People with a collection of boots—dress boots, Wellingtons, riding boots, work boots, etc.—need a good way to store those boots. Most regular shoe racks just won't work, but there are many other purpose-built designs that do work.

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It's no surprise that the U.K. is a source of many wellington racks. Boot&Saw makes racks in various sizes, from 2-pair to 6-pair, and there are also racks sized for children's wellies. It's a simple but effective design, allowing boots to dry easily and limiting the chance of having bugs crawl inside the boots when it's used outdoors.

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Boot&Saw also has more elaborate designs, which incorporate a single or two-tier shoe shelf. Some of them also sacrifice some boot storage space to provide a seat the end user can use when taking the boots on or off. Again, these are available in a range of sizes. It's a useful design for end users in shoes-free homes, especially those with a covered front porch or an appropriate entryway or mud room.

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This boot rack from Whitmor would be fine except one major problem: numerous purchasers say it's too lightweight and therefore tips over too easily. As Michael Lentz wrote: "This is mostly plastic. I have to stand the rack up against the wall in my closet, otherwise the weight of 3 pairs of boots tips the whole rack over." 

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Honey-Can-Do's boot rack has an interesting space-saving design, with the alternating top and bottom loading. It's 27.5 inches wide and holds 6 pairs, as compared to the Whitmor rack which is 22.2 inches wide and holds 3 pairs. It would be slightly more complex to load than the prior designs, though, which will deter some end users. Also, I would expect the top of some less rigid boots might flop around when in the bottom position.

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Boot trees are often a good alternative for end users looking for a freestanding organizer. They take less horizontal space than other racks, but wouldn't work as well for wet shoes, with the top boots possibly dripping onto (and with some designs, even into) the lower boots.

Hammacher Schlemmer has a nicely designed bilevel revolving boot rack with a weighted bottom; purchasers note how stable it is.

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Household Essentials supplies this adjustable shoe/boot tree; it can be configured to have two tiers just for boots, or three tiers with one for boots and two for shoes. That provides a nice bit of flexibility if the end user's needs change. The bottom is weighted and the tiers revolve independently. However, some purchasers have noted one significant problem: The boots sometimes slide off the boot shapers (which come with the tree). And it's the loop on those boot shapers that goes over the hook on the boot tree.

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The Ultimate Boot Tree from C & G Woodcraft has many nice features. The tree rotates, and the placement of the pegs is adjustable. It will store a lot of boots in a small amount of horizontal space, although it does require about five feet of vertical space. Some end users don't like to use clips, though, because they've had clips leave marks on some boots or had heavier boots fall off of the clips.

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Boottique makes its own boot hangers and says: "The hanger clips are lined with a special plastic and rubber blend that will not damage, deteriorate, or leave permanent impressions on boots. The clip is set at a tension strong enough to hold the heaviest of boots, yet gentle enough to avoid leaving marks on the softest of suede." And purchasers agree. These are the hangers Boottique uses on its own boot rack. 

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Boot racks, like shoe racks, can also be designed to go on the back of a closet door. This boot rack from Real Simple looks like a nice easy-to-use design. However, some purchasers said it wasn't sturdy enough for their boots.

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Boottique uses its special boot hangers with its boot valet. The boots aren't as visible as with other designs, but may work well for end users with very limited space (and a limited number of boots). 

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The Boot Butler is an intriguing design for hanging boots from a closet rod while using a minimum of space. It comes in 3-pair and 5-pair sizes and it's a modular design. That allows it to hang from any rod, including a double-hang rod. 

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Wall-mounted racks will work well for some end users, especially those with limited floor space and those with pets who like to chew on shoes and boots. This one from Rack'em holds a wide variety of styles and sizes—and like the floor-based racks that hold boots upside down, it's good for drying wet boots.

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This boot rack uses the same general approach, but includes a ledge to help shelter boots from the rain or snow (or the sun, which can damage rubber boots).

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The poles on these Wellyracks are removable and can be stored in the pocket at the bottom, which is a nice touch. It's a compact design intended for either indoor or outdoor use. The company provides shorter poles for hiking boots or small wellies upon request.

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The Welly Store is a design for those end users who want to keep their dirty boots outside but don't want them exposed to the elements. It won't work for tall dress boots, but it would be fine for work boots, wellingtons, hiking boots, etc. It's intended for indoor or outdoor use, but seems like overkill for indoors.