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Comprised of PVC-free natural rubber, the Tretorn Kelly is a tall boot that provides ample protection from wet, nasty weather and looks pretty cute! Together with its comfortable footbed, cozy lining, and good traction, the Kelly is a good mild weather rain boot. On top of all this, it's also relatively affordable at $85. Most of our testers thought that the Kelly looks good, but it doesn't have the molded detailing that made other products stand out in our style metric. This boot has a classy, matte finish and its basic look will go with many different outfits. If you want a quality rain boot that will keep your feet dry and comfy through long, rainy days - and you don't need to make a statement with your footwear - then this boot is a great choice!
REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Good traction
Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
Basic
Few color choices
Tretorn has discontinued the Kelly boot.
The Kelly provides only a little warmth, so if you live in a colder climate, you may want to consider the Bogs North Hampton - Women's (our Editors' Choice winner) or perhaps the super warm Original Muck Boot Company Arctic Sport II. On the other hand, if you're looking for a boot that provides the least amount of warmth, consider our Top Pick for Mild Weather, the Helly Hansen Veierland 2.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Kelly is a taller rubber boot that is high performing in wet weather, but minimalist in its styling. It's excellent for around-town use on wet spring or fall days, and we think it will hold up for years of use.
Performance Comparison
We liked the Tretorn Kelly's stellar weather protection, mid-height cut, and comfortable fit.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Weather Protection
Comprised of PVC-free natural rubber, the Tretorn Kelly earned an eight out of ten in our weather protection metric. With a shaft that measures 14 inches, this product bridges that middle ground between the super tall 17-inch Hunter Original Adjustable and the shorter 9-inch Sperry Top-Sider Falcon. If you're looking for something that's not too tall and not too short, this product may be juuuuuust right for you. Tretorn describes this boot as having a “fitted calf,” and we find this to be mostly true. There is still room for calves of different shapes and sizes, but the opening at the top of the boot is a little smaller than some of its competitors. This makes it more challenging for precipitation or other debris to make it down into the shaft.
This boot rises 14 inches up the calf, protecting the wearer from both pouring rain and massive puddles.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Comfort
This product isn't quite as cozy or supportive as some of the other pieces we tested, but it's still comfortable enough that you won't mind wearing it all day. The Kelly comes fitted with a squishy EcoOrthoLite insole and a soft microfleece lining. There's a hint of arch support, but if you have sensitive arches, you may want to invest in a higher-end insole. The toe box and overall fit is just a bit narrow, so if you have wider feet, be sure to take that into consideration. Thanks to the somewhat snug fit, however, our testers experienced less “heel slip” in this boot.
The Tretorn model is fitted with a slim, but cushy EcoOrthoLite insole. It has a fuzzy microfleece lining that extends down into the toe box and is generally fairly supportive.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Our only real complaint in the comfort category is the way that the shaft doesn't move with the body. Due to the height and cut of the shaft, the rubber creases as you walk, which was less noticeable in shorter boots and those with neoprene shafts. Eventually, our testers got used to the Kelly's limited mobility but it still cost this product a point in our comfort metric.
Here, you can see the slight creasing in the rubber shaft. The shorter boots we tested offered a little more mobility.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Style
This boot's shaft has a narrow profile, which we liked, but overall this rain boot just isn't quite as shapely as some of the other products in our review. It does have some molded detailing, but not exactly where it counts - there's no etching over the top of the toe box or foot that would add some interest. The cut could also be a little more refined through the heel and the top of the foot. This natural rubber boot has a classy, matte finish that we really liked, but it only comes in three muted colors. Overall, this is a classic-looking rain boot that doesn't have an eye-catching style. If you need a boot that will blend into the crowd, then this would be a great option for you. If, on the other hand, you prefer a glossy finish and lots of bright colors, consider the Kamik Heidi, which earned our Best Buy Award.
Although the Helly Hansen Veierland 2 has a similar design to that of the Kelly, we really liked the Veierland's shape, as well as its distinctive gusset and decorative buckle.
We liked the height and the matte finish of the Kelly, but wished that it had a slightly more shapely cut.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Traction
Fitted with a rubber outsole, this boot navigated slippery surfaces pretty darn well. We gave it a seven out of ten in our traction metric. Its treads aren't super deep, so would not be ideal for thick mud, but the thinner soles actually seem to improve the traction over non-muddy surfaces. Since the outsole is a little more flexible and close to the ground, you can feel obstacles a bit better and as a result, the traction is improved.
The treads on this Tretorn model were quite grippy, we think the grip is improved by the thinner sole. The outsole is comprised of natural rubber.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Warmth
Like many of the products we tested, the Kelly rain boot is not designed to handle super cold weather. It will certainly keep your feet warm on cooler days, but unless you have toes of steel, you probably shouldn't plan on wearing it as any sort of winter hybrid. It does have a microfleece lining, but considering that the rubber walls aren't very insulative to begin with, it doesn't do much to block out the cold. That said, this boot is ideal for the warmer, rainy days of spring, and won't leave your feet feeling sweaty and clammy if you head out in wet 60+ degree weather.
This product does not offer much warmth, even with its microfleece lining. The thin rubber shaft is more suited for temperatures upwards of 40 or 50 degrees.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Fit
Our size 9.5 tester wore a 40 during the review period. According to Tretorn's size chart, a 40 corresponds to a size 9 and a 41 to size 10. The manufacturer recommends sizing up if you're a half size and we agree that a 41 would have been the better choice for our 9.5 testers. This boot has a slightly narrow footbed, which gives it a cozy, foot-hugging fit that helps reduce heel slippage. Thanks to the extra space along the top of the foot (that less-refined cut that we mentioned above), this boot may be well-suited to women with high-volume feet.
This boot has a somewhat narrow fit, but we liked the height and the lack of heel slippage. You can see the creasing effect in the right hand photo.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Best Applications
This rain boot is definitely comfortable enough for all-day wear around town. We liked it with jeans tucked in, but due to its height, it would feel awkward to wear it with your pants on the outside. Its height makes it suitable for serious puddle splashing, but because it lacks any significant insulation, we don't suggest it for cold days. More of a basic rain boot, this piece doesn't really stand out style-wise, but if you don't mind that your footwear will blend into the crowd, then this product will suit you just fine.
Value
At $85, we think that this product is a pretty good deal. As we mentioned above, this product only comes in three classic, muted colors. Although this might seem like a detriment at first, it may encourage you to purchase a product that will go with many different outfits and remain usable for years to come. Sure, it might be great to own a bright purple pair of rain boots in college, but you'll have to buy a new pair later if you need something a little more understated. In this way, the Kelly is a little more “timeless.”
This boot will protect you from the rain, keep your feet happy, and looks pretty good doing it. Although we wish it was a little more stylish, the Tretorn Kelly is a great deal at just $85.
Credit: Amanda Fenn
Conclusion
The Tretorn Kelly is a solid bet if you're looking for a quality rain boot at a great price! We liked the combination of traction, rain protection, and comfort, but wish that it had a slightly more shapely cut. Although the Kelly did not score super highly in our warmth metric, we don't necessarily think this is a bad thing - it just means that this product is better suited for warmer weather.
