The Best Outdoor Shoes
When my parent’s moved to Texas, back in ’21, I went to visit for a few days. With some downtime I had to check out San Antonio since it was close. I found a Whole Foods to grab some groceries while there and spotted this store called Whole Earth Provisions. They’re like a hippy REI and have a few other locations across Texas! During that first time in I grabbed some sandals that I still wear, almost four years later.
Since I now live close to the SA/Austin area, I went back and checked out Whole Earth’s shoe rack, once again. My sandals were still holding up but with the way my knees, are going I was getting tired of constantly wearing chucks. So… I grabbed some Astral Techyaks! And let me tell you, they’re some of the most comfortable well rounded shoes I’ve ever worn! Here’s why!
1 Flat soles, Zero Drop and a Wide Toe Box!
I’ve always loved Chucks and Vans — not just for the style, but because I grew up powerlifting and needed flat, solid-soled shoes for better ground connection. I’d started wearing them casually to because I genuinely thought that they felt better to walk in. This is likely because their zero (or low) drop shoes, meaning there’s little difference in height between the heel and toe.
What sets Astral’s apart is their wide toe box! Plus, unlike converse and vans that can be rough on the knees and back during long hikes, the tech yaks come with a thin but cushioned insole, that provides just softness.
I still deadlift in my skate shoes, but these are much better for hiking and walking!
2. Eco-Friendly construction
The upper and laces of the Techyak are made from 100% rPET!
3. Grip
Astral uses two types of proprietary rubbers for their soles. G.ss, which offers improved grip in constantly wet environments such as riverbeds and boat docks, is featured in their water boots. These shoes feature G.15 rubber. Although not as grippy in wet environments as G.ss rubber, the g.15 soles offer higher durability and are optimal for trail environments!
4. Price
The price of vans has almost doubled since I was a teenager, to up around $75. The boots I have to wear in uniform ar also pretty pricey in the $200-300 range. These offer a good in between price, sitting between $110 and $150, while functioning as both everyday and outdoor shoes pretty well!