Can You Wear Rain Boots in The Snow? (Answered)

Written By Nawar

With winter knocking on the door, you must be hesitant about wearing your rain boots out in the snow. There’s no doubt that they are great at keeping your feet dry, but what about the coldness? 

No worries, I have done extensive research to let you know whether it’s actually right to wear them in the snow or not.

So, can you really wear rain boots in the snow?

Yes, it’s absolutely possible to wear rain boots in the snow. But only if you keep a few things in mind. One of them is, to make sure the temperature is not below 5℃ or 41℉. And the next most important thing is to wear boot inserts for better insulation from the cold.

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Keep on reading to know all the do’s and don’ts about wearing rain boots in the snow.

Can you wear rain boots in the snow?

The word rain in rain boots gives half the answer regarding when it’s best to wear them. 

Let me guess, you might have thought of the rainy season right?

Well, it’s surely true. But the potential of the shoes is not limited to that! 

As long as there is water, snow, or any type of liquid around the boots, they will protect your feet at all costs. But it’s not just about keeping your feet dry. Especially when there is snow around.

Since it’s not just watery and slippery, but also very cold. 

The coldness varies from country to country and sometimes from one state to the other. For example, Chicago is relatively colder than Miami. Then, Russia is extremely cold compared to Saudi Arabia.

So, only wearing your rain boots for too long around low temperatures may freeze your feet within seconds. 

And once you feel the coldness, it wouldn’t really matter to you how dry your feet are. The only thing that would matter is to protect them from turning into ice.

That’s where boot inserts steal the show.

Also, read Do Hunter Rain Boots Run Big.

What are boot inserts?

Boot inserts are incredibly soft, warm, and well insulated paddings that you can wear inside your rain boots during winter. Once they are on, the entire package of inserts and the boots can help you pass the entire season without worrying about freezing your feet in the snow. 

However, if the temperature is below 5℃ or 41℉, the inserts may require more support to withstand the extreme cold.

By support, I mean instead of one insert, you may need a couple more to conserve the warmth of your feet. But in this context, most experts advised choosing snow boots over rain boots.

As snow boots are designed precisely to tackle extreme coldness, especially below 5℃ or 41℉, they are your best option.

The boot inserts are warm but not thick or insulated enough to work through an extremely cold winter. After all, they were designed to keep your feet warm and dry around water, not at a 1-foot deep snowy area.

Check out our separate post to know Are Duck Boots Rain Boots.

Are rain boots good for snow?

Despite the fact that you can wear them in winter, rain boots are not good for the snow. As they don’t have an insulating layer to keep your feet warm while keeping them dry. Boot inserts or thick socks may help solve the issue. However, it only works at temperature 5℃ or above.

It surely is normal to confuse what’s wearable and what’s actually good for a certain environment.

As I have previously mentioned, if you keep a few factors in mind then it’s definitely possible to wear rain boots in the snow. But is it good to wear them while it’s snowing? 

Well, people who wore them in the snow have the best answer to that question.

Most of them stated that rain boots can not withhold the cold, especially at temperatures below 5℃. Even after wearing multiple boot inserts, their feet start to freeze at one point.

In addition, it’s not just about wearing them at temperatures below the stated average threshold. How long you stay in the snow also matters.

Read more on how to Stop Rubber Rain Boots From Squeaking.

It’s because even if you make sure the temperature is above 5℃, the longer you stay in the snow, your feet keep getting colder. So at a point, your feet might start feeling cold through the inserts.

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It’s hard to keep track of so many factors just because you are wearing a certain pair of boots, and snow boots solve this issue pretty easily. And it’s not just my opinion, this is what the experts say.

After all, they are designed to maximize warmth, comfort, and waterproof your feet. 

All these factors are required to be balanced for the boots to be good enough for the snow. The only boots that completely satisfy this requirement are snow boots and not rain boots.

Follow our guide to know Are Rain Boots Slip Resistant.

Are hunter rain boots good for snow?

No, hunter rain boots are not made to be worn in winter or in the snow. They are mainly designed to keep your feet dry in muddy or rainy areas. However, they lack an insulated lining, which is essential for the winter. Thus, they mostly fail to keep your feet warm.

Hunter rain boots are known to be stronger and much more durable than the usual rain boots. 

In addition, they are more comfortable and keep your feet dry for long hours. Whether it’s heavy rain or light, it stays unchanged and keeps your feet protected.

But what about snow?

Well, rain and snow may be the same compound – water – but they bring about two completely different environments to deal with.

One is rain, which makes the surrounding muddy, watery and gloomy in general. On the other hand, the snow makes everything look white, extremely cold, and layers of soft chunks of ice gathered in any place it falls.

Also, read Do Rain Boots Stretch? Guide And Tips.

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I agree that hunter rain boots are great when it comes to rain. But snow is a completely different case. 

You not only have to deal with slippery icy roads but fight with the freezing cold temperatures every day. Unfortunately, hunter rain boots are not designed to sustain such harsh cold weather.

They are not insulated and the architecture of the boot may allow the boot to crack very soon.

So is it absolutely impossible to take your awesome pair of hunter rain boots out in the snow?

No, it’s not impossible, you can wear them in the winter. All you have to do is wear thick boot inserts and make sure the temperature is 5℃ or above with no snow. Only then, you are good to go.

Are ugg rain boots good for snow?

Yes, ugg rain boots are wearable and good enough for snow. Not only are they insulted from the inside with thick ugg skin lining but they are also waterproofed on the outside to protect you from both rain and snow. As a result, they can keep your feet warm and dry, even in the snow.

Ugg rain boots are a special kind of rain boots. They are nothing like the usual rain or hunter rain boots.

The biggest difference is their thick, insulated lining. Ugg rain boots, as the name suggests, have a very comfortable and thick lining that is solely designed to beat the cold in the snow.

Most rain boots, as I mentioned above, need an external boot insert to keep the internal portion insulated, warm, and dry, however, the UGG rain boots are enough to tackle the extreme coldness in the winter.

So, since the UGG rain boots are both waterproof and insulated, it is best suited for snow or winter.

You’re welcome

So are rain boots wearable in the snow?

Single-handedly, the rain boots are of no use in snow. It’s due to the lack of insulation that they are unable to withstand the cold and provide enough warmth. 

However, if worn with heavy boot inserts that are warm and heavily insulted, you may be able to stay outside for a while. But you must make sure, the temperature is always higher than 5℃. 

Otherwise, the boots would start to crack and your feet would start freezing.

So, instead of rain boots, opting for snow boots would be the safer option.

Found my article useful? Do let me know in the comments below, your experience with snow boots in the snow.

As always, have a great winter!

About The Author
Since she was a child, Nawar always had a fascination towards her shoes. There was not a time, she stopped researching or experimenting DIY methods on her precious shoes.As she continued growing up till now, her passion and her love towards shoes attracted this awesome place to work in.Now, her expertise and knowledge isn’t only helping herself but also the whole wide world we live in.

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