I’ve never been persuaded to buy hiking shoes before.
Mainly because I’ve never been a massive hiker in the past, with just the odd leisurely walk on my travels. But also? Because hiking shoes are usually pretty ugly, pal. I’m just saying.
But the thing is, I do more and more hiking on trips these days. In Australia, I did a long coastal walk in the Eastern suburbs and in Santorini we walked for a good few hours, looping round from Fira. And seeing as I was going back to Cinque Terre this month, with the infamous hiking routes between the towns, I was keen to get my hike on.
So I decided that this was the trip I was finally going to try out hiking shoes.
Enter the KEEN Terradora Ethos shoes. Here’s what I thought, kids.
Travel Gear Review: KEEN Terradora Ethos
I picked these bad boys in particular as they looked a little less bulky than others I’ve seen. A quality that I think makes them look more like chic techy trainers than the chunky walking boots you see on hiking trails. This was also a massive plus as I only took hand luggage to Italy, so the less space they took up the better!
So I took the plunge and went for the grey and turquoise colourway. (Of course, because can I even buy anything that isn’t turquoise or mint green?)
On our first full day in Cinque Terre, Josh and I wanted to hike from Levanto to Monterosso, so I popped them on. And wow, they fit SO well. I think this is the main difference between everyday trainers and footwear that’s been especially made for outdoor activities – they just fit way better.
Y’see the upper is made of stretchy fabric so it’s almost like a sock. And the fastening is a toggle rather than a bow so they just fit like a dream.
So fitted, much comfy.
Plus, they have little cut-out parts in the side to make them breathable in warmer climates. Pretty perfect for hiking in Italy, babes.
Now, I’m going to write a whole post about this hike we did tbh. Because it was much more difficult than I initially imagined. It involved steep inclines and climbing over rocks and all sorts, and I don’t really know what I would have done without these beauts! They had great grip and a thicker toe part, which really did the trick.
I just wish I had thought about my whole outfit the way I thought abut my footwear choice. I paired the KEEN Terradora Ethos hiking shoes with a stripy Primark dress and white tee…
I mean, it was nice and easy breezy in the sunshine, but gym gear would probs have been the better option… Did I mention Josh wore skinny jeans…?
Anyway, overall I was impressed and will definitely be using these babes in future trips. You can find them over here if you want more info, pal.
Do you wear hiking shoes on your travels? Are you tempted to give them a go?
Let me know in the comments below, or get in touch on Twitter or Instagram, buddy!
Total Blogger Transparency: This post was in collaboration with KEEN but all thougths and opinions expressed are my own. I wouldn’t play you like that, shorty.