Sam Peters is the previous senior style commerce editor at Fairchild Media Group. She also previously oversaw Footwear News’ shopping vertical for three years, where she became an expert on the latest footwear trends and innovations by testing and reviewing shoes in a wide range of categories — from athletic to streetwear styles. Mid-Calf Rain Boots: A mid-calf rain boot is a nice hybrid between a tall and ankle rain boot. They’re best for people who live in areas where dogging puddles is a bit difficult. The best part of this style of rain boot is that they’re versatile and pair wonderfully with so many different bottoms. It may be tempting to skimp when it comes to rain boots because you figure that you won’t wear them often. However, “you’ll wear them more than you realize” assures Tomasi Hill. “A good pair of wellies last forever.” She recommends investing in quality and, to keep things fresh, looking for details that add a little more style than your average pair, like a great color or interesting sole. This impressive boot will keep you toasty when all else fails, though they'll be far too warm for normal conditions

Tall Rubber Boots: When most people think of rain boots they think of classic tall rubber boots that take up a majority of the leg. Typically these knee-high styles are made entirely of rubber which helps the feet and legs to stay warm and dry. Dr. Mark Mendeszoonis a podiatrist and the owner of Achilles Running Shop in Pennsylvania. He specializes in trauma, sports medicine, diabetic foot and ankle conditions and reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, including Total Ankle Joint Replacement Surgery.

Don’t let cloudy skies get you down. Add a cherry accent to your look when the weather gets rough with Joules’ Molly Welly. The mid-calf silhouette comes in a range of fun prints, but we especially love it in this baby blue hue and daffodil print. You won’t have to worry about slipping and sliding in these thanks to a water-dispersing outsole underfoot. And, an adjustable strap at the top of the shaft helps you customize the fit to reduce the chance of water entering the boot. Foot Volume: How much foot material do you have? This is determined by your bone structure and the height of your foot — do you have a high-volume foot or a low-volume foot? This is more of an informal spectrum — footwear shops don't have a way to easily measure this, but it's a good variable to keep in mind. If you often get heel blisters (like our testers do), chances are you have low-volume feet. And if you often have trouble fitting into shoes, you probably have wider, higher-volume feet. Michael Fishkinis a certified pedorthist at Northern Illinois Foot & Ankle Specialists. He has been trained and certified in the design, manufacture, and fitting of orthopedic footwear and related devices. This includes custom-made shoes, shoe modifications, arch supports, and other foot orthotics. Best Mid-Calf Rain Boots for Women Norty Hurricane Wellie Best Overall Mid-Calf Rain Boots for Women

This editor is a huge fan of FitFlop’s offerings (in fact, its sneakers are the most comfortable non-athletic shoes I’ve ever-owned). For delicious underfoot support on rainy days, the brand has taken its biomechanically-engineered technology a step further in its WonderWelly boots. In practice, this looks like a contoured sole for even weight distribution, the brand’s honeycomb design placed in the heel to absorb impact and micro “springboards” in the forefoot to add bounce to your step. Essentially, you could explore a new city, spend your entire day at Disneyland or wear these on repeat during the work week without getting sore feet.Heel spurs, “a growth of bone on the bottom of your heel,” per Dr. Rushton, grow in the contour of your feet. “If your foot doesn’t have adequate padding beneath it, as you roll forward, you’re more likely to pinch between the bottom of the foot and the ground,” Dr. Rushton says. A cushioned heel and anatomical arch support will help promote healthy foot alignment, so the entire foot will absorb the impact of every step rather than just the heel. The feet contain no big muscles to produce heat during exercise, just lots of fiddly tendons and ligaments Gerardy Cabrera is a fashion blogger, as well as the founder and CEO of the fashion brand Gerardy Global LLC.

Sizing: In terms of sizing, keep in mind that rain boots don’t typically come in half sizes. If you’re in between sizes, it’s best to go for the next size up to prevent any uncomfortable rubbing or chafing. To better help determine your perfect fit, consider heading to your local shoe store to have your feet measured. Arch: We don't want to get annoyingly complicated, but you actually have three arches (medial, lateral, and transverse). However, when people talk about arches, they're generally talking about their medial arch. You can have "higher" or "lower" arches, but this doesn't matter too much when it comes to your rain boots, and we don't want to get too far into this. If you experience significant arch pain or struggle with plantar fasciitis, please go see a doctor, research foot strengthening exercises, and/or think about supplemental insoles (with the help of a footwear expert). One thing to note is that some customers say these feel tight up top on muscular calves. Others mention they run big in the foot area, so consider buying a half size down. You should also choose a rain boot depending on your foot type or any conditions you suffer from. Experts suggests the following types of rain boots for women: Close your eyes and imagine yourself wearing a rain boot. You're probably picturing something similar to the Baffin Enduro. With a height of 16.25 inches, the Enduro's rubber shaft and solidly lugged outsole will keep you warm and dry in even the wettest and worst conditions. Because of their large circumference, you can easily slip into and out of these boots, and their price-to-performance ratio is unbeatable.

Analysis and Test Results

Chelsea Rain Boots: Like everyday Chelsea boot styles, these are defined by their side elastic goring for easy on and off access. However, what makes them different from the classic leather design is that Chelsea rain boots are made with waterproof materials. While shoes are not going to fix knee pain, the right pair may help alleviate or at least avoid aggravating the pain by getting your foot into proper alignment, offering joint support, and diffusing pressure away from the knee, explains Dr. Mark Mendeszoon, a podiatrist and owner of Achilles Running Shop in Pennsylvania. “Just as folks may need eyeglasses to help accommodate with vision, properly selected shoes can accommodate particular foot problems,” Dr. Mendeszoon says. However, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all shoe for those suffering from knee pain. He recommends visiting a running store where someone can evaluate your specific pains and issues to find you a proper shoe and also taking into consideration any other foot or health conditions you have. We love the Arctic Sport for their heavy insulation, extra-tall shaft, and secure-feeling weight, but they're also quite uncomfortable when you're just strolling around town on a warm fall day. Our feet began to sweat immediately when we wore them in temperatures above 40 degrees. While the tighter shaft keeps the warm air in, you'll have to reach down to put them on and take them off. For a more comfortable boot that's easy to pull on and off, take a look at the Bogs Classic Ultra High. The Arctic Sport boots are for you if you are out in truly inclement weather. If you are not, consider a more casual boot. Consider a heel: Wearing completely flat rain boots allows our foot to collapse, affecting our gait and posture, which can lead to a tremendous amount of stress placed not only on the foot but on the rest of the body like the knees and spine,” Dr. Cunha explains. “Our feet naturally pronate during the gait cycle; however, when we wear completely flat shoes, we pronate for a longer period of time, which then alters the biomechanics and distribution of pressure and weight across the foot. This imbalance may increase the progression of underlying foot deformities, such as bunions and hammertoes, and lead to painful conditions associated with excessive pronation, such as arch and heel pain, shin splints, posterior tibial tendonitis, and Achilles tendonitis.” Therefore Dr. Cunha suggests looking for a style with a little bit of lift — specifically, a heel that’s 0.75 inches tall or lower — is actually preferred. This low heel drop can relieve foot stress, especially for those with tendonitis. For some reason, people tend to ignore foot pain and assume that it's somehow inevitable. Let's be clear: foot pain can be solved. It can be complicated, but it's worth taking the time. Help us change the trend! If you suffer from foot pain, take this category seriously. Rain boots (and shoes in general) aren't supposed to hurt you, and some of the models we tested are a genuine pleasure to wear. Consider supplemental insoles, and if you've got a lot of trouble with your feet, please see a doctor or physical therapist; both will help dramatically. Take it from us; happy feet will improve your life.