My boots are rubber and reach to just short of my knees. I don't go into the water unless I have to -- where I was fishing it could come to just about my ribcage (although it looked to be about six inches deep). In fact, my wife bought me a PFD so in the unlikely event I fell in I'd float. The floatation chambers are awfully heavy and each one is maked "Pb" on the outside. She said that means "pretty buoyant."