Heard of Tretorn? It’s a Swedish brand founded way back in 1891, specialising in rubber boots, to begin with before moving on to trainers and even tennis balls. In fact, it was the rubber galoshes which really put Tretorn on the map as they meant that Scandinavian farmers could get out into the harsh conditions with toasty dry feet. 

Fast-forward to the present day and Tretorn does still do a wide range of rubber boots – including some eye-catching ‘hybrid’ designs which combine the attributes of a trainer with the versatility of a true rain boot – but alongside its heritage products, it also has a good line-up of outerwear, including this – the Shelter padded jacket. 

It’s got that classically Scandinavian understated approach to design, yet also has a number of features which could make it one of those ‘straight off the hook’ choices that you grab whenever the weather is nasty outside. 

But if Tretorn’s rubber boots have its history backing them up – and thousands of pairs being worn worldwide – why should you be choosing the Shelter if you’re after a new warmth-focused jacket? We’ve been wearing it around to find out. 

Sphere Score

For

• Understated finish 
• Very comfortable thanks to a soft finish 
• Well-sized pockets provide plenty of space 
• Hood is large and accommodating – you can still wear a hat while it’s up
• Hand-warmer pockets with brushed lining

Against

• Outside material won’t be up to nicks or scrapes 
• No other colours to choose from
• Quite cropped in design
• Won’t handle a large downpour (but few other insulated jackets can)

Tech specs 

• Price: £210 (currently reduced to £105)
• Water-repellent finish 
• Two large ‘main’ pockets
• Adjustable hood
• Zipper inner pocket 
• 100% recycled polyester 

What has the Shelter got to offer?

Tied together in a design which will look just as good in the woods as it will heading through the upmarket streets of west London, the Shelter takes a comfort-orientated approach with its design. It’s all crafted from 100 per cent recycled polyester, while the outside of the jacket has been given a water-repellent eco-Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish to help when there’s a sudden downpour. However, as is the case with most insulated and padded jackets, though this finish can keep a small shower at bay, we wouldn’t rely on it to prevent you from getting wet in more sustained rainstorms. 

The outside of the Shelter has a comfortable and ultra-soft finish to it and while this will be fine in more urban environments, we’d say that it would be quite easy to nick or catch if you’re in the woods – a thorn or sharp stick could easily puncture it. However, its heavy padding means that it is incredibly warm yet without being too heavy overall. It isn’t too bulky, either, though it’s far too large to put underneath another jacket. 

There’s a nicely oversized hood with a high-rising collar to help keep draughts out and warmth in, while drawstring adjustment means you can get a nicely secure fit. There’s just one colour to choose from – black – and while this does match the whole understated aesthetic, it would be nice to see a few other shades to choose from. We feel that the Shelter would look particularly good in a bright red or orange, in fact. 

Two large pockets at the front of the jacket provide plenty of storage for loose items and we like the fact that these have opened backs which create two hand-warmer pockets. They’re fleeced lined, too, and are great for keeping your hands out from the chill. There’s also one large inner zipped pocket, so if you’ve got valuables or items you want to keep really safe then there’s still an option. 

Wearing – what is it like?

The Shelter has a much softer exterior finish than other jackets of a similar design that we’ve tried. We’d reckon that it wouldn’t stand up very well to thorns prickles, so if you’re venturing into the woods then this might not be the best option. However, this softer finish does mean that it feels quite luxurious to wear and it’s relatively light overall as well. 

Once zipped up the collar does come nice and high to help keep draughts out while the well-sized hood provides some good coverage too. As with other jackets of this type the Shelter is only really designed to keep you dry in the lightest of showers, whereas full downpours will likely see you getting wet. That’s no different to the rest of the segment, however, so you can’t fault the Shelter for this. 

We’re big fans of the pocket designs on this jacket, though. Those square front pockets offer up loads of space and the integrated hand-warmer pockets behind them are fleece-lined so they’re uber-comfortable when things get really chilly.

The main pockets secure with a popper, too, so you don’t need to worry about anything accidentally falling out. There’s also an inner pocket, which we’ve found ideal for more valuable items such as your phone or cash. 

The only thing we have found is that in a Large the arms do end up a little longer than with other similar jackets, so it’s worth trying yours on to make sure you’re happy with the fit. They’re certainly not overly-long, but they just carry a little further than we’d expect. 

To finish

At its current on-sale price of £105, the Tretorn Shelter jacket represents excellent value-for-money. It’s super-warm, has well-sized pockets and feels robustly made in most areas, though, as mentioned, its softer exterior means that it’s not going to be suited to those more challenging trips outdoors. 

However, if you’re after a warm jacket that’ll handle a trip to the beach just as easily as a stroll around town, then the Shelter could provide an interesting and stylish option.