When the Lake District calls, you don’t just answer. You pack smart, layer chic, and pray your footwear won’t betray you by hour three of a supposedly “leisurely” hike.
Enter the Vionic Walk Max Lace-Up Trainers. A mouthful, yes, but they walk the talk. Quite literally.
I’d been sent a pair ahead of a walking weekend. The kind of trip where weather is moody, paths are winding, and the group chat is filled with “easy routes” that turn out to be anything but. I’d usually reach for something more heritage. Think leather boots with a story. But there was something about the sleek, almost Scandinavian silhouette of the Walk Max that intrigued me. Clean lines, a charcoal colourway with that whisper of technical cool. They felt like city minimalism had finally learned to climb.
And climb they did.
From our first morning ascent in Ambleside to the sun-dappled scramble over Loughrygg fell, these trainers didn’t just keep up. They soared. With every incline, the Vionic difference revealed itself. That trademark podiatrist-designed footbed (not the sexiest phrase, but trust me) makes you feel like you’re floating just slightly above the terrain. Not in a disconnected way. More like your joints are finally on your side.
Traction? Surprisingly serious. I danced over dewy stones and rooted paths without a single slip. And that’s saying something when you’re carrying both your dignity and three camera lenses.
But perhaps what impressed me most, besides the “where did you get those” compliments at every rest stop, was how they transitioned. Café pitstops, pub gardens, that impromptu wine tasting in Windermere. The Walk Max trainers never looked out of place. They’re that rare hybrid. The practical shoe that doesn’t scream “technical”. Understated, reliable, and dare I say, stylish.
Would I wear them again? In a heartbeat. Would I wear them beyond the Lakes? Already have. They’ve earned their spot by the door, right next to my weekend tote and dog-eared OS maps.
Because when your footwear works with you. Supports you. Elevates you, literally and metaphorically. You remember it. And in this case, you pack it first for the next adventure.
Discover the Walk Max trainers here: https://www.vionicshoes.co.uk/men/men-s-walk-max-lace-up-trainer.html?color=1139