I'm currently in the mountains, and my daily walks [1] through my paved neighbourhood have been replaced with hikes on real trails. For a city girl like me, this is groundbreaking. I should preface this by saying that my hikes are a few miles, not intense backpacking through the wilderness, but they're a lot more than what I'm used to. I've had hiking boots [2] before, and frankly I hate the way they feel on my feet. I started shopping for a trail sneaker, as I thought that would best suit my needs, and I've fallen in love with my Nike Wildhorse 7 [3] ($130) sneakers.
I tried on a few different sneakers, but these stood out to me for one critical reason. They've got what Nike refers to as a "gaiter collar" around the ankle, which is essentially a soft piece of fabric around the ankle. This is meant to keep dirt and debris out of your sneaker as you move through the trails, and it definitely does that, but it also doesn't give me blisters. This is really all I think about when trying on a new pair of sneakers, and I cannot stop raving about them. Plus, the traction is amazing, and they look cute! If you're a trail runner or planning to do some hiking soon, you need these ASAP. I have not been this happy about a purchase in a long time.
My Exact Pair: Nike Wildhorse 7
These are the exact pair of Nike Wildhorse 7 [5] ($130) sneakers I've been using. As you can see, they're well loved. They're comfortable, easy to wear, and have taken me up literal mountains. I can't say enough good things about them.
Nike Wildhorse 7
That black piece of fabric on the ankle of the Nike Wildhorse 7 [6] ($104, originally $170) is the gaiter collar. It's what protects debris and dirt from coming in, and it also prevents blisters.
Nike Wildhorse 7
If you want an all black sneaker, this Nike Wildhorse 7 [7] ($130) is for you. You won't see as much dirt covering them from the trails.
Nike Wildhorse 7
This green Nike Wildhorse 7 [8] ($130) is perfect for fall. We also like the pop of pink that comes with it.