ALPINE STYLE HIKING BOOTS
Premium quality leather & traditional craftsmanship
“It is custom to tie Hel-shoes to the men that they may wear them on their journey to Valhalla, and I will do that for Vestein.”
Ok, these aren’t ‘Hell shoes’ or ‘Helskór’ for that matter. But they are legendary in their own way and I’m sure Vestein would have loved them.
I have been desperate to offer some alpine style hiking boots for a long time. There’s just something about them. I could write my own Saga about the quest for these boots. But I don’t have the time and who’d read it anyway? Truth be told though, the hunt for these has taken me across a continent. From Portugal, Italy, Germany, Austria and even Slovakia. The fact is, it is getting harder to find boots made like this. Not impossible though.
I managed to find a very small artisan company in Italy, who were still committed to the old ways. They were even willing to make these to order for me. Giving my customers the opportunity to own a pair of boots that were made just for them. How cool is that?! I’ve been a proponent of slow fashion for a long time and artisan production too. When I say a very small artisan company, I mean there are three people there. Sometimes two. This is a very much a family company.
I’m hoping to give people the chance to make a more mindful purchase and in doing so support these artisans. Small orders help artisans. There is less pressure on them in several different ways. But perhaps most importantly the financial risk is lowered. There is also the environmental argument. Clearly there is less waste. Waste in the world of fashion is being watched and scrutinised more than ever. Rightly so. Just look at what the EU are doing, with their ‘strategy for sustainable and circular textiles’. Now, I’m no fan of regulations. But here’s why this might be a step in the right direction. I think it’s simple, we view clothing and footwear as being disposable. It wasn’t this way before, and it shouldn’t be this way now. Fast fashion is being reigned in, and it seems to be coinciding with the end of globalisation as we know it. Let’s get back to how we used to purchase our footwear and clothing. We can keep artisan skills alive, these people can compete and we get fantastic quality products. This is a win for everyone.
This hunt really got started around the same time I was designing the Terraforte with Matteo. I’d scratched the ‘itch’ to get an alpine style trekking boot made for me and available to customers. But I wanted more and I wanted something that oozed tradition. It had to have a Norwegian welt. Sometimes referred to as a Tyrolean welt in Italy. Casually as Norvegese. There are other terms too, don’t you just love Italian regionalism? I knew I had to use the famous ‘Gallo Montan’ leather from the Eduard Gallusser tannery in Switzerland. I was chasing authenticity and quality. But I was after something else too. Much like my ‘project forever boot’ aka the Trudge. I wanted a boot that was going to be with its owner for many years. I found that some manufacturers wanted to compromise somewhere. Some could do the welt but not provide the leather and some could do the welt but couldn’t get Vibram soles. A few were just too busy I suspect, to really ‘digest’ my enthusiasm. But every person that I spoke with, was supportive and kind. I suspect I’ll be talking with a few in the coming months.
When I eventually had these boots in my hands, I knew in seconds that the hard work had paid off. This certainly was a boot that was going to last.
When I can, I like to name the boots that I sell. I decided to call this boot JÖTUNN. After the supernatural creatures from Norse mythology, typically translated to GIANT! If you had a pair in your hands right now, you’d understand why! These are simply incredible. The leather is something else and highly deserving of its mythical status in the world of boots. These are works of art. Yes, I think boots can be works of art. Agree?
I’ll have to do a full write up of what these boots are like ‘on feet’ soon.
You can also see a few short clips of me wearing them during their first outings here http://www.youtube.com/@GHCOUTDOORSLTD
Jötunn is a superb boot. But what if you wanted something a little lighter? A boot that still had that ‘retro charm’ but wasn’t quite so gigantic. I had a chat with the manufacturer about making a stitchdown boot too. This is known as IDEAL workmanship in Italy. I absolutely love stitchdown hiking boots and given the success I’d had with the Terraforte I thought ‘why not have another one made?’. I wanted to keep as much of the Jötunn’s ‘bloodline’ as I could in this design, just make the boot lighter and easier for people to break in. The manufacturer also suggested a waterproof membrane, that would sit between the calfskin leather lining and the boot’s upper. The only other change was the fully adjustable bellowed tongue. It didn’t need to be as ‘bulky’. This boot, I decided to call THUNOR. The Anglo-Saxon version of the Norse god Thor.
Thunor is a premium hiking boot. No corners were cut. The Italian leather is beautiful, Italian leather always is. This is a fact! My initial impression when testing these, was that these are thoroughbred hiking boots. The waterproofing is excellent thanks to its Sympatex lining. The fit is perfect just as it is with the Jötunn. The feel under foot is comfortable, supportive and strong. The craftsmanship on both these boots, is a sight to behold. It really is.
It’s fantastic to know that a family made these boots. I love the idea that behind someone’s house there’s this hive of activity. Skills are being passed on to another generation. It’s wonderful. I’d like to mention the young chap who helped me with everything. His name is Giulio and well, let’s just say this guy can work! He was a pleasure to deal with. Every detail explained and checked. Every option discussed. Honestly, he was fantastic. What a work ethic.
I have these boots now for the rest of my life. I really want this for you too! If you like to hike these are for you. If you are just getting started in hiking, have a close look at these. This style is where hiking boots started. This design never went away. It’s tried and tested. As I’ve always said, be the individual. Don’t follow the crowds. Write your own saga. Be legendary.
