The best kids rain boots you can buy

• Finding great footwear for kids is hard enough before you take bad weather into account. Children's rain boots need to be comfy, durable, and tolerable enough for picky little ones to wear.
• The Hunter First Classic Waterproof Rain Boots are a bit of an investment, but they'll hold up and keep feet dry through torrential downpours. Plus, they're super cute.

Rain footwear is tough to nail down for anyone, but when you add the constantly changing feet of toddlers and children to the mix, it becomes nearly impossible. Children tend to be more active — and more prone to purposefully leaping into puddles — than adults, and so kids' rain books need to stand up to a lot, without breaking the bank.

By design, kids rain boots are pretty similar to their grown-up counterparts, typically made of rubber and sometimes with additional features like handles for easy on/off. They tend to come in a variety of fun colors and patterns ranging from silly and fun to simple one-color designs.

Of course, the challenge when shopping for any kids' clothing items is that toddlers and children grow fast. You don't want to drop a ton of cash on rain boots that won't fit in a few month's time, but you do want to find something durable and effective at keeping your tot's socks dry. These picks rise to the challenge.

Here are the best kids' rain boots you can buy in 2019:

• Best kids' rain boots overall: Hunter First Classic Waterproof Rain Boot
• Best kids' rain boots with handles: Crocs Kids' Handle It Rain Boot
• Best kids' rain boots under $20: Cat & Jack Rain Boots
• Best odor-fighting kids' rain boots: Bogs Kids' Skipper Waterproof Rubber Rain Boot
• Best patterned kids' rain boots: Oaki Toddler Rain Boots

Keep scrolling to check out our top picks.

The best kids' rain boots overall

The Hunter First Classic Waterproof Rain Boots are a bit of an investment for kids boots, but they are built to last and suitable for both hot and cold weather.

Hunter boots are pretty much the gold-standard in rain gear. The brand's most iconic style, the Hunter First Classic Waterproof Rain Boots, are available in miniature for children as young as five months and as old as eight years.

While they aren't cheap for kids' boots, they're made of durable latex rubber that releases a protective film of wax in humid weather that can be easily cleaned off with a damp cloth. Hunter boots are unlined, but they can be paired with warm socks in cold weather. They come with removable insoles and are available in a selection of classic solid colors.

According to Best Products, these boots "feature a wider shaft to make them easier for toddlers" to slip on and remove without help. As The Baby Swag points out, this roomier shape also allows for more wiggle room as your kids' feet grow, further justifying the steep price tag.

Experienced Mommy, Slate, Mom Loves Best, The Bump, and The Strategist also recommend Hunter boots for kids. This particular pair has 581 reviews on the Nordstrom website. "Perfect for my 4-year-old, he is incredibly hard on rain boots and these are still holding up really well," writes one shopper.

Pros: Durable, easily cleaned, removable insoles, wide enough to slip on and off

Cons: Expensive, no top handles, unlined

Buy Hunter First Classic Waterproof Rain Boots on Nordstrom for $55

The best kids' rain boots with handles

The Crocs Kids' Handle It Rain Boots have oversized handles on the rim that put kids in charge of their own footwear destiny.

Some kids' rain boots feature handles to help tykes get the hang of putting on and removing their own shoes. The Crocs Kids' Handle It Rain Boots are perfect for slightly older kids who are starting to get dressed by themselves, due to oversized handles built into the top sides.

Made of traditional breathable Crocs material, these have chunky soles with lots of traction, making them a great option for playing on rough terrain. There's also a giant Crocs logo on the side, so they're perhaps not the ideal pick for the logo-averse. But the heels do feature a reflective logo as an additional safety feature.

Writers at publications like The Strategist, The Baby Swag, Mom Loves Best, Best Products, and Experienced Mommy love these rain boots, especially for their durability. The reviewer at Experienced Mommy writes, "The seamless design of the boots makes the Crocs Handle It less prone to leaking or splitting" around the handles than similar options from competitors.

The boots have over 2,300 reviews on Amazon and a 4.5-star rating and are the top Best-Seller for the retailer in their category. "The number one thing I love about these boots: the super light weight!!" writes one reviewer. Keep in mind that most shoppers seem to agree you should size up, because they run a bit small.

Pros: Lightweight material, huge handles, reflective detail

Cons: Not warm enough for cold weather, run a little small

Buy Crocs Kids' Handle It Rain Boots on Amazon starting at $23.98

The best kids’ rain boots under $20

Cat & Jack's Toddler Rain Boots come in a variety of fun prints and colors, plus, they're available for only $19.99 at Target.

Kids are difficult to shop for, not only because they can be picky, but because they grow so darn fast. Target's children's brand Cat & Jack has an adorable selection of affordable rain boots for toddlers for $19.99 and options for slightly older kids for $24.99.

All of them come in cute colors and patterns that will appeal to fun-loving boys and girls. There are ice cream cone boots, shark boots, glitter boots, strawberry boots and more, all highly rated on the Target website.

Most are made of sturdy rubber and designed to come to about mid-calf height on most kids. Some feature pull-on handles attached to the upper rim.

"These strawberry rain boots are super cute and durable. My daughter loves them and they kept her feet comfortable and dry even while jumping in puddles," one shopper writes about the Maddison Strawberry Rain Boots.

The Strategist also recommends Target's Cat & Jack range for inexpensive picks.

Pros: Affordable, some styles have handles, cute patterns

Cons: Not all options have handles, unlined, prices range

Buy Cat & Jack rain boots at Target from $19.99