>>2515927>What compound?>TPR: Similar to rubber but a lot cheaper to manufacture. I like Kamik. Probably won't last lifespan of rubber, but rubber you will have to have upkeep with and can cost 5-10x the price of these. Can easily get several years of good use out of TPR. One of the two best values. Weight will be around 4 lbs.https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/kamik-mens-sportsman-insulated-rubber-boots?a=1518510https://us.kamik.com/collections/men/products/forester>EVA: Also best value. EVA is a foam that is very cheap to produce. External weather does not effect the material so it does a good job during shit weather. It is also going to make the lightest weight boot. You can find some for around 2 lbs to about 3 lbs of version that run with a different compound sole. Both TPR and EVA work best with a liner bootie/sock that you remove at the end of the day to dry out because you will generate condensation/sweat inside the boot. Some will even have a waffle pattern in the sole to collect water that will not transpire through the insole to your foot. A lot of these liners I end up removing and use a felt one from Steger mukluks instead as I try to avoid the all synthetic variants. I can use the felt liner during fairly high temperatures.Two cons of EVA:
Can puncture. I have a lot of blackberries and while they can poke holes through the material, something like a nail could break entirely through. This can be negated by getting a different sole under the EVA that Torvi/Nordman offers.
like crocs, leaving outside in the sun or throwing in the dryer will shrink the material.
Suffice, TPR and EVA are my two favorites as I can buy both for $40-$80 for a pair of boots that will last a few years for my conditions.
>PU: shares similarities to EVA. Boot weight tends to be closer to 3 pounds. Also a foam. I have not seen as many companies use PU (polyurethane) boots with liners, so the design is often not wide enough to handle one thus I tend to use EVA. 