Topic: The Best Duck Boots of 2022 (Read 147 times)
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Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The fleece lining of these traditional duck boots is paired with a touch of insulation to provide a boost of co*fort for cold spring days.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
For an extra boost of insulation and co*fort over the traditional duck boot, especially for long spans of outdoor activity hovering just above freezing, a touch of extra co*fort is called for. These Lands’ End duck boots feature both fleece lining and 200 grams of Thermolite insulation (just enough to take your toes from numb to co*fortable on cold days). I also liked that these were affordably priced co*pared to other options on the market. For now, these duck boots are only offered in women’s sizing and lack the narrow and wide options of the L.L.Bean duck boot.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
A short zipper at the inside ankle makes the Sperry Saltwater Duck Boot easy to pull on and off.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Sometimes I just want to get out the door, but I still want the superior fit of a lace-up system. To help get you out the door faster, the Sperry Saltwater has a zipper on the inside ankle in addition to laces. Fortunately, that’s this shoe’s only deviation from the traditional styling of the duck boot. Rubber soles and uppers help keep the moisture of the worst of the snow and slush away from your feet, while the breathable, form-fitting leather uppers help relieve your feet from the disco*fort and sweat build-up of full-blown galoshoes. Like other classic duck boots, these do not have any additional insulation, so a thick pair of wool socks is essential for keeping the cold of the shoulders season at bay.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The extra insulation of the Propet Ingrid Duck Boots makes them an excellent choice for anyone whose feet run cold.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The classic duck boot is not built for the winter months—even with thick wool socks it doesn’t provide enough insulation to extend out through the shoulder seasons. The Propet Ingrid Duck boots, while not ready for a nor’easter, are significantly more insulated than some of the best duck boots, including insulation at the shaft, a sole with heat-retention properties, and a faux-fur lining at the cuff to help keep the warmth in. Like other duck boots, it has a rubber sole and upper, but shifts from the pure leather shaft with a co*bination of suede and nylon.
Product Description
Why It Made the Cut
The kid’s bean boots from L.L.Bean are the mini-me version of the adult classic, co*plete with the iconic triple stitching.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
At first glance, the Kid’s Bean Boot is simply a shrunken-down version of the adult L.L.Bean boot: same leather shaft, same rubber sole and upper, same triple stitching. But there is one important difference here: the kid’s version incorporates insulation at the sole. I like this detail because whereas adults can withstand some amount of cold in the outdoors, typically kids can lose patience with being outside when they start to get cold. I also like that this boot has a one year warranty on it, as no one is tougher on outdoor gear than kids (and let’s be real, they probably won’t fit into them after a year of use anyway).
Duck boots typically cost between $80 and $180, typically depending on the quality of the materials used.
Duck boots are best used for any activity where you would typically wear full-rubber boots or heavy-duty winter boots but there is a chance that your feet could overheat, either because temps are rising or because you will be exerting yourself. It’s worth remembering that duck boots were initially created as a hybrid rubber hunting boot, so their highest and best use is typically not the dead of winter.
While you can wear duck boots in the snow, their best and highest use is for seasonal transitions, where temps aren’t quite subfreezing but you still need substantial protection from early morning frosts or the snow melting into slush on the ground. If you plan to use your duck boots for midwinter activities, plan to size up so that you can add in a pair (or two) of the best hiking socks or hunting socks.
Having spent time in both the soggy Pacific Northwest and the Northeast’s version of Alaska’s infamous “breakup” season, I have developed an appreciation of (and an eye for) footwear that can go the distance in a number of different environments. The duck boots here were selected based on their reputation, the quality of the materials used, and their adherence to the purpose and function of duck boots as a distinct category from either full-rubber rain boots or highly insulated snow boots. No ankle boots were included on this list as this cut is typically more about style or fashion than acco*plishing the core mission of the duck boot.
The ongoing popularity of duck boots is easy to understand—it’s when the seasons are changing and we’re trying to dig ourselves out that we sometimes need the most protection from the elements. While the original L.L.Bean Bean boot remains one of the best duck boots and for good reason, there are a number of other excellent available options in the event that those are out of stock.
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