It's crazy to think that just a few years ago, a global pandemic had us doing almost everything at home, from work to even getting fitted up. Of course, some of our fashion choices were super comfort-centric during this time, resulting in higher-than-normal demand for cushy slip-ons like Crocs and Birkenstocks.
The world is now open again and folks are "back outside," as the internet might say. But what about those beloved clogs? What's next? Comfy classics like the Crocs clog and Birkenstock Boston are still around — and essential as ever — but we have seen those brands start to embark on more adventurous designs for its iconic shoes.
In case you missed it, hiking is super popular right now — or at least, dressing the part (you may have heard of this "gorpcore" fella). And in turn, we're seeing these longtime footwear faves transform into slip-ons fit for the many explorations awaiting in the great outdoors.
Let's make an example out of Birkenstock's Reykjavik clog for a minute. The Birkenstock clog is essentially a Boston packing a little extra protective chunk for outdoor excursions. Based on campaign photos, where models balance themselves on rocky terrain, this Birk looks more than ready to roam.
Crocs is another label that has fully embraced its trekking side, as evidenced by its All-Terrain models ready for, well, whatever terrain the shoes meet. From its outdoor-ready efforts, we've gotten neat hiking Crocs like the Hiker Xscape Clog, a stacked Classic Clog finished with seriously grippy bottoms.
There was also the Satisfy collaboration, where stylish tonal Crocs with functional pouches and bungee laces helped "change the perception of technical outerwear design," as the brands called it.
Crocs' Quick Trail shoe is arguably a main character of the label's collection right now. It was recently revived from the 2010s and brought back just in time for the gorpcore revolution.
After being reintroduced by Simone Rocha at fashion week, the Crocs Quick Trail was later released in some nice, understated colorways. Then, MARMOT CAPITAL came in with arguably the Quick Trail's biggest moment of the year: a super exclusive collab that many desire but few will actually get their hands on.
What makes these outdoorsy clogs particularly interesting is the marriage of these cool trail-ready designs with the iconic comfort of Crocs and Birkenstocks. This assures that the ease we've cherished all these years is not compromised even in taking in some fresh air during a scenic adventure (or even just casual flexing at home).
A cool-looking hiker that's also incredibly comfortable? Come on, hiking bros. You can't beat that.
