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Sperry Saltwater Duck Boot Review

A boot of high style with low practical weather protection
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sperry saltwater duck boot rain boots women review
Credit: Sperry
Price:  $130 List
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Manufacturer:   Sperry
By Sara Aranda ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jun 24, 2020
57
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Weather Protection - 30% 4.0
  • Comfort - 25% 6.0
  • Traction - 20% 6.0
  • Warmth - 15% 7.0
  • Style - 10% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Sperry Saltwater Duck Boot is right in line with the classic duck boot look and brand appeal. Traditionally a marine lifestyle brand, this particular model seems to blend with the urban trend of undone laces. Scoring high style points, these boots, unfortunately, did not offer as much weather protection and traction as we would have liked. That said, the micro-fleece lining and overall fit do provide ample comfort. Best for the most casual of outings, this low-top competitor's strong suits are comfort, style, and relative warmth.
REASONS TO BUY
Trendy
Comfortable micro-fleece lining
Sufficient traction for flat surfaces
REASONS TO AVOID
Low weather protection
Expensive

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Saltwater Duck Boot is Sperry's take on the classic Bean Boot originally invented by L.L. Bean. They have a waterproof rubber foot box and an upper that is constructed from rawhide leather, with rawhide barrel tie lacing and rust-proof eyelets. Lined in micro-fleece, they are exceptionally cozy. Other features include a side zipper and a non-marking rubber outsole with Wave-Siping tread. Though, due to a detached tongue and non-waterproof zipper, the overall flood height of the boot is one of the shortest of the contenders we recently tested. We also found the traction to be subpar in the snow or across slimy rocks during our river test. Regardless, this high style option seems to be very popular all over the world.

Performance Comparison


sperry saltwater duck boot rain boots women review - the saltwater duck boots in an icy river at the bottom of dream...
The Saltwater Duck Boots in an icy river at the bottom of Dream Canyon, CO: being careful to not step too deep.
Credit: Sara Aranda

Weather Protection


The Saltwater did not stand up as well against the elements as the others in our fleet. The barrel laces and tongue collect snow (and ultimately, water) over time. Since the tongue is detached, we found ourselves with melted water in the boot, which soaked into our socks. The side zippers are not waterproof and allow for water to seep through when wading. Despite measuring 7.5 inches from the ground, the flood height is only 4.25 inches (to the base of the zipper). This leaves the rubber foot box as the only substantial buffer against the wet elements.

sperry saltwater duck boot rain boots women review - the style features of the saltwater duck boots, such as the side...
The style features of the Saltwater Duck Boots, such as the side zipper, detached tongue, and barrel laces did not provide as much weather proofing as we hoped for.
Credit: Sara Aranda

Comfort


The most notable aspect of these boots is the micro-fleece lining. The footbed is also fairly cushioned with a removable insole, and the toe box is roomy. We did experience heel slippage, but the lining didn't create any hot spots. For all-day wear, there isn't anything particularly remarkable, but our feet did not ache by the end. The leather is flexible for ample walking. Weighing in at 1.9 lbs for the size 8 pair we tested, they are easy to carry around and pack. The rawhide upper is flexible and does not impede mobility.

A significant drawback is in how difficult the Saltwater is to slip on or take off, as they require the use of the zippers. And, while we like the look of the barrel laces, they don't seem to serve any function, as they are not long enough to tie in a bow. When we did try to tighten them, they came undone after a while, leaving the boot feeling loose and a bit big around the ankle.

Traction


With Wave-Siping tread, the Saltwater performs well across all flat surfaces, no matter wet or dry, and even in the snow. However, on an incline, the traction does not hold up as well, especially when compared to the incredible performances of several of the others in our review. We attribute this to the tread being fairly shallow and not designed for uneven or strenuous terrain. Made by a marine-oriented company, the stable non-slop traction for fairly flat surfaces is all we can expect.

sperry saltwater duck boot rain boots women review - the wave-siping tread of the saltwater duck boots was great for flat...
The Wave-Siping tread of the Saltwater Duck Boots was great for flat surfaces, but not so much on wet, snowy inclines.
Credit: Sara Aranda

Warmth


With a thick lining of micro-fleece, these boots are indeed warm and one of the top performers in this metric. Although the insulation is not as technical and rugged as a few of the others, the Saltwater does a fine job maintaining heat above 35F or so. There was a loss of warmth over time in the snow, and during our icy river test, but this boot is still warmer than most of the other models, which also means they became quite hot in temperatures above 55F, give or take.

sperry saltwater duck boot rain boots women review - a closer look at the micro-fleece lining of the cozy saltwater duck...
A closer look at the micro-fleece lining of the cozy Saltwater Duck Boots.
Credit: Sara Aranda

Style


Sporting a high level of fashion, the Saltwater is one of the most urban looking of all the boots we reviewed. The dark barrel laces and the subtle heel provide a nice, feminine look. Overall, they are cute and highly versatile with various outfits. You can easily wear jeans over them, or in them, and you don't have to worry about looking too "rubbery" when wanting a shoe to keep your feet dry.

sperry saltwater duck boot rain boots women review - the very trendy saltwater with their "loose laces" look.
The very trendy Saltwater with their "loose laces" look.
Credit: Sara Aranda

Fit


While Sperry offers whole sizes from 5-12, they only offer half-sizes up to 9.5. In retrospect, we think we should have gone with the 7.5 as opposed to sizing up to the 8, as our findings indicate they run true to size. The foot box is roomy, especially for the toes, but being a touch big, there is some heel slippage. The circumference of the top opening ranges from about 10-11 inches, depending on whether you can keep the laces tied.

sperry saltwater duck boot rain boots women review - the saltwater duck boots in an icy river at the bottom of dream...
The Saltwater Duck Boots in an icy river at the bottom of Dream Canyon, CO: being careful to not step too deep.
Credit: Sara Aranda

Value


Based in Massachusetts and manufactured in China, these brand-name shoes list for a cringe-worthy price. For being such a short rain boot and with comparatively low weather protection, we do not believe the price is worth it unless you absolutely love the fashion. Thus, if you value high style over all else, these boots certainly fit the bill and are adequate for light rainstorms.

Conclusion


These Sperry Saltwater Ducks Boots are a wonderfully feminine approach to the classic duck boot. Unfortunately, it seems to us that fashion outweighed functionality in this case. Weather protection is relatively low, but, nonetheless, they are very stylish and provide sufficient coziness for all-day wear.

Sara Aranda