I had a pair of plain, black, minimalist Nike trainers for 20+ years, I absolutely loved them! I could dress them up or down and wore them with jeans or dresses, shorts or mini-skirts. They literally wore out, the soles became paper thin and began to let in dampness if I wore them on a rainy day. They’d reached the end of life.
I’d have loved to have been able to go out and buy the exact same pair again, but they stopped making them LONG, LONG ago. Instead of getting a new pair of trainers, I thought it better to get a pair of walking shoes that I could wear when taking the dog out in the often wet, often muddy, often stony hills and woods around here.
I didn’t know what to search for online; trail shoes, hiking shoes, approach shoes, walking shoes – it’s a minefield! Justin bought me the North Face shoes (#3 above) for Christmas – they’re amazing. The first time I wore them, it felt like the first time I wore a pair of Doc Marten’s; cushiony, lightweight and really comfortable. I’d really recommend them.
- Voyage waterproof mens shoes: £34.99, Mountain Warehouse
The Voyage Waterproof Shoes are ideal for travelling and walking in the wet weather. A suede upper with an IsoDry membrane, flexible rubber outsole and comfortable EVA midsole for cushioning and a long-lasting finish.
• IsoDry membrane – allows your feet to breathe and keeps them dry
• EVA midsole – provides extra cushioning and comfort
• Suede & mesh upper – durable and breathable, a lighter style of footwear for hiking and walking
• Mesh lining – improves breathability to help keep your feet fresh, when you’re out and about
• Rubber outsole – flexible, lightweight and long lasting
• Heel & toe bumpers – added rubber reinforcement at heel and toe, for extra protection and make your footwear last longer - Terrex Agravic TR trail running shoes: £70.00, Adidas
The abrasion-resistant overlays and high-traction outsole allow you to move swiftly between smooth ground and rough, rocky terrain. Lightweight EVA cushioning ups the comfort levels, and the open mesh upper helps circulate airflow.
- Ultra Fastpack IV FUTURELIGHT™ shoes: £108.00, The North Face
Now in their fourth iteration, the Ultra Fastpack Shoes just keep getting better. This mark IV version features a breathable-waterpoof FUTURELIGHT™ membrane. Springy, OrthoLite® X35™ Hybrid™ footbeds are cushioning, but also responsive and along with the FastFoam™ midsoles maximise energy return for a more efficient trek. The Ultra Fastpacks are engineered specifically for moving quickly over tough trails: the lug design is optimised for undulating, rocky terrain; the Vibram® Megagrip™ does exactly what the name suggests – grips on all surfaces, both wet and muddy and dry and loose – and the protective toe caps and heel overlays help prevent stubbed toes and bruised heels. If you don’t to be weighed down by overly robust and ridged hiking shoes, then the Ultra Fastpacks are for you.
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