Regatta Samaris III review: A budget-friendly shoe for challenging trails

Being based in the Cotswolds, I’m regularly reaching for a pair of my best walking shoes, as I’m spoilt for choice with stunning walking routes right on my doorstep. After all, it would be sort of criminal not to. So, when Regatta reached out asking if I wanted to test their new Samaris III walking shoe, I immediately accepted.  

What stood out for me about the Samaris III the most was its price point. At just £100 (at least for the women’s version of the shoe) these are definitely one of the more affordable walking shoes on the market. But how would they compare to the others we've tested? Here's what I thought when I put them to the test.

Regatta Samaris III review: price and availability

The Samaris III is available to buy directly from Regatta but it’s priced differently for women and men. The women’s shoe retails at £100 and is available in four colourways, while the men’s shoe retails at £110 and is available in five colourways. After carefully reviewing the specs of both shoes, they seem to be the same, so I’m not sure why they’re priced differently.

The sizing is also very limited. For women, the shoe is available in a UK size 3 through to a size 8, with the only half size being a 6.5. For men, the shoe is available in size 6 through to a size 12, with the only half size being 9.5, so for half-sized feet folk it's not the best.

The shoes are also available for both men and women in a mid-boot version too, just in case you prefer a shoe with more ankle support and like to keep debris out.

Regatta Samaris III review: design and construction

The Samaris III isn’t the ugliest-looking shoe out there, but it isn’t the best-looking either. Obviously, this isn’t the most important factor when looking for a decent walking shoe, but a bit of style doesn’t hurt nowadays.

Although I found these hiking shoes fit slightly on the narrower side, I thought they were comfortable, with a cushioned TECFOAM insock and a very decent amount of padding around the collar, helping your foot feel snug. 

Despite being a low-shoe, the heel counter is very rigid, so you still get adequate support around the ankle. They also feature a very large toe guard for extra protection and an integrated bellowed tongue to keep out dirt and debris.

They feature a classic lace closure and are made with a synthetic mesh upper that’s been applied with Regatta’s Isotex technology, so they’re completely waterproof, and windproof, yet still breathable. The rubber outsoles also have very deep lugs for excellent traction of different terrains. 

Regatta Samaris III review: performance and comfort

As I mention earlier, these shoes are limited in half sizes for both women and men. I’m a UK 5.5, but had to test them in a UK 6, so they were a little on the large side. As a result, my foot would slightly lift up and down while walking. However, wearing a decent pair of hiking socks did help this situation slightly. 

The other thing that really bugged me about these shoes was the laces. They’re short and incredibly thin. When I'd pull them to do the shoe up really tight their width would shrink even more, so much so that I was worried I’d snap them. Thankfully, this didn’t happen. 

During my walks around Epping Forrest in London and Berkeley Deer Park in Gloucestershire, the Samaris III provided decent comfort and top-notch traction. I appreciated the grip the most as I didn’t slip over once during my muddy walk through the deer park. The same couldn’t be said for my brother who almost fell in the mud on numerous occasions. Although, they did feel a tad clunky underfoot, as the soles are pretty hard.

Moving in these shoes felt easy as they’re very lightweight, with each shoe weighing 400 grams. In terms of breathability, the weather has been pretty miserable lately but, even with thick socks on and doing a walk for more than two hours, my feet weren’t sweaty afterward.

Knowing that these were waterproof, of course I took a moment to stomp through a stream in Epping Forrest. After all, is there any better way to test a shoe’s waterproof capabilities? I’m happy to report my feet were left completely dry.

I was also grateful for the heel tab on the back of the shoe. After my first walk being very muddy, it meant I could easily slip them on for my second one with little to no mess, and made it far easier to take them off too.

Regatta Samaris III review: verdict

Traction, weatherproof, and weight are three key features that are key in a good pair of walking shoes and I think the Samaris III does a pretty good job with all three. They’re certainly waterproof, the large lugs make them a good choice for those trickier trails with more challenging terrain and they’re not heavy either.

However, comfort is also key, and while the shoe is comfortable, it would be better if the sizing was more inclusive. Also, the laces (although have seemed to survive so far), give me anxiety every time I pull them, because of how thin they are.

If you’re looking for a more affordable walking shoe, then I think the Samaris III is a solid option for sure, if the shoe fits.

Also consider

If you're after a slightly more stylish walking shoe then Arc'teryx's Aerios FL Mid GTX walking shoe hit offers a good balance between style and substance. As well as looking easy on the eye, they're waterproof, offer great grip and have a flexible fit. They're also very breathable too, so a good choice if you enjoy lots of summer walks.

Another fantastic option, with comfort at the forefront, are Lowa's Innox Pro GTX Lo hiking shoe. They almost verge on the appearance of a running shoe, but are specifically for the trails. They're soft beneath the foot, so you can walk comfortably in them for hours and have Gore-Tex waterproofing. The lugs aren't the deepest though, so they're best suited to less challenging terrain.