{"id":7644,"date":"2025-10-24T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=7644"},"modified":"2025-10-29T21:43:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T21:43:18","slug":"i-didnt-expect-to-love-a-pair-of-clarks-trainers-im-eating-my-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/24\/i-didnt-expect-to-love-a-pair-of-clarks-trainers-im-eating-my-words\/","title":{"rendered":"I didn\u2019t expect to love a pair of Clarks trainers \u2014 I\u2019m eating my words"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t<\/div>
I put these Clarks sneakers to the test – here are my honest thoughts (Picture: Clarks)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

There\u2019s only one thing better than a good pair of sneakers. That\u2019s a good pair of sneakers that you can go hard in on their first wear.<\/p>\n

Clarks are known for their comfortable trainers<\/a>, but I wouldn\u2019t say I\u2019ve been particularly drawn to their style. Functional, sure, and the Wallabees<\/a> were solidified as the shoe of cool by the Wu-Tang Clan, but not something I felt I\u2019d ever personally pull off.<\/p>\n

Oh, how I\u2019m eating my words upon spotting the Tor 80 trainers<\/a>. <\/p>\n

For decades, Clarks Originals<\/a> have been the unofficial uniform of artists, musicians, and tastemakers who, as the brand brags, ‘don’t follow trends – they create them’ (something no one has ever said about me, but I’ll try and fake it with the shoes at least). <\/p>\n

People much cooler than I have riffed about the shoes in pop culture over the years, from the aforementioned Wu-Tang Clan rapping about the Wallabee moccasin in their 2000 song Gravel Pit, to Oasis’ Noel Gallagher<\/a> creating his own version of the brand’s famous Desert Boot.<\/a><\/p>\n

The shoes have appeared on album covers, in films, and on the feet of cultural pioneers, as well as, now, this here writer.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tClarks Offer\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

Right now, you can get 10% off spends over \u00a365 and 20% off spends over \u00a3100.<\/p>\n

Ts and Cs: Applicable to full-priced items only, cannot be combined with another offer, promotion or discount.<\/p>\n

Expires on 31\/12\/2025 11:59pm (BST)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Wallabee<\/a>\t<\/div>
The Wallabees were cemented in pop culture by Wu-Tang Clan (Picture: Clarks)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t<\/div>
Rocking my Tor 80s in the office (Picture: Mel Evans)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So, to my trainers, sporting a fetching leopard print pattern (something I consider a neutral), I knew I had to get these bad boys on my trotters. But having spent far too many of my days over the years nursing open blisters and wounds, I was weary of yet another period of breaking in a new pair of kicks.<\/p>\n

Still, style is pain (or something like that), so I hit select, waited for delivery and slipped those babies on to see how close I could get to 10k steps in the first go.<\/p>\n

Foolish, or hopeful?<\/p>\n

First of all, let\u2019s see what I liked about the Clarks Tor 80.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Visually, they\u2019re sleeker than I expected. With a leather suede exterior, they\u2019re a pair I\u2019d wear to the office, to the bar, to the markets or weekend brunch. When you’re dropping premium dosh on a pair of trainers, you want them to be versatile in several environments. These tick that box.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Tor<\/a>\t<\/div>
Not a bad shoe, that Tor 80 (Picture: Clarks)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Secondly, it\u2019s a solid shoe. So solid I needed to steal my husband\u2019s shoehorn to get my feet in. But once in, they felt snug and secure – but still with a little give that suggests they\u2019ll mould more to my feet over time.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the platform, a classic Clarks natural crepe rubber sole gives this 5-foot-2 writer a little height, which is never a bad thing, but it\u2019s not too high I feel precarious when dashing down Tube station steps. <\/p>\n

Ok, were there any cons?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s get the elephant out of the room: I didn\u2019t manage the sought-after (and incredibly arbitrary) 10k steps I set out to achieve on the first outing. <\/p>\n

I started strong, breezing into my local common on the way to brunch, a 40-minute walk away, but after 20 minutes I felt the pesky whisper of rub on my right heel and after 7k steps I had to tap out, duck into Boots for a plaster and get the bus home.<\/p>\n

Miraculously, and curiously, my left foot remained unblemished. Podiatrists and gait researchers, make of that what you will.<\/p>\n

What I will say is that on the second wear, armed with a pre-applied plaster, I\u2019ve had no grief from the shoe. So, so far, it\u2019s only been a first-time wear issue and a win in my eyes.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, as the shoes are in their snug era and I wait for a little give in the leather, I can\u2019t fit my orthopaedic inserts in. Riveting, right? Luckily, in the meantime, the arch support is solid, the shoe\u2019s sole is rock hard and my ankle and heel are nicely enveloped so I don\u2019t feel the need to force the inserts in.<\/p>\n

Everything has a silver lining eh?<\/p>\n

I’d say they’re proving a worthwhile investment, which is pretty great timing for you, seeing as the brand is celebrating its enduring legacy as a cultural icon with prices slashes on a load of Originals.<\/p>\n

From my beloved Tor 80 – down from \u00a3135 to \u00a365 – to the famed Wallabee – down from \u00a3145 to \u00a3115 – there is a saving to be had.<\/p>\n

For more information and to shop the collection, visit Clarks Originals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter <\/a>and Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Share your views in the comments below<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/09\/29\/h-amp-m-trainers-look-identical-a-designer-brands-372-cheaper-24267707\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">These H&M snakeskin trainers look identical to a designer brand\u2019s \u2014 and they’ll save you \u00a3372<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><title>Arrow<\/title><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/10\/22\/running-a-business-enjoy-a-free-personal-assistant-gift-worth-350-buy-a-google-pixel-vodafone-business-24487207\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">Running a business? Enjoy a free personal assistant and gift worth up to \u00a3350 when you buy a Google Pixel with Vodafone Business<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><title>Arrow<\/title><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/06\/18\/white-trainers-everyones-obsessed-all-day-comfort-effortless-style-23405264\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">The white trainers everyone\u2019s obsessed with for all-day comfort and effortless style<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\"><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-comments\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span><title>Comment now<\/title><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-preferred-source\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I put these Clarks sneakers to the test – here are my honest thoughts (Picture: Clarks) Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more There\u2019s only one thing better than a good pair of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7646,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7644"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7644"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7651,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7644\/revisions\/7651"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}