The resistance to heels we’ve seen over the past few years has given us a new wave of comfortable kicks, from canvas shoes to cult trainers. The boots department has done pretty well, too. From stomping biker boots to the space-age turbo soled championed by Prada and Ganni alike.
While our penchant for practical dressing (think fleeces and ugly sandals) was fired up by normcore labels like Patagonia, North Face and Birkenstocks, it was Grenson’s Nanette boots that had the world falling for hiking boots in early 2019. Featuring 9 eyelet fastenings, suede panelling and a tread sole, the boot has sold out multiple times, been worn by everyone from Laura Jackson to Jodie Comer and spawned a million copycats.
Sure, this city-meets-countryside hybrid may not be practical for a serious trek up Snowdonia, but they’re the perfect boot to see us through our daily lockdown walks this winter. The beauty of these babies is that they’ll go just as nicely with kick-flared denim and a quilted coat as they will a floral midi dress or leather mini skirt.
Our advice for sporting this season’s best hiking boots? Invest in some leather and suede protector to shield from rain and snow, don thick woollen socks to stop blisters, and swap in plain laces for a multi-colour walking boot pair.
Click through to find 14 pairs we’re digging this season.
