I absolutely love Hunter Boots. I got my first pair about ten years ago and still wear them every chance I get. Because they keep making repeat appearances on my blog, I’ve gotten quite a few comments and questions about sizing, styling, quality, etc. over the years, so I wanted to round up all those questions and answers in today’s post. Their pricing is definitely on the higher end (anywhere from $100 on sale to $200 full-price), so I totally understand wanting to know more about them before making the investment. Keep reading for answers to all your most popular FAQs about Hunter Boots!

PS- If I miss anything, let me know in the comments. I’ll gladly add and answer whatever questions you have to this list!

What size should I get? 

Hunter Boot sizing can get a little tricky. If you’re in between sizes, definitely size down. I’m normally a 7.5 and buy 7’s in Hunter Boots. Some places only sell Hunter Boots in European sizes, though (like the official Hunter Boots site), so check out this shoe size converter if you don’t know your EU shoe size. 

Also, budget hack– if you have smaller feet (size 7.5 and under!), you can fit into children’s boots! They’re significantly cheaper than adult Hunters and come in so many cute colors! Because they’re for kids, they’re not as tall as the adult version, though. They’re basically a hybrid between long and short Hunters, so be prepared for that. 

Are Hunter Boots comfy? 

I’m gonna be honest here– it completely depends on the activity. If you’re taking your dog for a quick walk or running errands, these boots are perfect. They’re comfy, they keep your feet dry, and they’re easy to walk in.

However, if you’re going on a hike (which, yes, I’ve done) or taking a walk longer than a mile, you’re at risk of getting some pretty nasty blisters. I always wear thick socks with my Hunters– and I’ve owned them for almost ten years, too, so I know it’s not a sock or breaking-in-related issue. It’s a heel-rubbing-up-against-boot pinching issue. Just a heads up before you commit to wearing them on any longer treks!

What if I have wide calves? 

Hunter Boots had one major criticism a few years back– their classic tall boots just didn’t fit women with muscular calves comfortably. Fortunately, they heard that feedback loud and clear and designed a new boot for wider calves with an expandable gusset in the back. Tall back adjustable Hunter boots look just like the classic tall Hunter Boots but have a little buckle in the back, which gives them a more relaxed, less tailored look. 

I own this pair and absolutely love them. In full transparency, I don’t have wide calves– I just loved the Foxglove Pink color and decided to give this style a try. I love that they look like traditional Hunter Boots when the buckle is tight and like relaxed rain boots when the gusset is expanded. It makes them feel like they’re two styles in one. 

Are Hunter Boots warm? 

Hunter Boots are pretty much made for fall, spring, and mild winters. They’re not really suitable for super cold weather like LL Bean or SOREL boots are. They’re just not insulated enough. That said, I’ve worn my boots out in the snow hundreds of times (in Maine, Missouri, and New York), and they’ve been great. My feet do start to get cold after about an hour, though.

What if I buy Hunter Boot thermal socks? 

Hunter’s cozy thermal socks help, but they still won’t make your Hunter Boots suitable for single-digit weather by themselves. In my experience, Hunter Boot socks are most handy when you’re walking around in 30-40 degree weather. They’re super roomy, though (they’re more like boot liners than socks honestly), so you do have enough room to wear an additional pair of thick thermal socks inside. When I go the double-sock route, I’ve found that my feet stay much much warmer, even in 10 or 15-degree weather. You can actually see me wearing them in the snow here!

Which style of Hunter Boots should I buy? 

My main complaint about Hunter Boots is that they come in way too many cute colors, and it’s overwhelming. I have three pairs personally (glossy black, glossy red, and pink matte), and I want a handful more. They’re just so easy to just slip on for errands, gardening, etc. For versatility’s sake– at least for your first pair, I recommend buying a more neutral color, like black, classic olive green, or even red. You’ll be able to wear them with everything. 

Hunter Boots also come in two finishes, matte and glossy, and two heights, tall and short. Just a note: Hunter also makes Chelsea Boots, too, and they’re awesome for gardening! Whether you go with matte or glossy is mostly just an aesthetic preference. I have both, and I wear them all an equal amount of time. I will say, though, that matte boots are lower maintenance, just because you don’t need to shine them to keep them looking new.

As ambivalent as I am about finishes, I’m much pickier about height. Our dogs love to find mud and muck to roll around in, so I definitely prefer the tall boots to the short. No matter how deep the muck, my feet stay warm and dry. They’re a little more cumbersome, particularly while driving, but I just think they’re so much more flattering, especially on short-to-medium-tall women. As much as I want to like the shorter boots, they cut off my legs right above the ankle, which (in my head) takes me from 5’6.5″ to about 5’3″. If you want to see what I’m talking about, you can see me wearing short black Hunter boots in this post!

Where can I buy Hunter Boots?

Hunter Boots are sold on Hunter.com, Amazon, and at pretty much any online department store, like Nordstrom or Bloomingdales. I prefer to buy mine from Hunter.com, though, primarily because they carry so many more colors and sizes. They have a pretty good return policy (can return within 60 days of the shipping date) and great customer service, too!

Nordstrom is an easy second choice, though. Assuming the boots you want are in stock, you just can’t beat their price matching and return policy.

How do you style Hunter Boots?

I’ve been a Hunter Boots lover for about a decade now, so you’ll see them featured throughout my blog. If you’re looking for specific Hunter Boots outfit posts, you can see my pink matte Hunter Boots styled here, my glossy black Hunter Boots styled here and here, and my glossy red Hunter Boots styled here and here. 

Can I put flowers in my Hunter Boots?

This question/answer is kind of a joke, but I’ve actually been asked it before… and I’m totally guilty of doing it, as is evidenced at the top of this post. I’m not sure when exactly it happened, but Hunter Boots have become decorative staples on many southern front porches, including mine. They just make really adorable spring and fall “vases.” To create a rain boot arrangement, all you need to do is fill the boot about 80% of the way with bubble wrap and then gently insert a mason jar full of flowers. If you get the height right, you won’t see the mason jars at all– you’ll just see pretty blooms spilling out of the tops. 

How do you clean Hunter Boots? 

I’ve been asked so many times about how to clean Hunter Boots. Yes, they can be cleaned! The easiest way to keep Hunter Boots looking their best is to rinse off mud and dirt as soon as you take them off. That can’t always be done, though, so here are a few other methods for how to clean Hunter Boots–

How to Clean the Outside of Hunter Boots

1. Use a dry, medium bristle brush to brush all the dried mud away. You’ll also need a smaller brush, like a toothbrush, to remove any dirt from the treads. Once you’ve removed all the dry mud, wipe them down with an old cloth dipped in warm water.
2. To remove heavier eyesores, mix one teaspoon of dish detergent with two cups of warm water. Dip an old cloth in the solution and clean the boots from the top to the bottom. Once you’ve removed all the mud and soil, rinse your boots a final time by wiping down the boots with plain water and a fresh clean cloth. 

How to Clean the Inside of Hunter Boots

Sometimes the inside needs freshening up, too. If you ever get caught in a particularly bad rainstorm or if moisture somehow manages to seep inside your boots, you’ll definitely want to clean them. Here’s how–

1. Mix one teaspoon liquid heavy-duty laundry detergent (something like Tide)  with two cups of warm water. Soak a clean cloth in the solution and wipe down the entire interior of the boot
2. Dip a second clean cloth in plain warm water and rinse away the detergent solution.
3. Allow the boots to dry away from direct heat and sunlight.
4. If you still feel like your boots aren’t feeling or smelling clean, grab a glass spray bottle and fill it with half a cup of distilled white vinegar and half a cup of room-temperature water. Lightly spray the inside of the boots. Note– you’ll have quite a bit of solution leftover, so keep it handy and use it to spruce up your boots whenever they’re in need of freshening. 
5. Allow the boots to air dry away from direct heat and sunlight.

How to Shine Hunter Boots

If you have glossy Hunter Boots, they may start developing a dull powdery substance on the outside. When this happens, you can add a few drops of olive oil to a clean cloth to wipe down the boots from top to bottom. There are also a handful of commercial sprays you can buy, too, but I find them to be a waste of money. Olive oil gets the job done just fine!

Are Hunter Boots worth the money? 

Absolutely. Why? Because they last forever. Other rain boots I’ve purchased have lasted about a year– maybe two if I didn’t wear them often. I’ve had my red Hunter boots going on ten years now and my black ones for more than five. Other rain boots may look similar, but trust me.. they’re nowhere near as well-constructed. 

Also, I wear my Hunters as regular boots in the spring and fall. They’re just so cute and classic– and they can be styled in so many different ways. So, on top of durability, these boots are amazing capsule wardrobe accessories. 

Lastly, Hunter Boots aren’t going anywhere. If you decide you don’t love yours, you can either return them (depending on the retailer’s return policy of where you purchased them) or re-sell them for a near-to-new price. They’re a little tricky to sell on Poshmark, just because USPS doesn’t make boxes big enough to ship them easily, but it’s doable– and they sell almost instantly!

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