COURTESY OF RETAILER
DUCKS KNOW a thing or two about staying warm and dry. That is how a man named Leon Leonwood Bean (or as we all know him today, L.L. Bean) got the idea for a new kind of outdoor shoes in 1911. You see, Mr. Bean himself was an avid outdoorsman who would often run into the problem of cold, wet feet on his hunting trips out in the Maine woods. And his invention, first known as the Bean boot but then dubbed the duck boot, was thus borne of this need to keep adventurous feet warm and dry by combining the waterproofing of rubber rain boots with the comfort and durability of hunting boots or hiking boots. And the rest is history—a footwear style that is a winter essential, an outdoor staple, and a wardrobe stunner.
While back in the day, men’s duck boots were mainly made of leather, nowadays, the best duck boots typically have a rubber bottom with a fabric upper half (often in leather, suede, or canvas). Step confidently through snow, slush, or mud without worrying about wet feet, which slip off like water on a duck’s back. Get it?
From the classic duck boot designed by L.L. Bean himself to some more contemporary styles that are equal parts fashion and function, here are the 12 best duck boots for men built for the road less traveled.
Best Compression Boots | Best Dress Boots | Best Chelsea Boots | Best Winter Boots | Best Snow Boots | Best Waterproof Shoes | Best Motorcycle Boots
The Original Duck Boot
L.L.Bean
8″ L.L.Bean Boots
| Material | Leather, rubber |
|---|---|
| Size | 7-14 |
| Lining/Insulation | None |
best overall duck boot
Top-Sider Men’s Avenue Duck Boot
| Material | Leather, rubber |
|---|---|
| Size | 7-13 |
| Lining/Insulation | Thermal linings |
best everyday duck boot
UGG
Emmett Duck Boot
| Material | Leather, rubber |
|---|---|
| Size | 7-14 |
| Lining/Insulation | Textile lining |
the hybrid duck boot
All-Weather
Duckboot
| Material | Rubber, leather, cotton |
|---|---|
| Size | 8-13 |
| Lining/Insulation | Fully lined with a waterproof liner and a sock-like collar |
best sporty duck boot
Nike
Lunar Force 1 Duckboot
| Material | Leather, rubber |
|---|---|
| Size | 3.5-14 |
| Lining/Insulation | Synthetic insulation |
Best value duck boot
Alpine Design
Duck Boots
| Material | Leather, rubber |
|---|---|
| Size | 8.5-14 |
| Lining/Insulation | Fleece lining, 3M Thinsulate insulation |
Best high-end duck boot
Diemme
Anatra Suede Boots
| Material | Suede up; Leather lining; Rubber sole; |
|---|---|
| Size | 6-14 |
| Lining/Insulation | Leather lining |
Best affordable duck boot
Nautica
Channing Duck Boot
| Material | Vegan Leather, rubber |
|---|---|
| Size | 7-16 |
| Lining/Insulation | Shell insulation |
Best waterproof duck boot
WOLVERINE
Torrent Waterproof Duck Boot
| Material | Leather, rubber |
|---|---|
| Size | 7-14 |
| Lining/Insulation | Fleece lining |
best light-duty duck boot
LONDON FOG
Aspen Duck Boot
| Material | Vegan leather, rubber, synthetic |
|---|---|
| Size | 7-13 |
| Lining/Insulation | Fleece lining and 3M Thinsulate |
best insulated duck boot
Lands’ End
Insulated Flannel Lined Chelsea Duck Boots
| Material | Leather, rubber, flannel |
|---|---|
| Size | 8-13 |
| Lining/Insulation | Flannel lining and 400-gram Thermolite insulation |
best-looking duck boot
Sorel
Cheyanne II Lace Duck Boot
| Material | Leather/suede and rubber |
|---|---|
| Size | 7-15 |
| Lining/Insulation | 200g insulation. |
Cristina Montemayor
Cristina Montemayor is a freelance writer and journalist living in Austin, Texas, covering beauty, grooming, style, and culture.
Maverick Li
Style and Commerce Editor
Maverick Li is the Style & Commerce Editor of Men’s Health, where he covers clothing, footwear, watches, and grooming.
