Trail and Scramble Shoes

Doghammer Natural Cork Adventurer Shoe | Review

Made mostly from cork, the Natural Cork Adventurer combines a number of unique properties into one shoe

Why We Chose The Doghammer Cork Adventurer: Unique build, eco-friendly

Co-founded by Maximilian and Matthias, Doghammer is a German company with revolution on the brain. Championing the sustainability of natural cork over synthetic materials, they’re a brand looking to take outdoor footwear into an exciting and futureproof direction.

If you thought cork was just good for keeping your wine in its bottle, think again. As materials go, cork is one that’s able to bring together a number of unique properties under one roof. Doghammer know this, and they’re doing something about it. Let’s take a look at their innovative Adventurer shoe.

Who Is The Doghammer Cork Adventurer For?

Walkers who are all about functionality and sustainability will love what the Doghammer Adventurer brings to the party. Water-repellent, temperature regulating, lightweight and odourless; the shoe is suitable for day-to-day usage as well as out and about adventures.

The Doghammer Adventurer is also great if you’re the type of person who wants to make a statement with their shoe. “Mate, is your shoe made of cork?” your friends will ask, and you’ll nod back with a smile that says “You’re damn right it’s made of cork.”

Materials

Cork, as already mentioned, is good for keeping your feet dry without making them feel stuffy and suffocated in return. It’s also a lightweight material so you can happily charge about further for longer in these. Its odourless nature also means you don’t have to worry about stinking out the hostel at close of play (your roommates will thank you). Worried about the durability? From what we’ve seen these aren’t going to be as tough as your nubuck leather Scarpas but we think you’ll be surprised by just how solid these actually are.

“Cork is water repellent, lightweight, temperature-regulating and odourless.”

The cork and rubber sole provides reassuring grip on all manner of surfaces. That rubber, it’s worth emphasising, is recycled rubber – something that ties into this shoe’s overarching message of sustainability.

The sole mixes recycled rubber and their cork together while EVA lines the midsole. Photo: Mike Brindley

Inside there's a lovely merino wool for comfort, warmth and moisture wicking. Photo: Mike Brindley

Not the most aggressive tread by any means, but it'll handle light trails and gentle walks. Photo: Mike Brindley

The shoe’s lining is merino wool. Merino wool, as you might already be aware, is an excellent temperature regulator and has excellent moisture wicking qualities. It’s usage here means you should be able to wear the Adventurer on chillier days out, and in sub-optimal conditions. If you want a fully vegan option, by the way, Doghammer have an identical version to this with a synthetic rather than merino lining.

Features

The Doghammer Adventurer has a low-cut shape, an almost approach shoe-like aesthetic, and laces which look like they’ve been taken from an old naval vessel. There’s a nice “Oh, that’s what you’re wearing” Doghammer label on the upper, and a protective rubber toe cap that’ll shield your foot’s extremities from rock bumps and the like. The Adventurer packs an EVA midsole, while a clever tread pattern underfoot will aid your grip when you’re strolling around on any loose or slippy trails.

While it’s not an out-and-out technical hiker, the clever design made it worthy of inclusion in our Outdoor 100 guide. Photo: Mike Brindley

Is Cork The Future?

With sustainability (quite rightly) an increasingly hot topic in the outdoor industry, it’s great to see brands like Doghammer grab the issue and run with it. Cork shoes might sound like the kind of a mad idea you’d come up with after one too many hours in the pub but the logic behind it stacks up the more you think about it. Cork is water repellent, lightweight, temperature-regulating and odourless. It is, perhaps most importantly of all, environmentally friendly. The production of plastic, in comparison, is responsible for the release of ten times more CO2.

Conclusion

It looks good. It will keep your feet dry. It’s lightweight. It works well in a variety of different temperatures, and won’t get smelly like some of your other shoes. Yes, the Doghammer Adventurer is an absolute corker.