Gracefully treading the line between sneakers and boot, lifestyle and specialist, Italian hiking brand ROA has quickly become fashion’s favorite outdoor brand thanks to the label’s ability to balance the need for durable and trail-ready footwear with the want for something more stylish.
What was originally born out of an encounter between Italian retailer Slam Jam’s creative team and technical footwear designer Maurizio Quaglia, has now blossomed into an outdoor brand toeing the line between form and function. Though it has several high-profile collaborations to its name, ROA is still a relative newcomer, having been founded in 2015. With gorpcore one of fashion’s biggest trends and hiking-inspired footwear going nowhere, big things are expected from the Italian brand in the near future.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite ROA footwear which includes the versatile Neal Boots as well as Andreas, the brand's full-blown hiking boot.
Shop our selection of the best ROA hiking footwear here
ROA Neal Sneakers
Sitting somewhere between an all-out hiking boot and a trekking sneaker, the ROA Neal Boots feature a premium leather and nylon upper that pairs with a neoprene inner sock for comfort and a distinctive technical aesthetic. Whether you're looking to make an impact with the pale green sole unit and burgundy upper or want to keep things dialed down with a tonal black silhouette, the Neal Boot can do it all.
ROA Andreas Hiking Boots
A premium leather upper characterizes the Andreas Hiking Boots from ROA which are less applicable to everyday lifestyle wear than our other selections, but for hiking regulars, this pair presents an opportunity to add a strong visual angle to your gear.
ROA's new-season offering features characteristic boldness with a selection of refreshing takes on the Andreas boot. Perfect color palettes are everywhere, not least in the collaboration with A-COLD-WALL*. Elsewhere, ripstop fabric is introduced into the collection — a rare departure from the suede and leather uppers we're used to.
ROA CVO Boots
Swapping a classic rugged hiking outsole for a much more lifestyle-aligned edition, the CVO boots feel more related to moon boots than normal earth hikers. We're loving the hard-wearing canvas uppers in clean white.
ROA Lhakpa Sneakers
Similar to the fan-favorite Neal Sneakers, the Lhakpa Sneakers offer a lighter touch than ROA's full-blown hiking boots. More akin to a sneaker, the Lhakpa boasts mesh uppers to contrast with the heavy-duty Vibram sole unit.
ROA Khatharina Sneaker
If we're being honest, the differences between the Neal, Lhapka, and this model are minimal but there are some important details to highlight in the Minaar.
The most premium of the previously mentioned sneakers, this shoe is crafted from sturdy, technical nylon with a tall mudguard running along the lower portion of the upper. It also comes with a high-traction Vibram Megagrip tread sole and has small practical details such as the upgraded lacing system.
ROA Minaar Sneakers
Another shoe that has received increased attention thanks to an ACW* collaborative release, the Minaar is similar to the Khatania in shape but, as you have probably noticed, minus the laces. Opting for an adjustable strap in place of laces, the mixed material upper combines durable nylon, suede leather, and mesh.
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