Hiking and Crocs don’t seem like a natural fit. Here at Advnture we’ve run a number of features along the lines of Can You Hike In Doc Martens? / Vans? / UGGs? / flip-flops?, with the answer invariably being, “Well, you can, but your feet and calves won’t thank you for it.” And you’d think Crocs would fall into a similar category.
Well, yes and no. Normally yes, with the common or garden Croslite Clogs. But Crocs have released some shoes specifically designed for hiking (the Crocs Quicktrail). And as Crocs have become increasingly trendy they’ve been partaking in some high-powered collaborations, and the latest seems to be courting the hiker community.
It’s actually the second iteration of the Salehe Bembury x Crocs Juniper sneaker, the first of which (the “Guava”) apparently came out in May, with the entire run being snapped up. We say “apparently” because if you go online you can find legions of sneakerheads who missed out on getting a pair wondering who actually bought them as they’ve never been spotted in the wild, as it were. Bembury, in case you don’t know, is a hot streetwear shoe designer who’s worked for Yeezy, Versace and Cole Haan.
Oddly, there wasn’t much mention of “mountains”, “trails” and “hiking” in the marketing when the “Guava” was launched. But the “Tahini”, which is essentially identical but with a new, (much) less busy colorway, is being announced with a “wear test test shots” shots photoshoot, featuring Japanese/German climber and Instagram influencer Emi Matsushima. And she’s very clearly wearing them on the trails.
So does that mean the Salehe Bembury x Crocs Juniper “Tahini” is a hiking shoe? Well, not necessarily, and no info that Crocs or Bembury has put out about them so far is claiming that they are. But Matsushima's presence in the promo suggests they're looking for some outdoor credibility, whether or not they've been specifically designed with hiking in mind.
Hopefully our testers will let you know if and when we get in a pair to review.
The “Tahini” sneaker will release on September 5 priced at $140. Start planning now to avoid disappointment.
And that’s not Bembury’s only Crocs-related reveal of the week. Ia the world ready for the Croc duck boot? Probably not, but it’s getting one anyway.
No news yet on whether the Salehe Bembury x Crocs Cypress Boot (as it’s called) is actually intended as a proper release or if it’s a flight of fancy, but intriguingly Bembury tags music artist Toro y Moi in the post, so it’s possible these Crocs could be an exclusive gift, like the Crocs Pollex Clogs he gifted to rapper Aminé.
- The best hiking shoes 2024: trail-friendly shoes for all seasons
- The best hiking backpacks 2024: from the lightest daypacks to sturdy alpine haulers
