Great Gear: Butler Rockhopper Overboots Keep Mud at Bay

By Kate Spiller – As much as we want to clear our calendar and rid our weekends of errands and other obligations, the reality is, we’ve got stuff to do! On a recent Saturday, besides the main event of visiting the pumpkin patch, we were also in and out of shops and restaurants and checking things off our grocery list. The kids would absolutely need rubber boots for the muddy farm experience, but clunking around in their rain boots for all the rest is not really necessary.

We have rain suits, rain pants, and rain coats to go over our clothing, why not have a boot that goes over our shoes?

About Butler Rockhopper Overboots

The Rockhoppers from Butler Boots are a low profile boot designed to fit over the shoe. They provide a waterproof and protective barrier as kids play, explore, and journey through rain and mud.

What’s to love about the Butler Rockhopper Overboots?

My children, ages 5 and almost 2 years, tested the Rockhoppers from Butler Boots on rainy walks, visits to the pumpkin patch and Christmas tree farm, and on short hikes through our local arboretum. We found a lot to love about the galoshes.

Protect Shoes Well:

The Rockhoppers definitely do the job they are assigned! As the kids tromped through muddy corn mazes and walked along sidewalks and trails inundated with puddles, their shoes stayed clean and dry!

Easy to Clean:

Unlike other rain boots that may have a fabric layer or insert, the Rockhoppers are made of 100% waterproof (heavy duty) material. After playing in the mud, we simply hose the overboots off, and they are ready to go for the next adventure. No concern of overwhelming the fabric, or worrying about stressing any seams.

Smell and Potential Moisture:

When the Rockhoppers first arrived at our house, and I opened the box, I immediately noticed the smell! It’s a sweet aroma (not overpowering though) that still remains on the shoes today. The overboot material is also treated with an anti-microbial, which means despite frequent exposure to water and moisture, they’ll stay protected from mold and mildew.

Easy-on, easy-off:

With practice, we have found the Rockhoppers to be easy to get on and take off for our preschooler. The fan entry at the base of the foot allows for a wide opening, and the overboot material is generally stretchy. The Velcro closures also continue to work well even with a lot of wash and use.

Color and Style:

I can’t help but smile when I see my kids in their yellow Butler Rockhoppers! Not just functional; they add a lot of cheer to our adventures.
What’s to be desired?

Easier Entry for Young Toddlers:

As I mentioned, the fan entry, just above the top of the foot, does allow the boot to stretch open quite a bit. However, we do still struggle to get the overboots over our young toddler’s shoes. Since she’s young (and not super coordinated), she can’t step into the boot as suggested. Instead we usually insert her shoe into the boot first, and then slip the shoe+boot combination onto her feet. I expect this will get easier with practice!

Notes on Butler Rockhopper Overboots

The Rockhoppers work well for tromping through mud and puddles, but because of the low-profile design, they do have their limits. If you are looking for more coverage, check out the Emperor boots!

Not exactly what you were looking for? Check out Outdoor Families Magazine’s 10 best water shoes for kids! And get tons more outdoor gift inspiration here!

Note: OFM contributor Kate Spiller received a pair of Butler Rockhoppers kid’s overboots in return for her review.

Kate is a former elementary school teacher, turned stay-at-home mom, writer and blogger. Her blog, WildTalesof.com is all about outdoor adventure and travel with kids. She wants to pass along little tidbits that she’s gathered in her short life as a mom, wife, and adventurer. Inspiration, tips, helpful hints, how-to’s, are shared…all to make family life a touch easier, a touch wilder, and a touch more adventurous.