by Despite my best intentions, I’ve been a bit rubbish at doing my 10k steps for the past few months. That rain stopped playing, and when I was out walking my dog, Grenson, several times a day, albeit briefly, my trusty Blundstone boots (or more often, my full-length boots ) to negotiate my local path, which rebranded itself as a river for the months of February and March.
But now the weather has started to get brighter and the pavements are drying, I am delighted to welcome my comfortable summer shoes out of storage. I write about fashion, and I’ve even written a few books about flat shoes, so I like to think I know my onions (I know my onions?) when it comes to footwear. I don’t want sweaty trainer legs either, and I don’t favor tan ankle-sock lines, because we all know it’s hard to find a non-slip underfoot trainer sock.
And that gave me an idea: I thought it was about time I tested the best summer shoes for walking 10,000 steps by walking 10,000 steps in each pair. (I know, brand new.) I have a good idea of which shoes in my wardrobe are best for walking long distances while still keeping my style mojo intact – and I also know which pairs I wouldn’t dream of wearing in for hours – but I’ve never done a proper scientific experiment before. This counts as science, right?
Here are my results from walking (at least) 10k steps in five different pairs of my own shoes for five consecutive days, and where you can buy similar styles this season to move in comfort and style . And yes, I wore all these pairs the entire distance. I included the number of degrees as proof.
London moccasins returned
Total degrees: 10,316
Comfort: 4/5
Style: 4/5
Komo moccasins, £130, London was laid back
This is the only pair of shoes I’m testing that is actually new, but I had faith in them because I have a similar pair from the same brand in leopard that I’ve worn all winter (and last). There’s something about a crepe sole that adds an extra level of bouncy comfort, and a flash of neon feels perfect for the last days of spring.
As much as I love the look of a pair of ankle boots with shorts, I honestly won’t be wearing these when it’s really hot, but they are great for cooler days and evenings and can be a colorful sock take too. As with any suede shoes, I gave these a spritz with a protective spray before I wore them out
Worn with The Well Worn top, made from vintage fabric, £125, Last Well; Aligne denim skirt and straw bag (Hannah’s own)
Moshulu pink cork footbed sandals
Total degrees: 10,497
Comfort: 4/5
Style: 4/5
Rosette cork footwear sandals, £55.20, Moshulu
It’s 2024: surely everyone has a pair of cork toe sandals in their wardrobe. And with good reason, as they are extremely comfortable and only get better with age if you take good care of them. Cork is also an incredibly sustainable material – it can only be harvested once every nine years, and a cork tree can live for up to 300 years, sequestering carbon as it goes.
The reason why cork is so popular for making footbeds is that, after you’ve worn it a few times, it molds to the shape of your foot, giving you a unique shoe. It’s also anti-microbial, and it’s even shock absorbent – perfect for wearing while counting your steps. I like the slightly more delicate proportions of the straps and the light color of this particular pair, which I’ve had for about five years and sailed through the 10k test like a breeze.
Worn with ELV Denim upcycled flare jeans, £300, Elv Denim; The well-worn Luna blouse, made to order from deadstock fabric, £125, Last Well; Kit + Clogs Studio linen basecoat (by Hannah herself)
Grenson T-bar leather sandals
Total degrees: 15,298
Comfort: 4/5
Style: 5/5
Grenson Willa sandals in ginger nubuck, £195, Grenson
Even though I’m on the beach with Grenson here (yes, it’s named after the same shoe brand), I often think of these as my city sandals and wear them when I’m working in London during the summer . I feel a little more secure that back strap; any chance of someone slipping off and being lost down the gap during the Jubilee Line weather.
It’s a rare breed of leather sandal that’s comfortable from day one, but these were just that and have served me wonderfully for the past three summers. They are no longer available in white, but you can still find them in dark brown and ginger.
Worn with Rapanui striped organic cotton tank, £50, Rapanui clothing; Multicolored organic cotton blue shorts, £60, Colorful standard; Rhe Amore orange leather phone bag, £24, Rhea Amore
Northern Cobbler leather fisherman sandals
Total degrees: 12,358
Comfort: 4/5
Style: 5/5
Ida fisherman sandals, £195, Mafalda
I’ve worn these shoes for over ten years, and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have risked walking 10,000 steps in them when they were brand new. But now, in all their soft worn leather glory, they are one of my all time favorite pairs that I know I can trust and look great with everything. If you like this look and are investing in a new pair, I’d recommend starting with smaller areas, and always have a few emergency plasters handy, just in case (I prefer fabric plasters for a stronger hold hot feet).
It’s also handy that fisherman sandals look great with socks, so you could start with that extra layer to get your 10k in before you rub your bare feet against potentially stiff leather. It is worth the option to heat the inside of the shoes with a hair dryer and wear them with thick socks around the house a few times, but soften them.
Worn with Cape Cove cotton blouse, £99, Cape Cove; Beaumont Organic linen trousers in pecan, £170, Beaumont Organic
Keen Uneek woven sandals
Total degrees: 14,639
Comfort: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Keen Uneek sandals in khaki, £105, Schuh
I was anxious to include these shoes in this feature, as I wore them almost daily between June and October of last year. I know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, aesthetically, but we’ve been talking about Birkenstocks and look how far we’ve come. Comfort really matters, and these are unbeatable in that regard. I love the way they look though – they add a bit of a cool edge to any outfit.
Made using recycled materials and with a trainer-like sole, they can also cope with swimming in the sea (a must if you live on the Isle of Wight, as I do, and prone to misjudging the tide) and are me even put mine through the washing machine to refresh them. Not that they needed it, smell-wise: they come with built-in anti-odor technology.
Worn with a Roake Studio linen Elsie tee, from £60, and a Saffron skirt, from £105, both made to order in a range of fabrics Studio Roake
