"If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I absolutely love a pair of sneakers. One of my friends once joked that if you opened my closet, you’d just see a pile of white sneakers that all look identical to the naked eye (to which I responded, “but they’re all just so different!”). Do I have an amount of sneakers that might be considered embarrassing to the average gal? Sure, but we all have our vices, and I could have far worse ones than an affinity for a good sneaker… right?
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If I had to look within and examine myself, I might say that my love of sneakers stems from my even deeper love of walking. If my destination is less than two miles away, I’m walking. The only thing that can stop me and my legs from flying through the streets is the occasional sub-zero Chicago winter day, but even that’s a rarity. (You can catch me with my snow boots and ear muffs stomping through the city in January). I love putting my headphones on and bopping around and getting my steps in, so it makes sense that my ideal vacation involves days of exploring the city I’m in by foot.
I recently took a last-minute trip to Spain, which included four days in Barcelona—and subsequently, a whoooole lot of walking. Every day, we woke up and headed out to explore around 9 a.m. and didn’t get back until around midnight, which equaled around 10 miles of walking every day. From Park Güell all the way down to Barcleoneta, we covered absolutely all we could in four days, and my feet came out of it blister-free and completely intact. Sorcery? No—just a really good pair of sneakers.
Somehow, Gola sneakers went under my radar for quite some time, despite being reasonably priced and right up my alley style-wise. I happened to pick up my first pair right before my trip, and my average expectations were blown out of the water the second I tried them on for the first time. Despite being sleek and minimal, their support and cushion-y sole was so comfortable, I might as well have just put on my geriatric-looking running sneakers. After one errand trip in them, I made the brave decision that they were going to be the only sneakers I packed for my upcoming trip abroad.
Despite the more dressed-up arsenal shoes I packed for my trip, given how much walking I was doing, I ended up reaching for my Golas every day to ensure I didn’t have any wardrobe crises. Not only were they chic and versatile enough to pair with my impeccably curated vacation wardrobe seamlessly, but they left my feet in near-pristine condition after 80,000 steps in four days.
Despite how many sneakers I own and love in my closet, besides my actual running shoes, I don’t think any could have stood up to what I put my Golas through in Spain. They married together comfort and style seamlessly, and the experience made me a fan for life. Whether you’re going on an upcoming trip or are just looking for your next favorite pair of sneakers, trust me: these are them.
Madeline Galassi, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor
Madeline has been covering fashion at The Everygirl since 2018. She edits all fashion content, writes in-depth trend reports, and curates the direction of the fashion and beauty sections. She’s worked with top brands like Nordstrom, & Other Stories, Sézane, and Everlane.