Light, grippy, comfortable… and you can wear them in London and a muddy park without looking like you’ve just escaped Snowdonia. This is exactly how I tested the Trekker from 8000Kicks, have a read below.
I’ve just finished testing the 8000Kicks Trekker (Navy Blue) and these surprised me in a good way. They are slightly different to my other “comfy” shoes, they’ve got that rare combo of lightweight feel, genuinely good grip, warmth, and the difference being that they are very sturdy and the build gives you a lot of confidence, then on top of that they look smart, and can easily be worn with with jeans, shorts or chinos.
And then there’s their big selling point: Hemp. It’s not a gimmick, it’s the whole identity of the shoe and the brand, and whilst also being Waterproof, the Trekker becomes a proper outdoor-ready sole. What also needs to be mentioned is that 8000Kicks make a big deal of the sustainability side, which they are entitled to do as their products are made with recycled materials and have a vegan construction.
Ideal for: 3-season walking and travelling
Not suitable for: Mountaineering
The Review
8000Kicks advertise the Trekker as a waterproof hemp travel shoe you can basically take anywhere, in any weather. On paper, it’s loaded with nice practical touches: waterproof hemp upper, hemp insole, recycled lining/soles/packaging, a rugged outdoor sole, and a handsfree step-in system with a reinforced heel.
So I tested them in the exact way most of us will actually use a “travel shoe”:
- I walked miles around London (pavements, stations, long days on foot)
- Then Woodland paths and park trails through Kew Gardens (muddy bits, wet leaves, uneven ground)
Basically: real-life walking, and potentially covering all aspects of a person using this shoe.
First impressions: they feel solid (in a good way)
The first thing I noticed wasn’t even the comfort, it was how sturdy they feel when you put them on. Some “travel shoes” can feel a bit flimsy, the sides go flat easily when you’re putting your foot in, and then you have that issue of having to open up the shoe with both hands to get your foot in, and pull the tongue up. These aren’t like that, I just put the shoe in front of me, and slid my foot in, and did the laces up, it felt good.
The heel feels reinforced and supportive, which makes sense because the Trekker is designed around that quick step-in / reinforced heel system. So when you slide your foot in, it feels like a proper shoe, it feels secure, structured, and ready to walk.
Weight: properly light on the feet
8000Kicks claim the Trekker is super lightweight, they even say less than 200g / 0.40lbs per shoe. It’s a big thing now, the weight of a product to the brand, but what also matters is how it feels after a long day, and honestly, these felt light and easy all day.
That “less drag, less fatigue” feeling was great, especially as I walked around London for 3 days, so when you’re on your feet for hours without even thinking about it , and then at the end of the day your feet felt good, I was very happy.
👉 Product link: 8000Kicks Trekker
Comfort: all-day easy, and warm without being sweaty
Comfort-wise, these really worked for me, I’m actually wearing them now as I type in the house.
- Straight away they felt comfortable.
- No rubbing, no annoying pressure points.
- And importantly: warm. Not lie a winter boot warm, that nice insulated feel when its cold.
8000Kicks talk a lot about hemp being temperature insulating / regulating (cooler in summer, warmer in winter). I can’t test every season in one go, but I tested when it was cold whilst in London, and as I walk around the house and shops back home mostly in warm conditions, my feet haven’t felt uncomfortable at all.
Also worth mentioning, the brand calls out the hemp insole as helping with breathability and less smell, with natural anti-bacterial / anti-microbial claims. I can’t scientifically prove “anti-microbial” in a UK park (sadly), but I can say they felt fresh and breathable for a waterproof shoe.
AllTrails: Trail Guides & Maps for Hiking, Camping, and Running | AllTrails ‘Plus’ 30% OFF – Read my ‘Full Review‘ for more details.
Fit and sizing: true to size (with one caveat)
For me they were true to size, comfortable length, no cramped toes, and a secure hold.
A nice touch is the wider toe box design, which helps on long days when your feet swell a bit.
It’s worth noting that 8000Kicks themselves say their sizing follows big brands like Nike/Adidas, and they advise sizing up if you’re in doubt. So if you’re between sizes, or you like thick socks, that’s worth keeping in mind.
Grip and traction: excellent on mixed ground
This is the bit I didn’t expect from a “travel shoe”: the grip is genuinely excellent.
On wet pavements, park mud, woodland tracks, and leaf-covered paths, I felt planted. The Trekker is built with what they call a rugged outdoor sole for any terrain, and whilst testing it really did feel good.
It’s not a hardcore fell-running shoe, and it’s not a mountain boot, but for everyday walking plus a bit of trail, it’s spot on.
Waterproofing: built for real weather
The Trekker is marketed as 100% waterproof, and part of that is the construction details: a proprietary wax coating and a gusseted tongue (stitched to the body) to improve water resistance.
They also mention no PFCs, which a lot of people will be happy to see.
In normal British use, wet ground, damp paths, puddles, these held up well. If you want a shoe where you’re not going to panic the second the weather turns, that’s the whole point of these.
Style and versatility: jeans, shorts, trackies… job done
This does matter to the consumer, there are lots of variations of these types of shoes and so lots of competition, and how the shoe looks will probably make a huge difference.
A lot of “outdoor shoes” look like outdoor shoes. These don’t. The navy colourway looks class, clean, simple, and wearable.
You could easily ware them with:
- jeans
- shorts
- trackies
and in my opinion they worked with all of them. I’d be happy packing these for a trip knowing I’ll actually wear them every day.
Sustainability and ethics: the big reason people look at 8000Kicks
I think if you’re looking to buy these, you’ve probably thought about the eco angle, and having looked into the product and what it’s offering, you can see it’s not just words.
From the product info, 8000Kicks highlight:
- Waterproof hemp upper
- Hemp insole
- Recycled polyester lining
- Recycled rubber soles
- Recycled cardboard box
- 100% vegan
They also position themselves as “the #1 waterproof hemp shoes” and push the broader sustainability message hard.
Whether it’s the first 100% hemp shoe depends on definitions and marketing wording across different models, but the key point stands: they’ve built a shoe around hemp as the hero material, and that’s still pretty rare in mainstream footwear.
Price and value: fair for what you’re getting
These come in at £129 on the Trekker product page.
And for me, it feels like good value because you’re getting:
- a travel-friendly shoe that looks good
- genuinely usable traction
- waterproof build features
- strong sustainability credentials
The way I see it, is that plenty of “lifestyle shoes” cost similar money and offer none of the above.
Any downsides?
Nothing major jumped out in my testing, but a couple of sensible points:
- If you’re a half-size person or between sizes, take their advice and consider sizing up.
- Like any waterproof shoe, don’t expect it to feel like a super-breathable summer mesh trainer (even though hemp helps).
My verdict
If you want a do-it-all shoe that can handle city walking, parks/woods, and typical UK weather, without looking like a full-on hiking boot—the 8000Kicks Trekker is a cracking option.
Highlights for me:
- Light on the feet (and feels it)
- Excellent grip on mixed ground
- Warm, comfy, true to size (with a nice roomy toe area)
- Sturdy build when putting them on (not flimsy)
- Strong eco / vegan / recycled-material story
All in all: I’m very pleased with them, and I can see these becoming one of those pairs you end up grabbing for everything, because they just work.
