No matter what decade you grew up in, there’s a good chance you recognize Dr. Martens 1460 Boots, as the look has been timeless ever since the first pair was released 60 years ago. From the grunge scene in New York to the hip nightlife of Los Angeles and beyond, the boots have stood the test of time — and anyone who’s ever owned a pair has a unique journey of their own.

Rain, rain go away.... said no kid ever. Simply put, children love rainy days because it means excitedly splashing in puddles, catching rain drops with their tongues, and of course, putting on their rain boots before they go outside. But why do kids love rain boots so much? I swear, most of the time I see a kid in rain boots on a sunny day. But it turns out that besides the obvious fun designs and puddle stomping factor, rain boots simply represent the keys to the kingdom to a child. Pulling on their rain boots signals it's time to go outside, it's time to explore a puddle or two (even if that puddle is mostly mud), and most of all, it's time for adventure. That's an empowering feeling for a child to experience.

We've put together a list of our favorite quality men's dress boots under $500. I've either personally tested these or in some cases have relied on customer and other professional reviews.