Rockport truWALKzero Wing Tip

www.rockport.com
A provocative recent trend in men’s footwear is to combine a sole with the appearance and/or technology of an athletic shoe—often in an eye-popping color—with the upper of a traditional brogue, wingtip, or chukka. It represents a novel cross-breeding of old school tradition and high-tech materials that speaks to our culture’s fixations with cutting edge technology and artisanal craftsmanship, not to mention comfort and style. Rockport has followed suit with its truWALKzero line, which combines a super-flexible Adidas adiPRENE-cushioned EVA outsole with a thin, supple leather upper. To be fair, as a subsidiary of Adidas, Rockport has long used adiPRENE performance tech in their work and dress shoes, but the truWALKzero lets it out to play. And play it does. Surprisingly light, the truWALKzero is cool, fun, funky, well-constructed, and exceedingly comfortable. The adiPRENE sole is shock-absorbent and its flexibility—enhanced by a deeply furrowed tread—offers full range of movement. The upper features a padded and elasticated built-in sock liner that protects the instep from blisters and pressure from the laces. The overall impression is of wearing an ultra-lightweight, springy slipper, an ideal shoe for some fashion-forward urban stomping and traveling. And they look pretty good, too, especially in the chocolate brown and vibrant orange wingtip colorway. Be warned, the orange sole is so bright that it verges on quasi-fluorescent. The truWALKzero is also available in black and grey, but this palette smacks of playing it safe. And what’s the point in that?
-Adam Greenhalgh

$140

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Patagonia Naked Maui Moc

www.patagonia.com, 10 ounces
Patagonia is hardly a brand that needs to shock its customers—so we suspect the use of naked refers to the fact that your feet feel as close to au naturale as they can get when you’re wearing a pair of the Naked Maui Mocs. But unlike your bare feet, you also get the protection of light-but-spongy EVA outsoles and breathable hemp uppers. Our testers deemed these shoes as light and carefree as spring day—they are perfect for the beach, Starbucks, or even a quick session on the slackline. The loosely woven hemp upper proved surprisingly durable over four months of everyday wear. One tester even tossed hers into washing machine on the delicate cycle after they got a bit stinky and they emerged clean and fresh-smelling. (The hemp will shrink on hot settings, so make sure you only use cold water). The lightly padded poly lining on the inside Inside helps to wick sweat. While the shoes aren’t as breathable as flip flops, they don’t get overly sweaty in hot, humid weather. We like the roomy toe box and no-slip heel. One tip: Buy them ½ size smaller than your normal shoe size, especially if you’re planning on wearing them barefoot.
Test Notes by Page Townsend

$85

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Adidas Climacool Boat Lace Shoes

www.adidas.com, 7.1 ounces
Traditional boat shoes have always struck us as more politician trolling a wine-and-cheese event on some yacht on the Potomac than footwear befitting a hiker, camper, or sailor. And Adidas must agree, because they’ve subverted all the preppy leanings with their Climacool Boat Lace Shoes. At first glance, you notice the sport-centric three-stripe visual Adidas logo, supplemented with sly use of deep green and purple accents. But there’s a hefty amount of multisport tech at play in these 7.1-ounce kicks. Proprietary moisture-wicking fabrics make for easy, comfortable venting for the entire foot, the textile mesh uppers offer additional breathability, and synthetic overlays add the support you need. The soles are lined with rows of drain holes that are porous enough to expel water in a flash, yet residue stays out—save for full submersion, when water naturally flows into the top of the shoe. But this a problem very few pieces of aquatic footwear can solve. The rubber tongue has been molded to conform to the natural curve of your foot, and the water-friendly laces stay secure with a strong square knot. Best of all, the shoes boast exceptional grip in wet and slippery conditions, from a water-covered boat deck to slick rocks. We experienced some minor skin abrasion just below one ankle after wearing them, nonstop, for three very wet days, but when we added a pair of socks and used them as a camp shoe that night, all was well.

$70

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El Naturalista Campos Shoe

www.elnaturalista.com
Traveling is a lifestyle we embrace (even when it means heading to a city surrounded by mountains only to spend a weekend trapped in a fluorescent-lit convention center). As such, products that echo our love for world travel hit our wander-lustful sweet spot. El Naturalista’s shoes reflect the company’s passion for travel by letting the love of a place influence the design. The Campos are perfect example. The shoe’s sole have been crafted to look as if you’re flying high above the earth, gazing down on acres of farmland, the rocky topography of mountains, the serpentine twists of rivers—it’s a detail everyone should notice, even though it’s hidden until you kick your feet up and relax. But this shoe has more than excellent topography on its underside. The soft rubber sole is married to the rest of the shoe by jute, an all-natural, fully-waterproof hand-spun vegetable fiber that looks like coils of rope. The silky-soft uppers also boast the same hand-stitching and attention to detail, with micro-perforations to help breathability without reducing water resistance, and an off-tone patch of leather at the heel. The insole and microfiber lining sport silver microparticals—said to create a magnetic field that improves blood circulation and reduces inflammation. We’ll get back to you on that claim. But we do know that the silver ions enhance the evaporation process, improving moisture management inside the shoe. The microfiber absorbs up to eight times its weight in moisture, which eliminates odors and prevents bacteria. The price is dear for your standard casual shoe—but the subdued-yet-stylish profile, and the Spanish company’s unabashed affection for all kinds of travel—have made these comfortable shoes one of our personal favorites.

$160

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Helly Hansen Odin Fastpack Jacket

shop.hellyhansen.com, 8.4 ounces
Unlike your offspring, you can play favorites when it comes to gear. But it’s also easy to get lost in all the different attributes that inspire that affection. The Odin Fastpack Jacket makes it easier for you by hitting a particular sweet spot: a go-to jacket when conditions carry some threat of rain but you still want to go as minimal as possible. At a feathery 8.4 ounces, it’s the lightest jacket in Helly Hansen’s line, with two wide zipper pockets that double as vents, thin Velcro closers on the sleeves, a chord at the hem, and an easy-to-adjust helmet-compatible hood. That’s it—and that’s all you need in a jacket that disappears into your pack until the weather takes a turn for the worse. The hood felt a bit loose when not worn over a helmet—we were able to adjust it to fit a bare head by pulling in the draw chords, but you may want to wear a visor or baseball hat underneath to add structure. The jacket’s thin fabric boasts HH’s proprietary waterproof/breathable treatment, which kept us dry in a moderate downpour, with only sweated out in really hot, humid conditions. Waterproof zips add to the coat’s moisture-repelling properties. The lightweight fabric won’t stand up to rigorous bush-whacking; those needing a more durable jacket (with the corresponding increase in weight) should look elsewhere.

$300

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