Imagine this: an atmospheric smell of wood smoke, the delectable sizzle of trout caught fresh from a glittering aquamarine stream and the laughter of children playing happily nearby…
… and then you take a mouthful from your tepid tin of beans as a raindrop rolls down your nose, and the reality of a weekend spent camping hits home. Leaky tents and muddy fields do not a happy weekend make.
Introducing Glamping (that’s glamourous camping to the uninitiated) the trend taking the travel industry by storm. A compromise between roughing it in the wild and checking in at hotel, glamping offers the best of both worlds: wood-stove cosiness and all of the fun of being out in nature. The best bit? You can remain your discerningly stylish self while embracing your inner outdoor enthusiast.
The glamping trend requires a great wardrobe to go along with your opulent abode. Just as you wouldn’t show up to a boutique hotel in Mayfair in an old tracksuit, you shouldn’t show up to your Glampsite in anything unbefitting your surroundings.
Read on for our advice on the best shoes to pack in your camp bag for a glamping getaway. From tepee to treehouse, airstream to yurt, plan your outfits from the feet up before you head out into the heart of the lush – and luxurious – green countryside.
Hiking Heels
You’ll feel like a real outdoorsman (woman?) in a pair of heavy-tread hiking boots. A camping essential, the humble hiking boot is a practical, comfortable commodity, but rarely has it been considered stylish… until now. The Hiking Heel is exactly what you think it is – and it looks much better than it sounds.
Unlike your typical camping shoes, high-heeled hiking boots are utilitarian in aesthetics alone. While the chunky soles, block heels and warm linings make them as comfortable as any ankle boot, we can’t condone their wear on the trail. They certainly look the part though – team with chunky hiking socks and shorts to continue the authentic style (while looking like you’ve just stepped off the catwalk!). On cooler evenings a cuffed wool trouser will keep you warm while showing off your style.
Glamping Sandals
You know those three-strap Velcro shoes that dads wear for summer hikes? Well that’s what you’re going to be wearing this summer. Except yours will be crafted from the softest supple leather and be at the height of fashion.
If you’re familiar with Barbour, you’ll know that they’re a brand renowned for their resilient, stylish outdoor wear – isn’t that exactly what you’re looking for? A flat black pair you can pull on for padding about camp will also work well with a dress on an evening for style, sophistication and practicality all rolled into one.
Still if you can’t bear to be without your heels, you can always work a wedge. We’ve all trekked through the grass in stiletto heels enough times at weddings to know it’s never easy or elegant – and you are heading to a campsite. Espadrilles are set to top the trend charts this year, so seek out a pair with a woven wedge heel – backless mules are perfect to slide on after a dip in the pool or lake.
Glamping Wellies
Anyone who’s been camping, be it by a mountain or at a festival, will know that wellington boots are a no-negotiation bit of kit to pack. You may be hoping for glorious sunshine in the summer months, but being as we’re in Britain we’ll have to accept that rain is almost inevitable. When nature gets a little nasty, you’ll need a pair of wellingtons to combat the elements.
The Chelsea boot style wellington offers style, sophistication and practicality – perfect for posh camping! You won’t feel silly wearing them outside of a camping context either; they’ll blend in just as easily on the city streets thanks to their smart silhouette. They’re much, much easier to slip off when you get home, and if you are blessed with brilliant weather you’ll get a much better tan than in normal wellies.
