After reading other reviews and non-Amazon recommendations, I bought these for my teen daughter who has extremely high arches and so frequently experiences heel pain. They were supposed to replace her horse riding boots, but she claims they are so comfortable that she wears them to do chores around our small acreage and other outdoor activities as well. It hasn't rained much during the month she's had them, so I can't verify how waterproof they are, but they do have that kind of finish and are very sturdy. To give a little room to grow, I chose a size 10, which is actually what I wear. Of course I tried them on (since they may end up in my closet) and so can say they are true to size and very comfortable. I will definitely be repurchasing a larger size as she needs. We love these boots!