Product links on YLF sometimes contain affiliate codes. If you follow one of these links and make a purchase, YLF might earn a commission. Read more about how YLF makes money.
Slush is the worst, and I don't believe that there is a leather boot that can withstand prolonged exposure to wet, slushy snow. Rubber bottomed Sorels, or even Hunter rubber boots are what you see on folks where I live when snow conditions turn wet and mushy.
Ouch. That’s horrible. I don’t know. On the one hand, I think waterproof should mean waterproof. They’re sold that way. On the other hand, painful experience has taught me leather riding boots aren’t winter boots in any way. And frankly, I always wore rubber riding boots for actually going to the stables and actually taking horses out.
A two-mile walk with wet feet and blisters—that’s horrible! Reading your experience brought back memories of my Mom slipping plastic bread bags over my sister’s and my feet before we put our boots on, because it seemed our feet would otherwise get wet, no matter how good or well waterproofed the boots were. Seems to be a universal issue, especially with slush.
Windchime, a 4 mile walk, since I had to walk back
Deb, the boots are two years old.
Anna, Vix, Laura, Cheryl, Joyce, RunCarla, Marilyn, RobinF and others, thanks for chiming in about your footwear weatherproof and waterproof knowledge. Sounds like slush is the WORST, and very little will keep your feet dry.
Isabel, your boots are the bomb.
JAileen, I felt them leak through the zipper. Dead right.
Ow. I'm sorry that you had such an awful experience!
I have a pair of the Aquatalia Rhumbas, and they are "weatherproof," whatever that means. I wore them in the winter when I first got them. There was only an inch or so of light snow on the ground, and I wasn't walking miles and miles--just to and from my car in my apartment parking lot, and to and from church once I drove there. After just a few excursions, the heel started to look terrible--it was worn and faded. I tried to contact Aquatalia about it, but they gave me the runaround (kept saying that so-and-so was out, or the email system had been down, etc.), and finally they just ignored me (they would not even pick up the phone or respond to my emails).
I took my boots to a cobbler I trust, and he told me that regardless of the supposed weatherproofing, he would not ever wear these boots in any type of wet or snowy weather. He said that if I ever wore them in such weather, I would need to condition the heels every time, which is a hassle. I do indeed still wear them in a bit of snow, and I do condition the heels, but the whole experience really soured me on Aquatalia. Their customer service is awful.
I agree with Diana--I've worn Blondo boots in that type of conditions (on a trip to NYC, not Seattle), so I would have expected the Aquatalias to keep your feet dry.
Snowmageddon survivor checking in. I’m very sorry to hear about your rotten luck, Angie. As others have said, I think the Aquatalias were not the right boot for the situation.
That slush was brutal. Sad to say that my previously waterproof and new this season lug soled Sorels failed me in the slush. I scooped 12” thick slush off the driveway and then went for a four mile walk on the street (because sidewalks were not scooped). My feet were soaking wet and absolutely frozen and I was miserable when I got home. It brought back my elementary school days of wearing bread bags on my feet inside my snow boots.
I’m going to contact Sorel very soon. I will be interested in what the manufacturer has to say in your situation. Please do report back.
That's sad They look nice and I always figured they must be good quality for that cost. Maybe they get less weatherproof with age?
That said, your snowmageddon was a one off, so they should be fine for your normal conditions.
I own aquatalias, and I wear them in the rain, but for the kind of conditions you describe I would wear lined boots with a rubber bottom. That is just an awful lot to ask of a leather shoe. I hope you did not get sick with those freezing feet!
I think of my Aquatalias' "waterproof" as meaning "These won't be ruined if you get splashed by a puddle," as opposed to truly meaning "all-weather waterproof."
Perhaps they should start saying "water resistant" instead.
Like April, I think of weatherproof as meaning that the leather of the boots can handle the elements without getting the tell tale signs of water damage that you would see on leather that is not prepared for the elements. I own lots of Aquatalia boots, but would never wear them through a puddle, or in slush. I think of them as garage to parking lot to office boots. If I wear them out and am walking and get caught in a downpour, I don’t worry they will be completely ruined, but my feet do get wet through the zippers.
I would be disappointed too, it sounds like false advertising to me. Most leather boots can withstand some rain, I would expect something that is called weatherproof to work like a Hunter wellington boot.
Gigi, I have Rhumbas, too. (Bought used.) I'm sorry to hear they haven't held up. When you say the heel is looking bad, do you mean the plastic heel? Or the suede back of the boot itself? I don't think mine look that bad, and I've worn them a lot (including accidentally for a 10 minute walk through a howling downpour). I'm wondering what I did differently.
So sorry for the ordeal, Angie. Cold, wet feet are the worst. The links annagybe provided are interesting as there is contradictory language within Aquatalia's statements. "Repels water" is different than "weatherproof' to me, leading to different expectations. I have multiple pairs of Aquatalias and mostly view them as miracles for a moderately severe winter climate. They have kept my feet dry if I hit puddles along the way, but consistent slush like you faced has not been tested here. I'll be very curious to see what they say. Thanks for sharing.
What a miserable day that must have been - sorry you went through all of that . All I could think while reading was that those were the wrong boots to wear in those conditions - weather/waterproof or not, and I wouldn't make a quality assessment on that one experience.
I’m sorry about your tootsies! Slush is indeed the worst. I probably live with some of the nastiest slushy conditions around (snow + temps not consistently below zero all winter + walking near lots of cars + use of salt). No boot with a seam or zipper of any kind can be expected to perform the same as a solid piece of rubber like a wellie. It’s just not logical. This is why I kind of have to side-eye those lined Converse as ‘winter’ gear - I got some and I like them, but I wear them in specific dry conditions which are pretty rare around here when it’s also cold enough to want fleece lining.
Hi Angie, Speaking as a Canadian used to snow, I think your expectations might have been too high. I wear my Aquatalias in rain and very light powdery snow. Anything heavier or slushier requires my Sorels or Merrels. In fact, in slushy/wet snow, I won't even wear heavy-duty snowboots unless they have rubber bottoms - everything else seems to let the wet in. Even though they are weather proof, I always think they mean that for Italian weather - not for heavy snow and slush, and I have never found leather to be snow proof.
Maybe I have less expectations, but in years and years of trudging through snow, I do find only proper snowboots keep my feet dry and warm.
Thanks SO much for your thoughts, ladies - especially from the snow pros! Now I know what to expect and not expect. I will not give up on Aquatalia.
To be fair, I forgot to mention that I wear these boots in POURING Seattle rain and my feet stay dry. Dry snow was fine too. Slush = DISASTER. I needed proper snow boots for that commute. Lesson learned.
Lots of good advice here about what to expect from boots. I'm sorry your boots failed you and can't imagine how you walked back with blisters and freezing feet. I think I would have called a cab or uber for a ride home.
Echoing the advice of the other "snowies"... and I'm one who lives in a VERY slushy climate. Don't give up on the brand... just branch out into some very unfashionable footwear
Hate to admit it, but Bogs are what I go for in those conditions.
ETA, my Aquatalias are my most worn booties, because they are so reliable for almost anything. Almost.
I'm with Elizabeth P; when the slush is ankle-deep, I opt for Bogs. Not the prettiest, but neither are wet feet! If I really want my feet warm and dry, I avoid anything with stitching, eyelets, zippers, or a sole that's glued or stitched to the upper. All points of failure even if the materials themselves claim to be waterproof. The way they're put together is what lets the water in. I'm looking for single-piece construction, either rubber or neoprene. Wellies like Hunter boots are good if you add an insulating liner.
annagybe -- those boot monstrosities are hilarious! You could probably put together the same look at Tractor Supply for about one-tenth of the price.
I really appreciate this post. I’d been thinking of this brand as snowshoes that manage to look really good, so hearing them separated so clearly from real snow boots is a disappointing revelation, but one that’s good for me to know, before I save up my pennies for Aquatalia with the expectation that I could wear them in snow.
This post is so distressing, because my winter boots are Aquatalia. They're a knee-high suede wedge and are insanely comfortable, insanely stylish, and insanely functional--they've kept my feet dry and warm through rain, snow, and slush.
They will also need to be replaced in 2 years, if not next year.
Like Angie, I did NOT have a good customer service experience when I wanted to get them serviced--they said they didn't do that. My cobbler worked a miracle, but the lining is beginning to wear and then it's over.
