Your Guide to Hunter Boots

his past week two girlfriends of mine have been texting me for advice on Hunter boots.  I’m an owner of 6 pairs –   you will see a few on this post including the Hunter wedge which is currently out of stock. I think they will bring them back though!

Hunter boots are often looked as rain boots and while I’ve traveled with them to rainy snowy Switzerland, I think they also work great for gardening as well.  I wanted to give you some quick tips on buying your first pair of Hunter boots, and honest feedback because there’s actually a pair that really hurt my feet and I want you to be aware.

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6 Things to know about Hunter Boots

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1. If you buy online, order a few sizes.  They are unpredictable in size.  If you want to buy online, you could buy multiple sizes from an online store that offers free shipping and returns.
2. If you are in between sizes and you live in really cold weather, consider adding a boot sock to add warmth and make up the size difference.  Know what length you need as they come in different lengths.
3. If you wear a boot sock, put the boot sock on first and then put your foot in the shoe.  Don’t try to leave the sock in and then put your foot in, it won’t work.
4. Don’t wear your Hunters without socks if they are already tight.  I did so in a hurry and within 2 minutes regretted it but it was too late – I was driving.  My feet were sweating and I had one heck of a time for 10 minutes trying to get them off, they suctioned to my feet, I started to panic.
5. Your Hunters might have a white paste on the outside, you will need to use a Hunter buffer solution to get it out.  Don’t use olive oil like a blog post says, tried it, doesn’t work. They have a Hunter shine solution.
6. If you have wide calfs – consider the Hunter short boot which will not restrict your calf.  The Huntress Welly claims to have more calf space, so check that out too.

When it comes to picking out what style or color, think about when you’ll be wearing it – what season and what a majority of you clothing colors are. Ian the fall I wear greens, browns, black, deep oranges and grays which go well with the colors I decided to invest in – grey, orange, and an olive/brown that are a taller height.

For spring and summer I am in brighter colors so I have a short pink welly and plaid ankle pair.

Now about the ankle bootie, yikes, I don’t recommend it. Perhaps I got the wrong size but they left a line of a blood bruise on the back of my ankles that took three months to disappear – it looked like a knife slashed me across the back of my ankles. It was so painful and I had only worn them for a day to two tulip farms. You can buy two sizes and keep the larger one. Or, buy from a place you can return if it doesn’t work out well. I think I’ll be cutting the inside of the boots so it will bend a little better.

You can also pick from glossy or matte with colors.  The high gloss quilted rain boot is FANCY, like gorgeous,   here’s the short version.

Then think about when you will wear them – in the garden picking grapefruit?

If you plan on jumping and out of them often, consider the Hunter short boot.  It’s lower on the calf and will be easier to slip on and off unlike the taller ones. I have these in a hot pink for the garden, I live in the short boot.

If I could buy one more pair, I would either buy the high gloss quilted rain boot, you know I dig that equestrian riding look. If they are too pricey for you, Target has this cute floral pair.

Happy Hunter boot shopping!

Backyard images styled by Angela Saban, Photos by Melissa Schollaert / Makeup and hair by Lizzy Marsh

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*This post was originally published on October 14, 2014 and revised and updated with new photos and links on May 20, 2020.

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