FYI: Cool Girls in L.A. And NYC Will Soon Be Wearing These Sneakers for Runyon Hikes and WSH Walks
Associate fashion editor, Nikki Chwatt, took the sneakers for a spin around NYC. Read her honest review ahead.
Few topics generate as much passion and enthusiasm among Who What Wear fashion editors as sneakers. It's a conversation we can return to endlessly—forecasting the next sneaker trends and pinpointing the It styles that will soon dominate chic dressers' wardrobes. With the new season underway, there are many new silhouettes to know about and keep on your radar, but one that tops our list is the just-released ALO Trail sneakers.
Following the success of its Recovery Mode, Sunset, and Runner styles, ALO adds a fourth sneaker to its lineup. The Trail feels like an intentional, natural progression and strategic step for the brand. It's also arriving at a perfect moment—a time when fashion's obsession with performance wear, especially trail-running-inspired sneakers, shows no signs of slowing down, and the boundaries between activewear and everyday dressing are blurred. Therefore, it's easy to see its potential trajectory.
Where ALO lovers live, it will follow: NYC and L.A., to be exact. In NYC, expect to see It girls styling it with yoga pants and sporty jackets on the West Side Highway. In L.A., it will take on a different life, a more casual one—laced up for morning hikes or for post-Pilates lunch at Erewhon, worn with leggings, a sports bra, and maybe a fleece.
While the sneakers dropped today, I had the chance to get my hands on a pair to test them throughout NYC and style them with everyday items and my activewear collection. Now that the it's available to shop, I'm ready to share my thoughts with anyone who wants to listen. If you're interested in the full review and want to see how I've been wearing the biege pair, keep scrolling—and if you're just here to shop, you'll want to do the same.
My Review
Let's start with the aesthetics. True to its name, the sneaker draws from the visual language of trail running shoes, but its purpose goes far beyond performance. While it includes technical features like a drawcord lacing system, an exaggerated traction sole, a high-rebound midsole, and water-resistant materials, it ultimately reads as a fashion sneaker.
Compared to other trail shoes, this pair looks less technical on the outside and feels intentionally restrained. Its muted palette—black, white, and a soft, earthy beige—and streamlined profile are responsible for that and allow the sneaker to transcend its intended environment.
Since getting these sneakers earlier this week, I've worn them around NYC with little regard for context. I've clocked miles in them, donning them for walks along the West Side Highway, weightlifting sessions at the gym, coffee runs, and grocery shopping. The good news? They move effortlessly between settings, and comfort underpins it all. There's a balance between support and cushioning—because the insole feels sturdy and structured, but the ankle collar and tongue are generously padded.
Styling them has been a breeze. I've paired them with everything from leggings and a barn jacket to track pants and a striped sweater. And even though I usually don't wear jeans and sneakers together, I'm genuinely tempted to wear them with baggy jeans or even trousers—they're just that cool.
In a short amount of time, I've gotten a lot of use out of them, and I've already decided they will be my go-tos. So if you see me in them more than twice a week…no, you didn't.
The Pics
Shop the ALO Trail Sneakers
