I never used to appreciate a good pair of walking shoes. I spend a lot of time outside but used to wander around in my Converse All-Star high tops — classic shoes, but they’re not designed for long walks. This changed when my partner bought me a pair of Helly Hansen boots as a present.
I’m hypermobile — which means I have flexible joints, especially my knees — and she was concerned that my flat-soled shoes weren’t giving the support I needed. But I’d always stayed clear of hiking boots as I didn’t think they’d be as versatile.
Fortunately, the Helly Hansen Coastal Hiker boots proved me wrong. I thought I’d only wear them on longer walks at the weekend, but found myself choosing them over sneakers and other fashion shoes, eventually walking over 500 miles in them. Here’s what I learned.
They’re extremely comfortable
I previously wore Converse high tops as I could loop the laces around my ankle for improved support, but I think I was fooling myself as the laces would frequently slip down leaving my ankle exposed. I had no such issues with the Helly Hansen Coastal Hiker boots.
There’s a padded collar at the top of each shoe to minimize rubbing. Plus, when you do the laces tight, the padding prevents the shoe from digging in. So, even when I wore them for hours at a time, covering many miles, I didn’t feel any discomfort or pain.
This was true of the cushioned midsole, too, which softened the impact of my steps. And, for the first couple of hundred miles, the outsole was grippy and supportive on most surfaces and conditions but gradually wore away, so now I need to take more care on slippery slopes.
I wish I’d taken better care of the leather
Leather is an animal-derived material and it takes a lot of work to make it durable enough for walking shoes. But I wore the boots throughout summer and winter, the leather was exposed to the extremes of U.K. temperatures, dusty conditions, and heavy rain.
However, I’m not usually one to look at care instructions for my clothes or footwear. But if I had, then I’d have found that Helly Hansen recommends regular leather treatments using Grangers Leather Conditioner or Grangers Waterproofing Wax.
As I didn’t follow this advice, the leather on my boots became worn over time. The color faded slightly and the shoes lost some of their waterproofing, so that even walking through damp or dewy grass would make my feet wet.
They’re extremely versatile
I live in a big city and find it easier to walk to most places rather than drive, get the bus, or hop on the subway. So my shoes need to deal with city sidewalks, but still look good when I reach my destination, whether that’s the office or a meet-up with friends.
The Coastal Hiker are functional enough to get through these fast-paced walks, but also stylish enough to double up as formal shoes (so long as I keep them clean!). But I also put them to the test during long, often muddy dog walks in the park, and they held up well there too.
Of course, you can’t prevent your shoes from getting dirty, but the Helly Hansen boots were easy to clean after a messy walk. And because the outsole doesn’t have deep groves, you don’t end up dragging around bit clumps of mud.
They’re too hot for the summer
In the warmer weather, I’d still wear the Coastal Hiker boots because they were so comfortable. But, much like my other favorite walking boots — the Hunter Insulated Explorer — the padding, cushioning, and closed design means that your feet get pretty hot.
If you pick up a pair of running shoes, these have breathable materials to help keep your feet cool as you exercise, but waterproof boots like these are specifically designed to protect your feet from the elements, so there’s not a lot you can do about it.
So, during the summer, I tend to switch to the HOKA Transport instead. These are more fashionable sneakers designed for walking around the city. They’re cooler, but definitely not waterproof, so they’re an ideal option for dry, warm days when you want to head outside.
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