Journey Without Leaving Environmental Footprints: WAO Shoes Review

Wearable tech these days mostly refer to rechargeable battery powered smart devices, but when on the move, innovative wear can make an enormous difference in the travel experience even if they are not powered.

When thinking of a 20 hour+ trips, other than having some good music or movie to keep my mind off the cramped space, shoes are probably one of the most important piece of accessory to get right. Practically you don't want to be stuck in suffocating, unbreathable shoes - but aesthetically you also want to dress smart and not resort to athletic shoes - as temptingly comfortable as they are.

WAO's solution to this is a promise to be both comfortable and tasteful - while at the same time making the smallest ecological impact as possible. Sounds like too much in one bite? After wearing the WAO low top on my last long-haul trip, here are some of my user experience and thoughts.

Casual - but smart casual

When on business, one is almost expected to be uncomfortable to earn a few more style points since you're an ambassador of sorts. Slacks and a blazer are basic staples, and the WAO low top looked in the right place as matching footwear.

I had the Hemp Eggplant and Amber variant of the Low Top, and the color scheme did a lot to blend with the smart casual look. The hemp canvas weave has a texture that looks more mature than your typical canvas like classic Chuck Taylors, in addition to seem more robust (Hemp is apparently more durable than canvas). The base has a classy gum sole look, which also looks less 'punk rock' and more 'casual gentleman'.

What had me impressed was the beautiful genuine stitching that joins the top to the sole - these shoes are not simply glued together which is what you'd find on most sneakers these days. The highly detailed craftsmanship validates the 'Made in Italy' print in the shoes. Though the shoes are in the general form of typical canvas sneakers, the attention to detail elevates its aesthetics to easily match it with a casual business look.

Natural comfort

Passing the style test, the next notch the WAO shoes needs is of course the comfort test. With the use of a couple of less conventional materials, I was keen to experience for myself the fit and feel of these shoes while on a long haul flight.

Starting with the hemp canvas, it looked quite breathable from the onset, and after wearing it for an extended time, it was day and night compared with leather alternatives. It has some stiffness to it, which retains the shape of the shoes well, but at the same time was flexible enough to allow walking comfortable even before breaking in.

Perhaps what was more impressive was the cork insole, which is cushioned underneath with coconut fiber - far from the conventional synthetic affair that everyone is used to. The result? Well, it feels exactly like walking on a floorboard entirely made of cork. Instead of the slightly silky feel of a synthetic surface, there's the organic grain and grip of wood and the cushiness and rigidity of fiber. It's a fantastically new but natural feel that doesn't take long to get used to.

With all the natural materials wrapped around my feet, the most obvious feel is how breathable everything is - and that is exactly what one needs on a long stint on a flight and between flights.

Leaving tiny ecological footprints

One cannot talk about these WAO shoes without getting into how environmentally responsible the whole product is. From the insoles that's produced out of wood, the upper that's from plants, the sole that has a minimum of 80% biodegradability, to the natural dye that was used to color the hemp upper, down to the shoelaces that are made of organic cotton, one can wear these shoes resting assured that it won't be around decades later to contribute harm and impact to the environment.

Who are the WAO shoes for?

For the business traveler who wants to look smart while being on the move but wishes to ditch unbreathable shoes on long, day-long sittings, WAO shoes provides an alternative that is casual but refined. It is comfortable in an unconventional, naturalistic way, and at the same time brings attention to your personal footprint on the environment at every step. It cannot be linked to your WIFI, but there is no doubt that these shoes are fully of technology that improves one's life for the better.

David is a tech enthusiast/writer who is often on the move and is on a mission to explore ways to make his overhaul flights more enjoyable. This is a contribution to an ongoing IBTimes review series on gadgets for Business Travellers.