There’s an old adage that says in order to truly understand a person, you must first walk a mile in their shoes. As it turns out, walking a mile in any shoes (your own or otherwise) can do real wonders for your mind, body and soul – but if those shoes aren’t quite right, it can end up being a less-than-pleasant experience.
Whether you’re doing a post-work lap around the park to get your step count up or joining a walking community for a weekend jaunt, selecting the right footwear for any sun-drenched stroll can sometimes feel as challenging as the walk itself – but it doesn’t have to be. Case in point: the ECCO Offroad hiking sandal.
Serving up a level of superior quality that the Danish brand has become known for, the three-strap sandal boasts a chunky, technical design that plays into the ongoing trends for gorpcore and retro-inspired technical shoes. Accidentally, ECCO has leaned into the anti-pretty aesthetic that we’re all currently obsessed with – away from the trail, you can picture these looking chic with a miniskirt or a pair of capri pants.
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It’s not all about aesthetics, of course – the ECCO Offroad also has strong pragmatic appeal. The Danish brand has applied dynamic innovations such as its FLUIDFORM™ Direct Comfort Technology, which seals the upper and sole for a fit that follows the natural curve of your foot for incredible support and comfort. Walking on air? Out. Walking on liquid? So in.
Offroad sandal in multicolour
Offroad sandal in Green
Offroad Roam sandal in Black
Offroad sandal in Red
The sole itself is made of hard-wearing rubber that’s lightweight enough to keep a spring in your step on longer walks. After all, comfort and durability are crucial for both serious walking and more casual pavement-stomping. To get a true sense of how they hold up for longer jaunts, we turned to the expertise of off-road aficionados from the Athene Club, a sports community built around sisterhood and making hiking more accessible.
ECCO teamed up with Athene for a walk in the British countryside. All strapped up in their ECCO Offroads, members spent a day ascending and descending the paths of Balcombe and Ardingly reservoir in Sussex, traversing everything from soft grassy terrains and rocky paths to shallow pools of water. Their verdict? A universal stamp of approval, with members noting the ‘super comfy’ fit (the result of a moulded EVA footbed and neoprene lining) as a particular standout feature.
And if you’re wondering how a group of more than a dozen women managed to style the same sandals on the same walk without twinning seven times over, the answer is with ease. The Offroads come in an impressive range of colourways, and go with everything from Nineties athleisure to ultra-modern, techy designs. In our day-to-day, we’d also slip on a pair with white socks and a bubble-hem skirt. Sporty, easy to wear and surprisingly chic, they are a strong contender for this summer’s It shoe.
Explore the full ECCO Offroad collection now
