Best Walking Shoes of the Year

The Merrell Moab

This year has seen some great new arrivals, with all of the major brands tweaking the technology to give an even better performance on the path less trodden. However as good as the advances are, do they beat the all out classic boots which have served us so well for the past years? Here’s a selection of some of our favourites from each of the brands you know and love.

Brasher
When you look at the Brasher collection, it’s hard to see past the Brasher Hillmaster GTX, which is an exceptional walking shoe, which gets improved year on year. It’s Britain’s best selling walking and hiking boot for a reason. It is quite simply awesome for comfort, protection, waterproofing, and support, and it will keep on going long after other brands have seen their last days.

Merrell
It’s a tough choice to decide between the Chameleon, Intercept, and Moab, so instead we will pick the gorgeous Merrell Refuge range. For comfort and versatility it is first rate, with an athletic insole to help keep up the pace on the trail and low level hiking. Perfect for around town and everyday wear, it has the style to get a great deal of wear. However for women, there is the QForm fit of the Merrell Siren which offers exceptional comfort tailored for female feet. New colours and styles have been added, and it’s certainly one of the most attractive walking shoes on the market.

Berghaus
Ok, so it’s a boot not a shoe, but the Berghaus Explorer Trek GTX takes some beating. For fell walking it’s the perfect three season boot, with a design to maximise comfort when taking on hills, dales and mountains. Gore-Tex makes it waterproof and ideal for all weather conditions and a Comfort fibre insole and PU midsole keep it lightweight, supportive and comfortable, with extraordinary grip on grass and mud thanks to the hard wearing outsole.

Hi-Tec
The lightweight shoe and boot company Hi-Tec is constantly improving the range, but our pick of the bunch is the V-Lite Fasthike II. Designed for hiking at speed, it has a sleeker and more athletic profile than most walking shoes, with a V-Lite design making it one of the most lightweight. Attractive, highly breathable and waterproof, for fast hiking it’s a sure fire winner.

The North Face
The North Face Syncline GTX is a great lightweight walking mid-boot, offering great support and comfort, with a design robust enough to cope with a fully laden pack. Shock absorption is first rate with the Heel Cradle insert, support is maintained by a Nylon mid-foot shank, and a full length TPU shank plate has been added for good measure. Northotic insoles keep the feet in comfort, with a waterproof Gore-Tex lining and a rugged tread to take on all terrain in comfort.

Be sure to check out these great walking shoes and boots and many more at Purekit.