For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
AshI was listening to a Rick Steve's podcast, and he was interviewing the author of Europe on foot. She mentioned she only hikes in "European walking shoes." I googled the phrase and based on the images I couldn't imagine hiking in them. Does anyone know what brands she may be referring to, or more about the term?
Ash
Right? It's the term she used. But she also wears toe socks....
I really love my Hanwag.
Trekking
Here you’ll find a wide variety of trekking shoes that suits your trekking needs and feet.www.hanwag.com
As said already several times by other posters, there are no "European walking shoes". In the area Germany-Austria-Switzerland with their superb walking grounds that are the Alps, a "walking shoe" and a "walking boot" look like those shown below. And that is probably exactly what the author means by "European walking shoes" when you look at the photo of her own shoes on her website.I was listening to a Rick Steve's podcast, and he was interviewing the author of Europe on foot. She mentioned she only hikes in "European walking shoes."
This question is addressed in this Rick Steves forum.
Actually, that is not true for the three companies I mentioned - Meindl, Lowa and Hanwag. Their walking shoes and walking boots are really produced in Europe (I checked): the production sites are in Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, Croatia and Slovakia. So, yes, European products and that is partly reflected in the price.Mind you, most of them read 'Made in China' nowadays.
'True, but the 'made in China' does apply to the typical Dutch walking boots.Actually, that is not true for the three companies I mentioned - Meindl, Lowa and Hanwag. Their walking shoes and walking boots are really produced in Europe (I checked): the production sites are in Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, Croatia and Slovakia. So, yes, European products and that is partly reflected in the price.
Quick check of several of my walking boots and shoes: Italy (two brands), Slovakia, Romania, Vietnam and one made in China. Not that I care - the issue is whether they are made on a last that fits my foot. And I am certainly not in the market for hand-made boots, much as I might like to be.Actually, that is not true for the three companies I mentioned - Meindl, Lowa and Hanwag. Their walking shoes and walking boots are really produced in Europe (I checked): the production sites are in Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, Croatia and Slovakia. So, yes, European products and that is partly reflected in the price.
On Seinfeld Jerry had a "Man Purse" and he called it European. I bet if you find out where he bought it you can find European Walking Shoes there too.I was listening to a Rick Steve's podcast, and he was interviewing the author of Europe on foot. She mentioned she only hikes in "European walking shoes." I googled the phrase and based on the images I couldn't imagine hiking in them. Does anyone know what brands she may be referring to, or more about the term?
Ash
Hi Ash,I was listening to a Rick Steve's podcast, and he was interviewing the author of Europe on foot. She mentioned she only hikes in "European walking shoes." I googled the phrase and based on the images I couldn't imagine hiking in them. Does anyone know what brands she may be referring to, or more about the term?
Ash
Hi AZgirlI was listening to a Rick Steve's podcast, and he was interviewing the author of Europe on foot. She mentioned she only hikes in "European walking shoes." I googled the phrase and based on the images I couldn't imagine hiking in them. Does anyone know what brands she may be referring to, or more about the term?
Ash
I think the mystery is solved. "European walking shoes" are just sturdy shoes that are used for walking and that are not boots ... the photo below is from Cassandra Overby's book, Chapter 13 on footwear. She doesn't even mention any brand names for this kind of shoes in her book.
View attachment 79491
Right. That post in the forum refers to Cassandra Overby's book:This question is addressed in this Rick Steves forum.
Europeans wear them and you see them in Europe ☺.What's "European" about them ?
I remember, more decades ago than I care to admit, seeing Mephisto shoes hyped as the ultimate shoes for long distance walkers. That was what first came to mind when I heard the phrase "European walking shoes". Of course, when I started researching gear for my first 21st century Camino, decades later, no one was talking about Mephisto walking shoes.
Oh, they still exist, for sure, and obviously have their fans. But when I look on the footwear threads of these forums, I see Hokas and Merrells, and Keens, etc. mentioned a lot more than Mephistos. And <cough>thirty</cough> years ago I would have expected different from people who were really into long distance walking.A friend of mine is a big fan of Mephisto.
PACO
Deze schoen is een veelzijdige aanwinst voor al uw activiteiten in alle weersomstandigheden. De SOFT-AIR-tussenzool en de SHOCK-ABSORBER in de buitenzool verminderen schokken tot een minimum voor zacht en moeiteloos loopplezier. Het AIR-BAG-systeem voor nog meer loopcomfort: beschermt de rug...www.mephisto.com
I also found some very nice, locally made shoes in Real, Portugal.There are still boots & shoes in Europe that will be hand-crafted, for example if you're looking in Italy ...
"European walking shoes."
I dunno ... aren't they somehow lacking on the "elegant enough for restaurants and museums" side?
For some years now, my sister-in-law and I had fun evaluating all new clothing items in terms of whether they can be stuffed into a 30 L backpack and serve as both walking clothes and attending the opera. With those extremes, I can fit a business meeting into the trip too.I dunno ... aren't they somehow lacking on the "elegant enough for restaurants and museums" side?
I don't know why, but at first glace I thought it was a pun indicating you "ate" your meals which were served 'inside" the boots!Not at all. I've had some very pleasant meals in them
And haven't we talked about binging along a multi use "ladies' scarf"? ..useful at times in keeping us warm, but if we choose just the "right one", definately doable for a night at an expensive posh restaurant. Once seated, no one will notice we are wearing hiking pants under the table.For some years now, my sister-in-law and I had fun evaluating all new clothing items in terms of whether they can be stuffed into a 30 L backpack and serve as both walking clothes and attending the opera. With those extremes, I can fit a business meeting into the trip too.
OK. One final post about the Dutch walking shoes. If you watch this short video, you'll realize that, if you can do this with them, you can walk several camino's wearing them.
Warning: not for the weak of mind. It might cause lasting brain damage...
I would not like to undo the leather laces when they have become wet!!I don't know if it helps, but in Europe we do tend to think of hiking shoes as being something like this :
And hiking boots like this :
Bearing in mind these are "cheap" mass-produced ones, not the properly hand-made that the more serious hikers would prefer.
Like :
Or :
We grew up in the country in the Netherlands, wore clogs a lot and even played soccer in them. More often than not it wasn't only the ball flying towards goal...Once you're used to them I can't see why you wouldn't walk a camino in them (I wouldn't!) but you'll need several pairs as they wear out quick. They're made for the paddocks, not gravel/bitumen etc. Oh, and that sticky mud?...nuhuh!OK. One final post about the Dutch walking shoes. If you watch this short video, you'll realize that, if you can do this with them, you can walk several camino's wearing them.
Warning: not for the weak of mind. It might cause lasting brain damage...
My wife has a pair Zamberlan walking shoes that she swears by they're made in Italy and have lasted very well! A Frances and a Portugues and could probably do another if we were able!I was listening to a Rick Steve's podcast, and he was interviewing the author of Europe on foot. She mentioned she only hikes in "European walking shoes." I googled the phrase and based on the images I couldn't imagine hiking in them. Does anyone know what brands she may be referring to, or more about the term?
Ash
What have you done!? i had a look at their boots and am just about to buy a pair. I've got a bit of a boot fetish with several pairs of very excellent Zamberlans so now will have Hanwag tooI really love my Hanwag.
Trekking
Here you’ll find a wide variety of trekking shoes that suits your trekking needs and feet.www.hanwag.com
could do with a little (a lot) of TLCI think the mystery is solved. "European walking shoes" are just sturdy shoes that are used for walking and that are not boots ... the photo below is from Cassandra Overby's book, Chapter 13 on footwear. She doesn't even mention any brand names for this kind of shoes in her book.
View attachment 79491
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?