{"id":45072,"date":"2019-03-15T15:11:13","date_gmt":"2019-03-15T22:11:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=45072"},"modified":"2020-05-22T12:44:01","modified_gmt":"2020-05-22T19:44:01","slug":"trail-to-town-boots-will-take-you-almost-anywhere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/trail-to-town-boots-will-take-you-almost-anywhere","title":{"rendered":"These Trail-to-Town Boots Will Take You (Almost) Anywhere"},"content":{"rendered":"

Choosing hiking boots, first and foremost, should be about comfort\u2014but what about practicality? If you\u2019re a do-it-all-in-a-day adventurer, you might be looking for a unicorn of a boot that\u2019s equally at home on concrete and dirt. Luckily, boots like these have entered the gear market. While there are still plenty of options for utilitarian hiking gear, recent trends in outdoor apparel are melding technical capabilities with street appeal. We call this the trail-to-town trend, and it\u2019s sweeping across many product categories.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBrands are responding to an evolving consumer and their approach to outdoor recreation,\u201d says Tad Summersett, a category merchandising manager at REI who specializes in footwear. \u201cMany categories are seeing development of product that delivers versatility.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

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This means you can have your cake and eat it too: Trail-to-town boots offer stability on the trail, durability for the long haul, and style for the before-and-after pit stops.<\/span><\/p>\n

This trend has been developing for a while now, says Summersett, but this spring is a tipping point. Brands like Lowa and Keen have designed technical hiking shoes that are streamlined enough for town (or the office, if you\u2019re lucky enough to work in a casual environment). Even if you don\u2019t want to look like you\u2019re headed to the trail on a daily basis, boots like these transition easily from a day hike to nearly any other plans your weekend holds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some of our favorite trail-to-town boots and how to style them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vintage-Modern Trail-to-Town Hiking Boots<\/b><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re a fan of the vintage-inspired outdoor gear movement that\u2019s giving everything from fleeces to canvas bags a makeover to the tune of 1970-something, consider investing in some vintage-inspired trail-to-town hiking boots. Today, many boots feature heritage styling but come equipped with all of the modern features you\u2019d expect from quality hikers, like weatherproof uppers and grippy outsoles. Technical trail-to-town boots with a vintage touch like the Timberland Mt. Maddsen, or old-school mountaineering, retro-style kicks like the Merrell Ontario are some of the best options you\u2019ll find.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you plan on hiking more technical trails, look for boots packed with features like waterproof leather uppers, rock plates and sticky outsoles. Rock these if your weekend schedule contains brewery tours, outdoor brunches, and spontaneous wet-weather hikes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Merrell Ontario boots feature Vibram soles for good grip.<\/p><\/div>\n

Consider pairing the boots with slim-fitting cargo hiking pants and your favorite fleece or flannel for a mountain-ready outfit. Throw on clean jeans and a sweater when you get back to the car. These boots are often available in neutrals, so don\u2019t be afraid to roll up your pants and flash some fun socks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Women\u2019s boots we love:\u00a0<\/b>Merrell Ontario<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> Timberland Mt. Maddsen<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Men\u2019s boots we love:\u00a0<\/b>Merrell Ontario<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> Timberland Mt. Maddsen<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Pair them with:<\/b><\/p>\n