TAKE A HIKE
Utility chic is going from strength-to-strength, with the rise of hiking boots says Samantha Murray Greenway.
My friend looked nonplussed when I told her my hiking boots weren’t brand new. I admit the grey and black errell boots that I pulled on for a squally afternoon walk lookedb o-fresh. I bought them a year ago, but the truth is they haven’t seen much off-road activity. espite my best intentions, they’ve not yet tramped rthur’s ass or scaled ongariro.
uttheyh ave done a stella rob of keeping my feet dry and comfortable while walking the dog daily on the mean streets of uckland.
here was a time when hiking boots would not have been on my kit list for an urban stroll, but with utility chic going from strength-to-strength we’ve had the work boot, we’ve had the army boot , hiking boots are now a viable, all-day wearable, option. n the hloe catwalk colourful hiking boots and thick, tonal, rolled-down socks were put with slinky knit skirts and cosy cinched wool coats.
erhaps the ultimate blend of high fashion and practicality is
ucci’s collaboration with outdoor specialists he orth ace. hey make everything a ucci-crazed fashionista might want on a hike, from logo-ed tents to oversized, down-filled ackets in zingy woodland-inspired prints and neat little rucksacks everything bar the crampons. ut it’s their hiking boots that stand out atrippymelangeof uccimonogramcanvas and orange leather, complete with metal eyelets and red striped laces. he trend is in full swing. ot that everyone will be laying down
0 3 0 to hike in ucci-style footwear. or will everyone want to splurge 0on immy hoo’sdelu eshearlingpadded version. ut the best thing about utility-inspired fashion is that you can find the authentic style that inspired the designer look at a less gasp-inducing price. eather versions might be the purist’s favourite. ook at the anner boot it’s a classic snub-nosed tan leather boot with cherry red laces. It will do the hard yards while offering classic hiking boot looks that have launched a raft of imitations. merican-made, I’d use them as style inspiration because I’m too wary to shop online for something that has to fit really well in several places. ut then I was spoilt. I bought my errells from hoe linic, the ew ealand sports shoe specialist with shops throughout the country. hey are so sure of their in-person service that they offer a 30-day money back guarantee. ear them out and about and if you aren’t happy, you can swap them for something else. or a more tech spin on the classic roundtoe look, see the boz ridger boots at athmandu, 3 0. tyle wise the colour is winning. ven if you had no use for fashion, that red leather might put a smile on your face when you pull them on.
lenty of 0s fans have zeroed in on the trainer hiking boot combo. ypically, they come in practical, muddy tones, but you can always take inspiration from ucci and in ect your own bit of colour with bright laces. eva’s randview boots,
330, are a technical hiking boot that have plenty of clever details which make for ultra-lightweight comfort. imberland’s aeburn arrison
id iker, 300, is lined with a recycled plastic blend to keep feet dry and has what they describe as one of their stickiest tractions yet on the sole.
inally, I’m going to add in llbirds’ rail unners, 0. hey’re not hiking boots, they’re more like super-grippy, supportive trainers. ut they are beautifully groovy and tick all the right techy looking, geek-chic bo es, especially the pair with yellow soles and khaki and grey uppers.
hey’re certainly hardy enough for walking the dog, and plenty more besides.