Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

In Person: Tretorn® for J.Crew Nylite canvas sneakers

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Tretorn® for J.Crew Nylite canvas sneakers – $65.00

The above grey, a khaki, and a red are all available in non-waxed canvas.  Navy comes in waxed.

They’re different.  But are they different enough to be worth the extra $15 when compared to an on sale $50 pair of Jack Purcells?  Make that more like an extra $25 if you tack on shipping?  Hang on for that answer…

With these, you lose the rubber toe cap that’s common with classic American style sneakers like Cons and PF Flyers.  But unlike a standard laced plimsoll (think vans) these don’t look wimpy.  That extra strip of canvas that’s stitched over the toe like a pair of bonnet stripes makes a big difference when it comes to the looks.  The bright white soles are a nice contrast against the grey canvas.  Nice texture around the outer edges too.  Reminds you of the PF Flyers Center Lo.

The canvas is a standard thickness, and they’re not flimsy or anything, but these certainly live up to the “lite” in Nylite.  The construction feels decent, but there’s not a lot of weight to them.  The Brand is Sweedish but they’re made in China.

The color options, especially the grey, are dead on.  Grey sneakers go with almost everything, and they’ll come in handy in the summer when most of us are in lighter shorts and medium to dark polos.  The description claims that Tretorn designed these to be real breathable.  If that’s the case, they should help prevent swamp foot when summer rolls around and we all shed our socks.

Eyelets are thick and look great with the rawhide laces.  They also come with a standard pair of laces if the rawhide just isn’t your thing.  One thing about the rawhide… it seems to shed a bit when you lace them up.  No big deal though.  Comfortable straight out of the odd smart box, which claims it takes 65% less paper to make.

J. Crew’s “in good company” collaborations can sometimes get a little silly.  But to get back to the question about whether or not these are worth an extra $25, I think the answer is yes.

Would you pay the extra $25?  Or would you just throw some rawhide laces on your Chuck Taylors and call it good?

Comments

  1. Funny. Before I read that last sentence I was thinking, “Damn, I’m just gonna throw some rawhide laces in my Chucks…” 

  5. Those are cool. I realized the other day that every guy in the room had on a pair of All-stars. Boring. I think I’m good in the sneaker department but definitely something I would go for. 

  6. I have a pair of the navy waxed from last year. My only problem is the height at the ankle. It’s so short my feet keep feeling like they’re going to pop out. I tried putting in an Aldo terrycloth liner, but that small amount in the shoe put my foot high enough that my heel was coming out as I walk.
    Has anyone else ran into this?

  7. I hate logos/embellishments. Even Nike’s or a man on a horse…. any logo

    This is a deal breaker with that weird swoop-like design

  8. I’m in the anti-logo camp as well. 

    Not a fan of these sneakers or of sneakers in general. I prefer boots for my casual footwear. I live in upstate NY and never wear shorts so boots work well for me. 

  10. I got my pair in the mail yesterday, they’re great. I can’t wait until the weather warms up so I can wear them.

  11. Anyone else remember Tretorn being a big brand for your older sister in the ’80s?  Anyway, I like them a lot.  Casual but grown up.