When it comes to choosing the right footwear for all of your adventure travel needs, doing a bit of research is vital to finding your perfect fit. But who has time for that? Luckily we've done all the hard work for you and put together a list of our favourites for the year.
And if you're feeling even more adventurous, check out some of the best walking and hiking boots for 2018, for when you need a little more protection out on the trails.
Arc’teryx Acrux SL Leather Approach | £135
BEST FOR: Versatility for travel in a deceptively simple package.
The Acrux SL Leather from Arc’teryx is heavy on simplicity; a seamless one-piece upper, a bespoke Vibram sole, and minimal toe and heel protection allow clean lines to belie some neat features within.
Simplicity is a hard thing to get right, but Arc’teryx make it their forte. The smart looking leather upper conceals what they call their ‘Adaptive Fit Lite’ liner – a sock-like stretchy inner that is super-comfy out of the box. It also replaces the tongue, saving weight and improving comfort by keeping everything where it should be and boosting breathability. Even in the hottest climates (we tested these in the desert) the shoe is a lightweight, surprisingly airy, joy to wear. This is enhanced by balance in the sole; often approach shoes – aimed at climbers - are too stiff for general use. It’s a very subjective area, but we think Arc’teryx have nailed it here – stiff enough to be supportive on moderately techy hikes, but soft enough to be comfortable all day.
The sole unit helps in this too. The flat-ish lug profile of most approach shoes is helped out with a nicely curved heel to promote a natural gait, and there is good shock absorption in the EVA midsole. Further forward the standard ‘climbing zone’ rubber is ideal on rock, but does lose a little grip on steep softer ground.
VERDICT: 10/10
Overall this is an incredibly balanced shoe, smart simplicity perfected and therefore good value.
Berghaus FT18 GTX Trail | £120
BEST FOR: Those who like to get their money’s worth out of a shoe.
Everything about the FT18 GTX is streamlined and built for purpose, from the minimalist sole to the lacing system and heat sealed upper. At 400g per shoe in a UK 10.5 these easily fall into the lightweight category. That's not to say that the FT18 GTX' don't do comfort too though. The Ortholite insoles provide ample padding for most, and the mid-sole offers a good balance between comfort, energy return and trail feel. The heat sealed upper eliminates seams which can cause painful rubbing, this is clearly of benefit in footwear that's designed for eating up the miles and we've had no problems at all so far in this regard.
Although there isn't a massive amount of cushioning around the ankle and tongue the upper material compensates for this by being lithe and flexible, effectively doing away with the need for plump padding. The thin layer of upper material is flexible but tough, and the solid heel cup holds your foot perfectly in place with the help of the simple but effective lacing system. The sole unit has a stiff shank along 2/3rds of its length, this stops the sole from twisting too much on uneven ground, the forefoot still has plenty of flex in it though. The Vibram Optistud sole has been tested in a range of conditions from wet grass to mud and slippery rocks and has performed as you would expect, providing grip in all but the worst conditions and loosest of ground.
The FT18 GTX are also a great shoe for travelling. Looks are subjective but we love them. Once they've been given a good clean up they can easily pass as work, casual or general travelling wear, with an upmarket trainer look to them.
VERDICT: 9/10
Overall a great option for the avid hiker and for those who like a bit of style in their street footwear.
Merrell Chameleon 7 | £145
BEST FOR: The general outdoor user who likes to hike low-level trails.
There are a lot of interesting design inclusions in the Chameleon 7, from the Flexplate to the moulded TPU heel counter. The upper has good structure to it, this is bolstered by the moulded TPU heel counter that extends up to the top lacing eyelet, providing excellent ankle stability when you consider that this is a relatively lightweight shoe. Mesh inserts maximise breathability, the shoes on test have a gore-tex liner which knocks the heat and sweat levels up a notch, but this is a fair pay off if most of your walking is done in damp conditions. During the test period they breathed well enough for us, and thanks to the liner kept our feet dry through a particularly wet spring.
Rather than use a traditional shank to prevent the sole from twisting Merrell have gone for a ‘FlexPlate’. This is a great success and we’ve found the Chameleon 7 to be very stable underfoot without feeling like a dead weight. The Vibram TC5+ outsole has an interesting and unconventional lug pattern utilising oval shaped rubber ‘pods’ rather than the more usual shapes you might find on the underside of your shoe. This supposedly helps to reduce weight, in use we found them to work excellently across varied terrain.
The traditional lace closure system runs smoothly, and effectively cinches the shoe in, cradling your foot without too much bunching of material. The toe box allows a natural splay of the toes without succumbing to sloppiness.
VERDICT: 7/10
Good general use outdoor shoes, although we’re not sure that justifies the £145 price tag.
On Cloud | £120
BEST FOR: Active travellers looking for a quality packable shoe.
The On Cloud may be the world’s lightest fully cushioned running shoe but there’s no way we’d ever run in it. Whilst they may work brilliantly for some speedy road runners, they’re far too minimalist for this injury-prone long distance trail runner. Plus the funky looking Cloudtec soles have a really annoying tendency to pick up small stones which get stuck in the shoe only to be deposited later on inside the house.
Despite all this, we absolutely love this shoe. Crazy right? Well no, not really. Whilst they don’t work for us as a running shoe, where they are truly brilliant is as an active travel shoe.
At 198g, they’re uber lightweight so can easily be popped into a pack without making a significant impact on your load. We took them on a bikepacking trip around Scotland last year and they fitted easily into our rear saddle pack and we still had more than enough room to fit in a complete change of clothes and a small bag of toiletries.
What’s even better is that when it comes to use, the On Clouds are bloody good for your feet. Unlike similarly lightweight travel-oriented shoes like Crocs, the On Clouds are designed to run marathons so it goes without saying that they offer excellent support and structure throughout the shoe.
If you only ever use them as pair of fancy slippers then the £90 price tag might prove prohibitive but take them on your travels to wear as an everyday shoe or an occasional running shoe for short distances and you’ll get a truly decent return on your investment. A must-have shoe for active folks on the move.
VERDICT: 9/10
Take them on your travels to wear as an everyday walking shoe or an occasional running shoe.
VivoBarefoot Primus Trek | £140
BEST FOR: For re-connecting with the ground we love to walk on.
Vivo are one of the pioneers of the barefoot movement – radically redesigning footwear to promote the natural movement of the foot – and the Primus Trek Leather is their flagship model for hikers. Features include a 3mm lug pattern for off-road traction, a neoprene inner sock and a thermal insole for winter-proofing.
These features in particular are testament to the design ethos of Vivo, and are aspects which protect from the elements without compromising the connection to nature which is after all one of the selling points of barefoot shoes. The sole lugs do inspire confidence on rough ground while still allowing the foot to feel its way, and the thermal insole is removable for warmer weather use (which further increases the tactile effect).
The neoprene sock is simply superb. For anyone new to barefoot shoes, the fit of the Primus Trek might be unnerving; splayed toes are a feature of natural movement, so the cavernous forefoot in the Primus Trek feels like it won’t be able to hold the foot in place. The neoprene is the answer to that concern, and combined with the close fit around the ankle prevents the foot from sliding around on the footbed, while allowing huge freedom for the toes.
VERDICT: 9/10
For anyone new to barefoot walking the Primus Trek is a great place to start, especially over varied terrain.
Salomon X Ultra 3 | £100
BEST FOR: UK hillwalking in bad weather in any season.
The X Ultra’s are a seriously lightweight hiking shoe with a superbly comfortable fit and great support. The speed lace system works fantastically well in conjunction with the foot cradle, which extends right around the front of your toes and around the back of the foot. There's even distribution of pressure across the whole shoe making them the type of shoe that you fit and forget.
The sole unit gives just the right amount of 'trail feel' without undue and painful prodding by jagged rocks and protruding branches. The deep lugs work well for hiking in mud, on wet grass and on loose ground and don't get clogged up too easily. They aren't so proficient on smooth, wet rock, for that you'll need a much stickier rubber or a denser packing of lugs. Descent Control Technology is surprisingly effective on wet, slippery, steep descents. The general grip level and support of the X Ultra 3's is confidence inspiring.
VERDICT: 10/10
Overall the X Ultra 3 hiking shoes are a triumph of design and development, brilliant for all seasons.
Columbia ATS Trail LF92 | £90
BEST FOR: Our top pick for adventure travellers and multi-activity use.
Comfort is the name of the game here - the ATS Trail LF92 shoes have great cushioning from the EVA Techlite midsole. There’s good energy return, putting a spring in your step which helps reduce fatigue on long walks. The Omni-Grip sole has closely spaced, shallow lugs - good for cities, well-maintained paths and cycling, just don't be tempted to push them too hard on technical trails.
The OutDry waterproof membrane does a fantastic job of keeping your feet dry in downpours, and the lightweight construction contributes to an easy-going, comfortable wearing experience. The low-key casual looks work well for general use and travel, but some might find then just a little too trainer-like and not quite smart enough to be a one shoe quiver. But at £90 they’re excellent value and well worth the investment.
VERDICT: 9/10
Overall, we love the ATS Trail LF92 shoes, a great choice for adventure travel, trails and cycling.
