LaCrosse Hampton Review (2024)

The LaCrosse Hampton is a lightweight and comfortable low-cut rain boot that's perfect for walking the dog, heading to local hangouts, and doing yard work (as long as the weather isn't too extreme). This pair of boots is not for wading through deep water, trekking through mud, or for use in heavy storms. Yet, it is a uniquely pleasant and comfortable rain boot appropriate for all-day use during a wide variety of activities. In addition to being remarkably comfortable, this boot is super easy to take on and off, and we even think it's pretty stylish, to "boot." It's not heavily insulated, which makes it more versatile for use in milder temperatures. For these reasons and more, the Hampton won our Top Pick for Mild Weather.

We found this rain boot to be so comfortable and stylish that we wanted to wear it all the time when trudging through any deep water or mud wasn't necessary. It's perfect for rainy days on the town, or as LaCrosse suggests, lounging around a campfire. In fact, our testers began to think of them more as a bootie or slipper than a rain boot. The smooth tread, however, limits where it can be used just as much as the short height of the shaft does. However, if you need a boot that can get you through any outdoor conditions, check out the Editors' Choice Kamik Icebreaker, or even the Bogs Classic High - Men's.

The LaCrosse Hampton is a lightweight rain boot with a short shaft. Though the boot loses some versatility due to the short shaft and smooth tread, it makes up for it in overall comfort, style, and ease of use. In these categories, it blows the competition out of the water. It's a great option with high value for anyone seeking a rain boot to fit a temperate climate, which is why it won our Top Pick for Mild Weather.

Performance Comparison

Water Resistance

The Hampton has the tallest shaft of all the ankle-cut products we tested, measuring in at 5.5 inches; however, it still fell 3 inches below the next shortest boot, the Bogs Ultra Mid Rain Boot. It just barely covers the ankles, which means wading into streams or using them for field work through deep muddy puddles is out of the question. If you need a boot with knee-high shaft, check out the Le Chameau Vierzon or The Original Muck Boot Company Arctic Sport - Men's. We did find however, that despite the short shaft, the Hampton has the most secure and comfortable collar of any of the boots we tested. The top of the shaft conformed snugly up against our legs, letting in minimal amounts of debris as we walked, without squeezing our ankles like the Bogs Urban Farmer did.

Comfort

This is the most comfortable boot we tested. The boot is lined with neoprene, and it has a soft and cushiony EVA footbed, which makes a very noticeable difference when compared to boots without significant cushioning or support, like the Helly Hansen Midsund 2. The low shaft of the boot also allows more ankle mobility. It doesn't rub against your legs, which we think is a plus.

The Hampton's insole is also one of the stiffer and more supportive of all the models we tested. Despite having a quality insole, we found that the insole occasionally slid out with our foot as we took the boot off. This happened, though, at some point with every boot featuring a removable liner in this review.

Traction

This product suffered heavily in our traction tests. The sole on the boot has a few shallow and narrow grooves, but by and large the sole is almost featureless. Our testers found that you have to work a little harder for a grip in loose sand or mud. And when we tested these boots on slippery rocks in a nearby stream, we came to the conclusion that the EVA foam, while immensely comfortable, ultimately dulls the sensitivity in your foot and makes it more difficult to trust your feet.

Considering slippery surfaces accompany rain, we found it disappointing to have such modest traction in a rain boot. If you need a boot with a more versatile tread that can do it all, check out the Kamik Icebreaker or Bogs Classic High.

Warmth

This rain boot fell in the middle of the pack in this metric, which we found made it more versatile than several of the other models we tested. Its 3mm layer of Neoprene insulation, plus the secure closure of the shaft around the leg, did a good job keeping our feet warm when the temperatures begin to decline, all the way down to the mid 30s°F (1° to 3°C). In our ice water submersion test, it took one minute and 45 seconds before the cold sank into our bare feet, longer than either of the other two low-cut boots.

On the flip side, we also enjoyed wearing the Hampton in warm weather of late spring and early fall, but wouldn't wear them in the summer, as their lack of breathability and insulation is enough to make the feet sweat. However, on cool spring and autumn nights, these boots are great for situations where you want a warm and comfortable boot to help you find some firewood around the campfire, or to walk your dog on a cool rainy day. Because it is the best rain boot for use in less extreme climates, we awarded the Hampton with our Top Pick for Mild Weather. For a great winter boot, check out our Editors' Choice winner, the Kamik Icebreaker, which is a true champion of the cold. If you want a short boot with less insulation, have a look at the Tretorn Strala.

Style

We loved the style of this model. The short shaft makes it look like anything but a rain boot. If you don't like the look when you stuff your pants down into the boot, or don't like pulling your pants over a bulky rain boot shaft, the Hampton is the one for you. This boot looks classy, sleek, and stylish. If you wanted to go on a pub crawl on a rainy Saturday night, this model would be perfect, and it's doubtful if anyone would notice they're made of rubber. If you want a full boot to show off your sense of fashion, or to just complement your outfit on a rainy afternoon, check out the Hunter Original Short, which is a classic mid-cut rain boot.

Ease of Use

This model is the second lightest of all the boots we tested, weighing in at 2 pounds 13 ounces for the pair. Other than being lightweight, they are extremely easy to put on. The waterproof nylon stretch panels on the side of the boot allow for some room to insert your foot, and then contract snugly around your ankle. This boot is so easy to get on that you can do it even without the help of the tabs, which is great if you're trying leaving the house with your arms full of things. The only other model that compares in ease of use is the Bogs Ultra Mid Rain Boot, which has two huge handles punched out of the neoprene upper.

Fit

This model provides a very comfortable and snug fit. True-to-size, a pair of size 11's fit our size 11 feet. Our heels, the balls of our feet, and toes didn't have extra space to wiggle or slide, yet the boots didn't feel tight, either. The neoprene upper nicely hugged our ankles without cutting of circulation, which is more than the Bogs Urban Farmer could say.

Best Applications

This ankle-cut rain boot is best suited for dirty and wet situations in temps between 35°-70°F (1°-21°C) that don't involved deep mud or water. We loved wearing this boot when hanging around camp, working in our backyard gardens, and heading into town while it's raining. They are also perfect if you prefer wearing your pants on the outside of your rainy day footwear rather than tucked down inside. It's easy to misjudge any deep pools of water or mud that would sink in over the top of the Hampton, which means if there is a possibility you may end up knee deep in mud or water, you definitely will want to find a boot with a taller shaft.

Value

The Hampton will run you about $100. Though we really like how comfortable the boot was to wear and how easily it went on, it lacks the rugged outdoor utility that several other boots in this review possess, mostly because of the short shaft and smooth tread. That said, if you want a pair of extremely comfortable boots for more urban and everyday use, then these are a great value.

Conclusion

The LaCrosse Hampton is easily the most comfortable boot we tested. The EVA midsole provides a great amount of cushion and the stretch nylon panels are an amazing addition to the overall design. Getting in and out of the Hampton is easier than any other boot, and it's stylish in the sense that you won't look like a clown in huge rubber boots. Unfortunately, the low shaft means that this product isn't very capable in extreme weather conditions, and can easily become submerged. The outsole of the shoe also lacks any real tread, meaning that there is less traction on slick surfaces. Otherwise, our testers loved these boots and think they're a great choice for mild climates.