Sometimes you need a little more than a pair of tennis shoes to go on a day hike. Sure, you can hike in just about anything, including sandals, but after you do that a few times, you might start to think about something a little more technical. A pair of low hikers is always a good bet and The Elkridge II Suede by Ahnu is one pair that is worth considering.
I tested the Elkridge II Suede. If you prefer, they also come in an all leather version and I don’t think there are many technical differences between the two. I found these shoes to be comfortable. They fit true to size. The toe box is roomy. They don’t slip in the heel and they have enough arch support and stability that I would feel comfortable carrying a medium sized pack while wearing them. The only issue that I had with these shoes is that the top eyelet is kind of riveted into place and the backing plate pressed up against a bony part of my foot (kind of a drag, but probably just my bad luck).
I feel like low hikers come in two basic styles, beefed up sport shoes, or trimmed down hiking boots, and The Elkridge II is definitely more like a trimmed down boot. Solidly built for almost any terrain, they come with all of the features you would expect – fully gusseted tongue, rubber toe protector, slip resistant lugged sole, double density molded EVA*, metal eyelets for the shoe strings, and as a huge bonus… they are waterproof.
I’m always a little skeptical when a shoe says it is waterproof, but I tested these out one rainy day earlier this spring and was pleasantly surprised that my feet stayed completely dry. I even went so far as to wade into some water while wearing these and as long as I didn’t go too deep, I didn’t have any problems. If you plan on doing any hikes that have a built in water feature, or if you are prone to splashing through any available puddle, I would seriously consider these shoes.
The good
- Well made
- Comfortable
- Solid enough to use while carrying a pack
- Waterproof
The bad
- Back plate on top eyelet lands on top of a bone in my foot (just my luck)
Available from Ahnu for $145.00
*The more you know: EVA stands for Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, a thermoplastic commonly used for everything from exercise matts to midsoles. Resistant to various forms of corrosion, EVA also has good shock absorbing and cushioning properties.
Boring stuff: Ahnu provided me with a free review sample, this in no way influenced the opinions expressed in this review. Image via Ahnu website.