REVIEW: RAYVE MONSOON – Finally wellies that actually fit

REVIEW: RAYVE MONSOON – Finally wellies that actually fit REVIEW: RAYVE MONSOON – Finally wellies that actually fit

Children Barefoot Reviews Walking, Movement and Health

We tested the Rayve Monsoon children’s wellies – lightweight and beautifully flexible. They were tested by physiotherapist Hanka Tonarová with her children.

Tested model RAYVE MONSOON
Best for wet weather, rain
Upper material PER-lite synthetic rubber
Lining synthetic textile and removable insole
Sole 5 mm flexible, PER-lite rubber outsole
Fit roomy in the toe box, narrower at the heel, suitable for average to wider feet
Boot height
 tall
Colour options yellow, blue, pink, green, black
Available sizes  22–31
Price 899 Kč
Manufacturer

RAYVE

Choosing wellies has always been a bit of a headache. Classic wellies usually have a raised heel, the material is stiff, and you can only dream of enough room for toes. Barefoot wellies, on the other hand, were often too heavy, or the fit was simply too narrow for my children. The RAYVE MONSOON wellies caught my eye mainly because they meet all the barefoot criteria. From the very first try-on, it was clear that unlike many other wellies, they fit children perfectly and stay securely on their feet.

Main плюсы:

  • At first glance, you can see these wellies fit the foot far better than most others
  • The material is flexible and overall the wellies are surprisingly lightweight
  • The heel is narrower than the toe box, which works brilliantly for fan-shaped feet
  • Children walk in them without any issues and don’t complain about anything
  • Their flexibility is noticeable with every step and even when jumping
  • The sole is thick enough to insulate the foot from cold and damp, and it has a tread pattern
  • Design-wise they’re understated, without unnecessary pictures, and easy to look after

Main минусы:

  • The rubber material isn’t breathable, so feet can get sweaty – but that’s the trade-off for being waterproof
  • They’re not meant for everyday wear, only for times when it’s very wet or for splashing about in puddles

Key features and assessment

In general, I don’t consider wellies to be footwear that’s suitable for frequent or all-day walking. By their very nature, we can’t expect them to be breathable or to keep feet from sweating – they’re rubber, after all. Likewise, you can’t really count on any fastening features that would make them fit perfectly. For exactly these reasons, I’ve always been willing to compromise with wellies and didn’t overthink the choice.

However, the RAYVE MONSOON wellies look great from the very first glance and tick everything a parent who loves barefoot footwear could wish for. According to the manufacturer, they’re even the lightest children’s barefoot wellies on the market, which does seem to be true once you try them. They’re perfectly flexible and, thanks to the narrowing behind the heel, they stay reliably on the foot without slipping off. The sole is 5 mm thick and there’s a removable insole inside, which you’ll appreciate for drying or occasional cleaning.

My daughter has a narrower heel and a standard instep, while my son has a slightly wider heel and a lower instep. They both have the same foot length, and yet the wellies fit them both equally well. I see that as a huge advantage – we’ve finally found wellies that suit both children at the same time. They’re also more affordable than other barefoot models.

Testing out and about

My children have been wearing these wellies for about two months. They only ever use them for short periods, most often for the walk to the chickens or a quick dash out with the rubbish to the bins. The main reason is simple – they’re very quick and easy to put on, which is especially appreciated by children who can’t be bothered with other shoes.

Final verdict

From my point of view, these are the best wellies we’ve come across so far. They’re flexible, offer plenty of room for toes, fit nicely at the heel and don’t slip off when walking. For parents looking for a barefoot alternative to classic wellies, they’re an ideal choice.

The Crave Monsoon wellies were tested by children’s physiotherapist Hana Tonarová with her twins. Hanka runs her own clinic, HoneyCare.cz, where she focuses mainly on children’s physiotherapy, infant physiotherapy and physiotherapy aimed at functional disorders of children’s feet. She also founded FySport – a project where, in a playful way, she teaches children how to look after their body’s health and helps them use exercises to compensate for common habits linked to poor posture, today’s lifestyle or less-than-ideal psychomotor development.

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