Hunter Original Short Review

The Hunter Original Short is a very stylish rain boot that has provides a decent amount of protection from precipitation. However, it lacks the traction needed to be used in conditions with loose soil, mud, or sand. Since it lacks an insulating liner, this product is ideal for warmer temperatures and not suitable for winter use.

Performance Comparison

Water Resistance

The shaft of this rain boot measures 12.125 inches from the bottom of the sole to the top of the shaft. It's hardly tall enough to wear through deeps streams or deep mud pits, but it'll definitely work well if the deepest body of water you encounter is a puddle on a sidewalk. Additionally, the top of the shaft is wide enough that it leaves a gap between the tester's leg and the shaft, which allows for debris and water to enter inside.

Comfort

Although this product has a thick sole, its overall comfort could definitely use some improvements. While testing it on sidewalks and roads, we thought that it was comfortable enough to wear for some time. However, when we switched up the conditions, we found that in rough terrain, we could feel the rocks, twigs, and unevenness of the ground through the sole. If you need a sturdy work boot that is comfortable on off-road terrain, consider the Bogs Classic High - Men's. Or if you just need a comfortable and casual boot to keep your feet dry while you casually walk about town, check out the LaCrosse Hampton, our Top Pick for Mild Weather.

Traction

This product's tread features lateral grooves; it doesn't have individual lugs, but rather a smooth surface broken up by shallow grooves. We found that this worked fine for some situations, like walking around town or playing with your dog in a grassy park. However, the moment the ground becomes slick with mud or loose dirt, the Hunter Original's ability to maintain significant traction is reduced. If you need something with deep and aggressive lugs, check out some other products from this review, like the The Original Muck Boot Company Chore Mid.

Warmth

This rain boot has one of the thinnest liners we tested, comparable to the Le Chameau Vierzon. As we tested the boots in cold mountain streams, it didn't take long for us to notice the change in temperature. In our ice water test, it took just over a minute for our bare feet inside to feel cold. The Hunter is ideal if you are looking for a rain boot primarily for milder conditions.

Style

The Hunter Original is, hands down, one of the most stylish boots we tested. The height of the shaft, along with the sleek all-rubber construction, its narrow profile, and decorative buckle, all combine for a refined take on the classic rain boot look. We also loved the rise in the heel, which we think makes this model look like rubberized cowboy-boots.

Ease of Use

This rain boot doesn't have any features, such as pull-on tabs or extra rubber stumps on the heel to help with putting these shoes on or taking them off. The narrow profile of this model also means that the shaft squeezes your foot as you pull it out, which makes it more difficult to remove. The narrow profile does have the advantage of reducing the bulk of the boot to feel more like wearing a regular pair of shoes, which is much more than models like the The Original Muck Boot Company Arctic Sport - Men's or Bogs Ultra Mid Rain Boot could say. This product is also relatively light among the mid-height boots we tested: 4 pounds and 5 ounces.

Fit

The size 11 we tested fit similar to most rain boots on our size 11 feet; a little more roomy than we wanted, but overall fine. The biggest area of dead space was above the toe box, which we didn't find necessary. Our heels slid up and down slightly against the back of the shaft. Again, this is something we experienced frequently. Although there are buckles on the side of the shaft, they are merely decorative and will not cinch down the large gap between the shaft and your shin.

Best Applications

This Hunter boot lacks the ability to really be used in serious working conditions. The tread is too smooth for off-road use and is limited to casual around town use. If you want to look stylish while you walk your dog or hit the local hotspots in grim weather, this is a great choice. Also remember that these rain boots provide very little warmth, which may or may not be a positive for you.

Value

Costing a hefty $140, we think that these boots fall short of truly being worth their price, unless you have deep pockets and desperately need a stylish and fashionable rain boot. We think they are great for around-town use, but they lack the versatility that some of their competitors offer. If you're looking for a better deal on a stylish rain boot, consider the LaCrosse Hampton, an ankle-cut boot that only costs $100.

Conclusion

Generally, the Hunter Original Short does protect your feet from getting wet in a heavy rain, but for anything more than that they fall short of the marks received by most of the other boots we tested. The one exception is, of course, style. This piece exhibits excellent style for a rain boot compared to the majority of the clunky looking boots we tested out.