aranda

Weather Protection

These shorter mid-calf boots don't offer nearly as much weatherproofing as those with taller shafts. However, they are certainly tall enough to get the job done. They did not leak on us and faired well when wading across a stream, as their flood height of 10.5 inches is more than sufficient for most situations.

Comfort

Unfortunately, comfort isn't a high-point for this boot. Despite boasting all-day comfort insoles, after thirty minutes of walking, our lead tester experienced achy feet and a hot spot on her left heel. 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 mention Sloggers cutting into their legs when the boots did not have this nylon around the lip (which is a different version of the boot, and one we do not recommend). Driving in them is only a tad cumbersome due to the shaft not being as flexible as we'd like. A true plus, however, is that the foot box is roomy for thick socks, and it also provides ample space for the toes to spread out.

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

Photo: Sara Aranda

Traction

Despite the non-technical appearance of the Rain and Garden, the soles on these boots are some of the most aggressive in our review, scoring right along with the award winners. They are stable across flat, wet terrain, and are also reliable in the snow and up grassy inclines. Living up to their garden association, the off-road capabilities are notable and applauded.

The tread on the Sloggers boots is surprisingly aggressive.

Photo: Sara Aranda

Warmth

With no lining, the Rain and Garden still maintain a fair amount of heat due to the very nature of their waterproof rubber. That said, they are best for mild to warm temperatures, as things do get cold fast when it comes to snow, despite having room for thicker socks. Depending on your needs, however, this might be exactly what you're looking for. There's still reason to expect sweaty feet after a while, though, as there isn't much going on inside to help mitigate stagnant airflow.

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.

Photo: Sara Aranda

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. There are no accessories or added features. 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've reviewed.

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

Photo: Sara Aranda

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, but while the footbed is roomy, the heel slippage is almost too much to walk in. We are unsure if sizing down instead would have made it any better. Nonetheless, the short stature and the wide, 14-inch circumference of this mid-calf boot provide space for ample calves and pants.

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

Photo: Sara Aranda

Value

Made in the USA, these boots are one of the cheapest in our fleet. With decent weather protection and high traction, these boots are a fair and practical buy, as long as you don't plan to walk far in them.

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

Photo: Sara Aranda

Conclusion