Alice + Whittles The Weekend Boot Review
Recently I was able to visit the beautiful Peak District and for the first time go for a number of hikes. I was told that I absolutely need hiking boots if I wanted to manage (one of my friends leads a very active lifestyle and had previous experience with hiking). Now, about a year ago I took a pledge to not buy new clothes from Fashion Revolution. I promised myself that I would only buy new clothes if I really needed them and then make sure that they are second hand or made sustainably and ethically. For me, that includes the piece to be environmentally friendly, made sustainably and with sustainable materials, be vegan and cruelty-free as well as free from sweatshop labour. I was pretty sure that I won’t be able to find hiking boots that match the criteria but then I found Alice + Whittles The Weekend Boot. On their website, the brand says that they are “Socially + environmentally progressive” with “over 95% of the materials [used] are natural + recycled. [They’re] working to get that to 100%.”. Additionally, they are 100% vegan! You can read about their sustainable and ethical approach, for both the people and the planet, here. I picked The Weekend Boot in sage but I was very much tempted by their classic black boot and the limited edition Allegra boot. After 3 long hikes, including Curbar Edge and a 5-hour hike with 5 peaks starting at Mam Tor, I must say that these hiking boots are very comfortable and perform well on a variety of terrains. They are waterproof (I stepped in many muddy puddles) and clean extremely well. They are also very easy on the eye for hiking boots. I ended up wearing them every day as they just go well with my outfits. I think it’s a good investment, a £154.00 investment, but still a worthy one. For me, I don’t really buy clothing so spending a lump of money on sustainable, quality shoes that will last me years is justifiable spending. I save a bit of money by not spending much on clothing throughout the year. For others, you might prefer second-hand hiking boots or something cheaper. If it keeps your feet free of blisters can’t complain!