Grippy soles on natural footpaths
The sole’s design is the result of long research carried out in our labs. It is composed of a specific rubber formula which optimises grip and traction. Since not all needs are the same, we are always looking for the best solution to develop on loose, country trails (unpaved forest paths) and mineral trails (like a coastal path).
Designed for use on hiking trails
Our walking shoes are designed for use on off-road trails. Indeed, we choose the components of the sole and upper of our boots and test them to ensure that they are ideally suited to walking on loose trails (e.g. unpaved forest paths) or rocky trails (e.g. rocky coastal paths). Road use (tarmac) may lead to premature wear on your boots and cause discomfort. They are not suitable for mountain walking.
What is the origin of our leather?
We use a leather called ‘nubuck’. It has a soft, silky feel.
The leather used in these shoes comes from cows. We do not kill any animals to obtain this leather: we only use leather waste from the agrofood industry.
How to maintain your leather shoes?
After your hikes, we advise you to:
- Leave your shoes to dry near a heat source
- Brusquely brush, using a hard-bristled brush, the dry leather to remove any mud and dirt
- Use a soft-bristled brush or nubuck eraser to remove any stains
- If the stains are stubborn, clean them using a brush and a little warm water
- Leave to dry
- Brush again using a hard-bristled brush
- Spray with a waterproofing product: this will make the leather shine and bring out the colours
Waterproofing test
Laboratory- and field- tested, these shoes have a membrane to ensure optimal waterproofing and breathability. First, the shoe is immersed in water while internal air pressure is applied to check that no bubbles form on the surface of the footwear. Next, shoes are fitted to a mechanical arm that simulates walking and half immersed in water so we can test that the inside remains perfectly dry.
3 levels of waterproofing
During the waterproofness test, we test 3 levels of waterproofness:
- flexed 2000 times, approx. 2 hours’ walking
- flexed 4000 times, approx. 4 hours’ walking
- flexed 8000 times, approx. 8 hours’ walking
The NH500 Mid WP women’s boots were laboratory tested to withstand being flexed 8000 times. They are therefore waterproof for 8 hours walking. Of course, once the shoes have dried out, they are waterproof once again.
How to maintain the waterproofing of your shoes?
We advise that you use a waterproofing spray product on your shoes several times per year, to restore their water-repellent property and to prevent staining.
Tested for optimal durability
Laboratory tests were also conducted to test the following elements: tearing eyelets and straps, gluing, toxicology, UV resistance, abrasion resistance of outsole and upper components, accelerated ageing. These tests allow us to improve the quality of our products and prevent premature wear of our hiking shoes.