Whoever said hiking boots couldn’t slip inside a streetwear get-up should eat their words right this second. Columbia Sportswear unveiled just recently a line of sneakers and boots hybrid, marking the outdoor apparel company’s first venture into the world of sneakers. The SH/FT collection is, compared to its other offerings, much sleeker but still retains the expertly crafted utilitarianism.

The sneakers feature bright yellows and teals, and they unsurprisingly boast sneaker-like silhouettes, to boot (pun intended). With the SH/FT collection, Columbia Sportswear hopes to get some traction from the sneakerhead community, whose members prefer the slick, stylish profiles of Nikes and Adidas rather than the heavy-duty appeal of outdoor wear. Market analyses says there’s an audience for hybrids like this. Here’s Matt Powell, sportswear expert at NPD:

“The sneaker-boot trend has been around for a while, and we’re definitely seeing more blending and blurring of the lines between what’s athletic footwear and what’s fashion footwear.”

The SH/FT collection has much in similarity to Nike’s outdoor-focused ACG line, which couples industry-leading styles and silhouettes with characteristics typical of hiking gear. These urban kicks boast a 100% waterproof stretch-knit composition and call forth the spirit of streetwear’s most reliable footwear.

But they don’t stop on style, of course. This is, after all, a hybrid, so you get the best of both worlds. The gauzy stylish brio of conventional kicks and the robust, skillful craftsmanship boots bring to the table. The SH/FT collection is a win-win situation, in other words. Hit the link below to check out the collection.

SHOP HERE

Photos courtesy of Columbia Sportswear