Never knowing when high water will rise carrying something unsanitary, lots of mud or floating mats of fire ants I keep a utilitarian pair of black rubber boots in the garage (or at the top of the basement stairs). You just never know - but when it happens the La Crosse 16" Zxt Knee Boot comes to the rescue. If you have a pair you'll be so very grateful. 

My pair of black rubber boots seems ancient although they're not. I've had them long enough to have waded through a basement when the sump pump quit working. I've recently waded through a park with six inches of rain and floating mats of debris that were potentially covered with fire ants. My feet not only stay dry while wearing these but my jeans that were tucked into the boot leg also stayed dry. 

These boots slip over my socks, not over shoes. They are completely waterproof with an all-terrain traction, slip-resistant outer sole. They're lightly lined with a nylon net lining and this has minimal insulation in the foot base. There is a full-length fiberglass shank for arch support. The boots weigh less than six pounds. The toe is reinforced, but it's not a steel-reinforced toe.  

I only wear this boot when dealing with unexpected high water or when playing in muddy water (with my dog). They're tall enough to keep my pant legs dry and stable enough to prevent slipping on slimy surfaces. I've no experience with these in snow but personally I'd want a lot more insulation between my foot and cold snow. 

Yes, this is a man's boot, but it's a small man's boot.  It's not a perfect fit and I compensate by wearing heavier socks. It’s easy to pull on in a hurry and easy to rinse clean after a joyful romp in muddy water.  In my Illinois house we had a basement and sump pump. The house was built in a part of Illinois that had been swampy.  Electricity was necessary for keeping the houses in our neighborhood dry during heavy rains.  When the power failed because of downed power lines I regretted not having a back-up generator. When the power failed, or when the sump pump needed to be replaced, this pair of boots at the top of the stairs was a blessing.  Every homeowner should have a pair of tall black rubber boots for those unexpected sewer backups (yuck) or minor flooding moments.


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