Tretorn Skerry Review

The Tretorn Skerry is a lightweight rain boot that has a classic and stylish design. The rubber material is fully waterproof. However, it lacks any real arch support or cushioning, making it uncomfortable when wearing it for any lengthy period of time.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

This piece is made of a thin natural rubber, which our testers thought was more malleable; overall, the more supple shaft made for a comfortable stride in comparison to boots made with a thicker or stiffer rubber, such as the The Original Muck Boot Company Arctic Sport - Men's. The Tretorn Skerry also has a comfortable microfleece lining, which is soft when directly against the skin, and retains a decent amount of warmth. However, the insole that comes in this model is very thin and flimsy, offering no additional support. The soles themselves also lack support and cushioning; this is especially noticeable in the heel, since it doesn't have any extra rubber. If you're a heavy heel striker, this will definitely not be the most comfortable rain boot for you. If you want a more supportive product, check out the The Original Muck Boot Company Chore Mid, Bogs Classic High, or the LaCrosse Hampton.

Water Resistance

The Tretorn Skerry has an 11.5 inch shaft, making it one of the shortest models when measured from the bottom of the sole to the top of the shaft. The rubber repels water well enough, and we never experienced any leakage during our testing. The top of the shaft fits loosely around the legs, making it easy for debris to enter the boot, especially since the shaft is so short. If you need something that has a higher shaft, check out the Le Chameau Vierzon or the Kamik Icebreaker both of which also offer the option of cinching down the shaft to the top of the leg.

Warmth

The micro fleece lining on this product is a decent insulator. We tested this product in cool mountain streams and found that there was no initial loss of heat; however, it didn't take too long before we could feel the cold water stealing away all of the heat from our feet. The liner is extremely thin, which we think makes it more suitable for cool spring or autumn temperatures, but less than ideal for winter use.

Style

The Tretorn Skerry is one of the more stylish rain boots we tested. It adds a bit of flare for fashion aficionados looking to complete their rainwear outfit. However, our testers thought that the flat sole makes this model look a little cartoonish, as opposed to the Hunter Original Short, which has a heel and looks a little more like a boot designed with adults in mind. This model looks significantly better when our pants our pulled down over the shaft, and actually resembles the Hampton a little bit when the shaft is concealed.

Traction

This piece has one of the smoother treads of all the products we tested. There are no lugs, but rather shallow and narrow canals cut across the sole. Because of the lack of lugs, our testers found that they don't have any traction on mud. On wet rock, the smooth sole makes a large amount of surface contact and is sensitive enough to feel the features of the rock. While walking up a wet sidewalk on a hill, our testers could feel every crack and pebble, which made us feel confident while hiking up steep streets. If you need a product that has large lugs for muddy conditions, check out Icebreaker or the Kamik Lucas2.

Ease of Use

This model has a single pull tab on the back of the shaft that aids in putting it on. Unfortunately, despite being easy to get on, it's a little difficult to take off. We also noticed that the insole had a tendency to wiggle its way out with our foot, meaning that we had to place it back inside every time we took off the boot. The Tretorn Skerry weighs in at 3 pounds and 4 ounces, making it the second lightest rain boot we tested. This is great if all you're going to do is wander around town for a few hours or take your dog for a walk around the neighborhood.

Best Application

Mostly, due to the lack of support and cushioning, we don't think this product is appropriate for working environments, but rather as a rain boot you'd wear around town, to walk the dog, or while you're running errands in the rain. Unlike many of the cold weather products in this review, the Tretorn Skerry is primarily best for warmer temperatures. Its stylish appeal can help complete an outfit if you're a more fashion-conscious individual. Otherwise, we cringe at the thought of walking on uneven terrain with such a sensitive and flimsy sole.

Value

For $78, we would have liked to see a little more performance out of this product, especially in the areas of support and cushioning. Additionally, after only a few uses, the liner began to separate from the boot rubber, which was a little disappointing. If you need a rain boot that is more suited for heavy-duty use, but won't break the bank, check out our Top Pick award winner, the Kamik Icebreaker, but keep in mind that this product is not suitable for warmer weather.

Conclusion

If you are mostly interested in a stylish rain boot to wear while you brave wet weather, the Tretorn Skerry makes for a good choice. Despite the stylish design, our testers found that it lacked any real arch support or cushioning, making them one of the least comfortable models we tested. The shaft is also one of the shortest, and most susceptible to becoming fully submerged under water, or having debris find its way inside.