There’s always a chance of utter pain and misery when testing a new pair of shoes. Sometimes, despite the shoe supposedly being the right size, it only comes close. Sometimes, blisters and pressure-related hotspots happen and then, if I’m lucky, go away once the shoe is broken in. Sometimes, I have to grin and bear it. While testing the Ahnu Belgrove III, however, none of these bad things happened, and that, to quote the venerable Martha Stewart, is a good thing.
As mentioned in my introductory article from a couple weeks back, Ahnu, with their goal to achieve “uncompromising footwear performance” and dedication to an ethical supply chain and continuous improvement throughout, is exactly the kind of company this particular Menswear Examiner loves to share with his readers. After a month of testing, I am even more pleased to share with you exactly how much I love these shoes and why. Let’s take a look shall we?
Firstly, the Belgrove III is pretty much foot shaped. Though the overall shape of a shoe doesn’t necessarily make it more or less comfortable, it certainly can have an impact. I have found, after 44 years of having feet, that if the shape of the shoe happens to match the shape of the foot the interface tends to be spot on. Such is the case with the Belgrove III.
Right out of the box, the attractive Belgrove III feels just right. The low-profile Vibram Morflex sole is the perfect mix of cushioning, flexibility, and grip, and it shows almost no signs of wear despite being my go-to shoe for long walks or hiking. The suede, nubuck and scratched rubber upper with its lace-to-toe good looks is soft yet supportive thanks to the clever layering of materials and proper placement of just enough padding. Ahnu, though, didn’t just make a good looking, supportive shoe, they also did a heck of a job designing all the stuff you can’t easily see, too. The polyurethane footbed with memory foam forefoot and moisture wicking synthetic mesh liner work well to complete the shoe, and make for a welcoming environment for the feet.
Whether you are looking for a light-duty hiker, a robust city walker, or an all around good shoe for just about anything at all, the Belgrove III ought to be considered. Its light weight, good looks and excellent outsole make this shoe a winner for sure. Go to the Ahnu site for more information or to buy yourself a pair of these fantastic shoes. Otherwise, you can always step on out and head over to the Sports Basement at 610 Old Mason Street, for a more hands-on experience.
**Full disclosure: These shoes were provided at no cost for the purpose of testing/reviewing, to think otherwise would be unreasonable.
