Yesterday, hunting in the rain, was evidently the first true test of my latest pair of hunting boots...and they failed miserably. I never stepped in water, but just walked a field for 2+ hours. It wasn't in a monsoon, but a gentle rain if you will, and I came out with soaked socks. It didn't wick down my socks, as I had to prove to my husband :roll: , as my socks were bone dry above the ankle. I was wearing chaps too. He also felt my socks, because I'm pretty sure he thought it was just sweat. :roll: Wrong--I could have wrung them out, they were that wet! Both boots leaked, so it wasn't like I had somehow damaged one. I've had these boots just over 3 months, and only worn them for the past 2 months.

These were Itasca's Intrepid 400gram, with Aqua Plus Waterproof Breathable System, and 100% Waterproof according to the tag. At $99 they were fairly inexpensive, but that's besides the point. Waterproof should be waterproof, for at least a reasonable amount of time, and I think it should be reasonable to hunt in a light rain or dewey conditions. I don't have a real problem if a pair of $100 boots makes it a year, like my Irish Setter Ladyhawks or Rocky Bearclaws did, but this is the 2nd pair that made it less than 60 days (LaCrosse being the other pair). I have an email out for the store's return policy, and will at minimum contact the manufacturer, but am sorely disappointed yet again. My husband is insistent that I need to stick with Goretex and buy a more expensive pair--kind of the get what you pay for idea. I'm fairly gunshy of spending more money, only to get the same results.
Who makes a pair of boots that stands behind the "waterproof" claim or you swear by? Women's styles would be nice for proper fit. Hoping for tried and true suggestions, as I hunt a couple times a week during season, preseason scout a couple times a week, and train a few times a week.