Palladium Pampa Cuff WP Lux Rain Boot: Puddle Jumper

When the weather gets bad, you’re often left with one of two choices: wear a goofy-looking rubber boot that will keep your feet dry but will feel horribly out of place when you get to where you’re going (rubber boots in a coffee shop are a terrible icebreaker on a blind date) or wear some fancy kicks that will look great but will leave your socks soaked. If you want to look good but don’t want to make that noticeable “squish squish” sound when you walk through Target, you’re going to want a rain boot that’s got a bit of style. This is where the Palladium Pampa Cuff WP Lux rain boot comes in handy.

Testing & review of the Palladium Pampa Cuff Rain Boot

Looking more like a fashion or motorcycle boot than a rain boot, the Palladium Pampa Cuff WP Lux sports an outer made of waterproof oiled nubuck leather that’s held together with sealed seams and waterproof stitching.

During long walks through crappy weather, the nubuck leather was totally waterproof. Tromping through puddles and walking through the rain was no problem for the boot. I even blasted the boots with a sustained stream from a hose when the sun was out, and zero moisture made it inside the boot.

In addition, the soft microfiber collar added a touch of comfort to the boots and gave them a soft feel. This went for the sole as well. The EVA sponge midsole provides plenty of cushioning during long walks, and the molded rubber outsole was a great combination of flexibility and support.

The durability was a plus too. The leather wore in and got softer with time, and instead of showing wear, the boots only looked more stylish over time. In fact, they were so tough during walks that they started doubling as my motorcycle boots when I rode around town. The sneaker feel and boot-like durability made them perfect for my daily bike commute.

Part of that durability is due to the rubber toe cap, which protects the boot’s toe from anything you may walk through (as well as my motorcycle’s shifter lever). In addition to providing a bit more protection, this toe cap also gives the boot a sneaker look. It looks a bit like a burlier version of Converse high-tops, which definitely suits my vibe.

The only real ding was that while the boot totally locked moisture out, the full leather upper didn’t breathe well. Zero water got in, but the boots also didn’t let any sweat out, either. The breathability and heat ventilation weren’t as much of an issue when the weather was lousy, but I got some seriously sweaty feet during long walks in warm weather.

Conclusion and availability

It’s hard to beat the combination of style, waterproofing, and comfort that you get with Palladium’s Pampa Cuff WP Lux rain boot (MSRP $155). You get the sneaker look and feel combined with the durability of a boot. If it had burlier outsole lugs, they’d be in contention as a solid hiking boot as well.

I found the only problem with them was the breathability since the leather upper doesn’t provide much venting. But for foul weather, these rain boots are an excellent choice.

They’re available in men’s sizes 6.5 through 14, women’s sizes 5 through 11, and various colors.