When you’re setting out for a hike, it’s very important that you have the sturdiest footwear possible. Having your feet supported as you trek up a hill, splash through puddles, or skitter down switchbacks makes the great outdoors even greater! So, when I was granted the opportunity to test out Ahnu Balboa sneakers, I couldn’t wait to trample down all kinds of terrain.
Ahnu advertises the Balboa shoes as being waterproof. This feature is a significant boon for a Washingtonian like me. I love it when my feet stay dry. Perhaps the Balboas can enable me to become the driest rain walker in the Pacific Northwest! In this review, I will discuss many of the Balboa’s features and how well they performed on 3 different hikes on 3 different days in 3 different weather conditions.
Day 1: Garfield Park—Partly Cloudy
As far as urban hikes are concerned, Tacoma’s Garfield Park offers a vast array of terrain from steep-inclined nature trails to flat ground. For the sake of this experiment, I took the Balboa sneakers up and down the rugged hills. I noticed right away that my feet felt completely snug and secure. Walking up the hills, I felt the soles of the shoes grip to the ground well and didn’t slip at all. Even though the Ahnu Balboas are sneakers, the traction was very impressive—almost rivaling the traction of hiking boots. Throughout my Garfield Park experiment, my feet remained comfortable thanks in part to the EVA footbeds (or insoles). The EVA footbeds are comprised of polyethylene foam and they provided terrific cushiony support.
Day 2: Dash Point State Park—Light Rain
With rain coming down on Dash Point Park, the testing ground for walking through puddles and mud was born. By the time I took the Balboas down the walking trails, the ground was already very moist. I effortlessly walked through mud and water and there was no hint of water getting through to my socks. By the time I reached the beach, I noted that my feet were still dry. The exterior of the shoes weren’t nearly as pretty as they were before the experiment, but the waterproofing feature worked exceedingly well. I pondered taking it one step further by stepping into the Puget Sound, but I decided to quit while I was ahead.
Day 3: Seattle’s Waterfront—Sunny
Who could resist taking in Seattle’s waterfront on a beautiful day? After cleaning up the Balboas from the previous experiment, I walked up and down Seattle’s waterfront from the Seattle Great Wheel to Pike Place Market (and many other places in between). With a walk like this, there are many sets of stairs to ascend and hundreds of people to manure around. After checking out the market, I proceeded on foot to Seattle Center. The Balboas continued to keep my weary feet supported. After arriving at the Seattle Center, I concluded that Ahnu knows how to make awesome kicks for many kinds of weather.
The good:
- Great footwear for walking long distances
- Comfortable
- Waterproof
- Stylish
- Perfect for working outdoors
- Nice traction
The bad:
- Nothing for this review
Ahnu Balboa sneakers are available on Amazon.
All photos by Anthony Frohlich