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Dad shoes may be the ultimate cool-girl travel shoe, but dad boots—you know, those serious and heavy-looking, bordering on workman, boots—are yet to have their moment. In fact, practical walking boots as a whole are in desperate need of a modern makeover—the closest cool options that come to mind are the chunky Ganni Chelsea boots. That is until I recently discovered and tested some boots by French brand Palladium. What caught my eye were the chunky rubber soles teamed with a slick sneaker-like silhouette; like a Converse high-top but much more sturdier. Plus there’s even a dedicated travel collection designed to be ultra-lightweight—ideal for those carry-on-only trips.
With a couple of weekend breaks planned amongst our team, we each packed a pair of the classic Pampa Hi shoes with us and put them to the test.
Palladium boots reviews:
Wearing the Pampa Hi in Olive
Charley
My Palladiums saw me through a recent trip to Japan, where they saw heavy use during long days sightseeing. I was based in Osaka, so predominantly spent my time exploring the city on foot, and they were the perfect accompaniment. The chunky soles provided plenty of grip on both pavements and across more treacherous ground, and the cushioning was really impressive. They’re much more supportive than my beloved Converse and the raised heel prevents achy ankles after walking for long periods; something that my usual pair can’t claim. It was risky trialling new shoes on such active days with minimum other footwear to fall back on but, impressively, they didn’t rub at all. The stash of Band-Aids tucked into my backpack remained happily unused.
Closer to home, I’ve still been reaching for them as the weather turns more autumnal. They’re extra grippy, saving me from slipping on during walks over wet leafy paths in the park (a typically regular occurrence at this time of year), but I wouldn’t brave wearing them during proper downpours. I went for the Peru Archive color, a neutral warm brown that’s more forgiving on dirt and dust front than lighter shades. Saying that, as they’re not machine-washable, I’m going to invest in a waterproofing spray to prevent leakage in dreary weather and help fight against stains. —Charley Ward, commerce writer
Lauren
Wearing the Pampa Hi in Ecru
Even though I love to walk when traveling, I’m not a hiking boot girlie at all. Never have, never will. So the Pampa Hi boots felt like a suitable alternative on a recent trip I did to Loch Lomond in Scotland. Despite the chunky sole having great grip—much better than my usual Veja trainers would have fared—they’re about as lightweight as wearing a sneaker, so it doesn’t feel like you’re stomping around. I was able to go from walking around the loch to hotel afternoon tea, without so much as a couple of taps on the front doormat. If you plan on really blowing away the cobwebs on a proper hike, keep in mind that while the Pampa Hi style is very comfortable, much of the shoe is canvas and so not waterproof—there is a leather version, plus a very serious dad-boot vibes waterproof range too. For me though, the Pampa style is that great middle-ground option, with an appealing non-committal price tag. —Lauren Burvill, commerce editor
Olivia
Wearing the Pampa Hi in Miss Dune
I have a tendency to be very lazy when it comes to footwear. Once I know I like a certain shoe, I’ll buy it over and over again and rarely look to find alternatives. I have rather large feet, and one foot longer than the other, so finding the perfect pair is not easy. Last weekend we took our new puppy for a weekend in the Cotswolds, so being able to have a sturdy shoe that I can pull on and stomp along the pavements without getting blisters, numb toes or sore arches was essential. These boots ticked all the right boxes—they’re supportive, comfortable and durable. The canvas material means there is no rubbing, and the high top keeps ankles warm and dry in this bitter rainy weather. The wipeable rubber toe cap allows little Luigi (pictured) to step on my feet without getting the rest of the shoe too mucky, however I’d recommend fellow dog walkers to opt for a darker color—the Miss Dune stays its lovely sandy color for the first couple of walks but soon muddies up. [Editor's note: As of publication, the Miss Dune color was not available in the US.] —Olivia Morelli, senior digital writer
This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK.