<p>With two daughters now in their early 20s, I’ve bought a fair share of rain boots for them, with little luck in finding a brand that holds up. D2 is going to London this fall for the semester, and I’d like to get her a pair that will actually hold up, and not crack.</p>
<p>D1 actually got a pair of Hunter rain boots at the beginning of the summer, so she hasn’t had them long enough to see how well they will hold up, although being in Boston this summer in particular, she’s gotten good use out of them. I just think when you spend upwards of $75 for a pair of good rain boots (that’s about what we’ve paid in the past), they should last you several years.</p>
<p>I don’t really have advice on a good brand, but I did see Hunter boots at Rugged Wearhouse recently, along with a bunch of J. Crew rain boots. I think they were around $20, which is a steal. They were gray or black, though, not the bright colors that seem to be the current trend in boots.</p>
<p>My D is studying in Scotland in the fall. Although she has a great pair of pink rainboots, they are too bulky & heavy to pack. She figures they’ll have boots everywhere when she gets there! :)</p>
<p>kelsmom - we talked about that… waiting until she got there to buy some, but she’s trying to be realistic with her packing. She wants to be able to fit everything in her suitcase on the way home, that she does on the way there, and if she puts something else in the rain boot’s spot going there, she won’t have room for them on the way back. And she won’t wear them on the plane because she’ll be wearing another pair of boots on the plane.</p>
<p>My D is off to the UK in September also, but needs just about everything new because her 2 college years have been in TX, so no winter, and barely any rain. She then comes home for three weeks before she goes to 2nd semester in Spain. Whole other wardrobe. This is followed by a pilgrimage (hike) from Oviedo to Compostela, followed by an internship in Madrid. Just thinking about it makes me dizzy. As she is Type I diabetic, we’ll see how it goes, but she seems to have everything worked out. Medical contacts are giving it the OK.</p>
<p>They are not cheap in the US, but funky “Wellies” will last decades. They are made in the UK, so wait and buy them there! Have her check them out online. If they are the type she would be interested in, she will definitely want to bring a pair home. They are to die for, especially purchased in London :). While they can easily be over $100 here in the states, the most expensive ones can be had in UK for $50 USD and on sale for $20 USD.</p>
<p>I have a pair of crocs in bright red that I love. (Bet you didn’t know that they make rain boots!) They are so light, and have the footbed of a croc. I don’t know about holding up well, but they are a joy to wear. :)</p>
<p>sunnyflorida - I think Hunter boots are Wellies, just known as Hunter boots in the U.S. Many people in the U.S. don’t know what Wellies are.</p>
<p>One idea I’ve had is to pack her old, cracked rain boots and take them with her, so that she allocates the proper space for rainboots in her luggage, then throw them out when she arrives, and go purchase some original Wellies. She’ll know there’s room in her suitcase for the trip home (well, technically… we all know they come home with more than they took with them, but that will be her problem come December)</p>
<p>I’d suggest that she waits to buy anything till she gets to London.I don’t know if your D cares, but my D reports that wellies are no longer in fashion in London. People wore boots but hardly any wellies. She was there last January for the semester and she wore insulated waterproof leather boots.</p>