Boots, shoes, sandals…
I was asked yesterday what I wear when walking throughout the seasons; come snow, ice, rain, blazing sunshine and it got me to thinking.
With a background in fashion design I have to admit that how the boot looks is pretty high up on my agenda, but then comfort and being fit for purpose always ends up taking precedent. I have to admit I do have a lot of footwear, bordering on an obsession. From heels to hikers, trainers to flip flops, but when it comes to being out on the hills I always favour function over fashion (although how they look is always lurking at the back of mind - I can’t help curating an outfit, I’ve been a designer since I was 15!).
…what do I actually own and wear?
Autumn/Winter
My failsafe boots for mountains and long hill days are always the Meindl Bhutan MFS. Worn with my Fab gaiters in proper soggy terrain they are like warm, dry slippers. For more extreme winter conditions that require crampons, or more rigid support, my La Sportiva Trango Tower fit my feet like a dream - and I tried a couple of brands before I got this right. A lucky friend got my cast offs…they were brand new - lucky Emily!
All Year Round
For boots that see me through the whole year in general walking terrain my trusty Merrell Moab GTX are fab, they are so comfortable and able to tackle pretty much anything lower lying fells throw at them. I have also worn them on drier winter days when I want to keep light. My other failsafe boots which I adore are my La Sportiva TX5 Mid GTX. They are waterproof, comfortable, I can adjust the lacing so they feel secure around my ankle when I need it or lower the lacing and they feel like trail shoes. So versatile.
Warmer Weather
I tend to wear Trail Running shoes most of the time when walking now and my latest pair are the Merrell MTL Skyfire Undyed, not only are they incredibly comfortable and light but they have great grip in dry conditions and they are super environmentally friendly. Oh and they look UBER cool. Again though, as always, I turn to La Sportiva for my everyday outdoor shoes, both the TX2 and the TX4 are just a joy to wear and look fabulous too throughout the seasons. These are what I wear to work and they just keep keeping on.
Sandals
…again I have tried a lot, but last year Merrell sent me their Womens Terran Lattice II and I fell head over heels in love, literally lived in them and they also saw me through some challenging coastal walks last summer. They are so hardwearing and look as good now as they did when they came out the box. The other sandals I love are Teva, of course they are very ‘on trend’ at the moment but please note I have been wearing these since I was a kid!
So, looking at my personal outdoor shoe collection they are dominated by two brands; Merrell and La Sportiva. It has taken me years and years of wearing pretty much every brand out there to find what works for me, my feet, my gait, my style of walking and I can now confidently wear either of these brands out of the box.
I cannot however stress enough how incredibly important it is for you to try on AS MANY pairs of boots and shoes as possible. Wear them for a long time either around the house or in the shop (when they open), wear them with a variety of socks, let your feet warm up in them as feet get bigger the warmer they are. If someone tells you that the boots will need ‘walking in’ then you need to walk away and go somewhere else. A good, well fitted pair of boots or shoes should ‘feel right’. You know when you try on a pair of jeans and you just kinda sigh into them and smile? That feeling.
*Please note that I am gifted Merrell Footwear but my opinions are my own and not lead by any financial incentive. All other brands I have bought myself.