Step by step, the history of the hiking shoe

There is no camper or hiker who has never had to deal with rough, wet and slippery ground. We all know very well how uncomfortable it is to pitch a tent while trying to keep one's balance at the same time; or perhaps getting out of the camper van after a rainy night and inadvertently stepping on wet grass.
History and materials science have, however, over time, found practical solutions to these problems.We don't need to think about some kind of futuristic mechanism, but simply look down at our feet: the hiking shoe, a technical marvel that is too often underestimated.

The origins

Although it is hard to imagine, the first types of footwear for life in the open air have a very ancient origin: as early as the Upper Palaeolithic (around 26,000 years ago), our ancestors began to wear rudimentary footwear made of animal skin and tree bark (for the sole). In our country, the oldest shoe ever found was that of the famous mummy 'Oetzi', found in the 1990s in good condition on an Alpine glacier; he wore a shoe with a wooden frame, a padding of dry grass and several layers of leather as a covering. So, five thousand years ago, 'state-of-the-art' shoes were already being made.

The modern sole

The first rubber-soled shoe was invented in 1935, thanks to the idea of an Italian mountain guide who realised that it would be useful to have a shoe that could grip on uneven ground and snow.
As often happens when an invention marks a turning point, evolution has been rapid and unstoppable.Since the 1930s we have seen the emergence of increasingly efficient shoes, made of materials that are both weatherproof and durable. Another important step towards the types of shoes we use and know today was made with the discovery of synthetic materials, which are lighter and less prone to wear than leather.
If you have ever worn one of the old mountain boots, you know what we are referring to.

Many types

There are two main types of hiking footwear available on the market today: comfortable, lightweight footwear that is suitable for walking on undemanding terrain, and classic hiking boots, which are stronger and more protective, useful for medium to long walks and in difficult weather conditions.
Our recommendation is always to check in advance the weather and the route you have decided to take: choosing suitable footwear is a very important factor in enjoying the outdoors in peace.

Do you have any boots to recommend? Write to us!

Photo: Ali Kazal