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, 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 versatile interpretations of everything from sneakers to mules to full-blown hiking boots.
Shop our selection of the best ROA hiking footwear here
ROA Sneakers
Sitting somewhere between an all-out hiking boot and a trekking shoe, ROA sneakers feature a premium, distinctively technical aesthetic.
Cingino Sneakers
The Cingino's perhaps the least discernible as far as the brand's outdoorsy origins go, and camouflages more easily as a casual sneaker.
Katharina Sneakers
The Katharina has a far sturdier, more textured look, with its quilted canvas slash rubber body atop a chunky, grippy sole.
Lhakpa Sneakers
Then there's the Lhakpa, which poses another lighter alternative proper hiking gear. Again more akin to a classic sneaker, it boasts mesh uppers to contrast the heavy-duty Vibram sole unit.
ROA Mules
These suede clogs definitely give off a more woodsy, whimsical feel than one is used to from adventure-accustomed footwear, but there's no denying these all right in line with men's shoes'pivot towards more experimental silhouettes. The Fedaia picks up where something more traditional, like a Birkenstock Boston, left off, providing a more profiled sole and a strap to secure the heel
Fedaia Mules
ROA Loafers
With their take on loafers, ROA makes yet another case for how they are as serious about their hiking hobby as they are to compete with luxury footwear designers. Both their classic loafer, as well as their Mary Jane-esque Pala model insist – successfully – on bringing that point across.
Pala Loafers
ROA 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.
Andreas Boots
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