Girls will always find an excuse to buy a pair of new shoes. Some fashionistas would rather go hungry for a few days than miss out on the chance to shine in their favorite brand. We tell you which well-known manufacturers of women's shoes drive the beautiful half of humanity crazy and make them make sacrifices in the name of fashion.

Christian Louboutin

History of creation

Frenchman Christian Louboutin has been interested in women's shoes since childhood. He studied with world-class masters, and opened his first boutique when he was not even 30 years old.

What shoes are produced

Although the most famous "louboutins" are stilettos, you can buy ballet flats, sneakers, sandals from Christian Louboutin. Also, elegant wedding shoes are produced under this brand.

Peculiarities

A distinctive feature of Christian Louboutin is a bright red shiny sole. Shoes are produced with high heels, but despite this, they are very comfortable to wear.

Shoes brand Christian Louboutin is one of the most desirable among fashionistas of the whole planet. Christian created a collection of shoes for Barbie dolls.

How to distinguish a fake

The sole of real Louboutins is glossy (not matte!) And the only possible color is bright scarlet. Shoes, including the soles, are made of natural leather, so check them for softness.

Price

For hairpins you will be asked to pay at least 650 euros.

Christian Louboutin himself.

arrow_left Christian Louboutin himself.

The famous red sole.

arrow_left The famous red sole.

Barbie knows a lot about luxury shoes.

arrow_left Barbie knows a lot about luxury shoes.

Jimmy Choo

History of creation

Jimmy Choo was born in Malaysia to a shoemaker's family and made his first pair of shoes at the age of 11. He studied and took his first steps in the profession in foggy Albion. In 1996, Jimmy Choo co-founded Jimmy Choo Ltd with British designer and businesswoman Tamara Mellon.

What shoes are produced

Now the company is a manufacturer of almost all types of elite women's shoes: stilettos, sandals on high heels and wedges, boots and ankle boots with bootlegs of various lengths with or without heels, summer and demi-season shoes with flat soles and even sneakers.

Peculiarities

The company specializes in natural materials. Shoes from Jimmy Choo pleases customers with a wide palette of colors and a variety of decor.

Fans of the American series "Sex in big city» learned about elegant shoes from Jimmy Choo from the lips of the heroine Sarah Jessica Parker, when one day she lost one shoe.

It is said that this shoe brand was the favorite of Princess Diana.

Price

You can buy summer shoes with flat soles for 350 euros, and for stilettos you can pay up to several thousand euros.

Exciting lines of Jimmy Choo sandals.

arrow_left Exciting lines of Jimmy Choo sandals.

Refined model from the wedding collection.

arrow_left Refined model from the wedding collection.

Manolo Blahnik

History of creation

The son of a Spaniard and a Czech, Manolo Blahnik, studied design in Paris. His first creations were for men's shoes. But he soon realized that his creativity had little place in men's fashion and decided to please the beautiful half of humanity with his design.

At 37, he opened his boutique in New York and began to collaborate with famous designers. The founder of the brand is personally involved in the development of the design of new shoes and controls the process of its creation.

What shoes are produced

Elegant high-heeled shoes inhabit Manolo Blahnik boutiques different lengths, ballet flats in bright colors, laconic ankle boots, slippers and loafers, mules and sandals with an unusual finish.

Peculiarities

The brand is known for quality materials and hand-tailoring. Manolo Blahnik shoes are distinguished by their original design and comfort.

The company produces only 80 pairs of shoes per day, which confirms its exclusivity.

Like Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik shoes and sandals also received a role in the TV series Sex and the City, but not an episodic one. American fashionista Carrie Bradshaw almost never takes off her shoes from this manufacturer and considers them almost the most valuable piece of her stylish wardrobe.

In addition to Sarah Jessica Parker, such celebrities as Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Winona Ryder are in love with Manolo Blahnik shoes.

Price

You can buy slippers for 600 euros, and for hairpins you will be asked for more than 1000 euros.

Don Manolo with his creation.

arrow_left Don Manolo with his creation.

Spanish designer conquers the world.

arrow_left Spanish designer conquers the world.

Sarah Jessica Parker, like her heroine, cannot get past Manolo Blahnik.

arrow_left Sarah Jessica Parker, like her heroine, cannot get past Manolo Blahnik.

Louis Vuitton

History of creation

The trading house Louis Vuitton was opened in 1854 in France, and produced, first of all, suitcases and bags. It was a family business that is now part of the LVMH conglomerate. The French fashion house began to produce a line of shoes since 1998, then the collection included exclusively women's shoes.

What shoes are produced

In the luxurious Louis Vuitton boutique, you can try on elegant stilettos, seductive ankle boots, sophisticated sandals with high and low heels, glamorous sneakers, as well as boots and boots.

Peculiarities

Many Louis Vuitton models feature the brand's famous logo. The color scheme is mostly basic - brown and black. But there are also models of other colors, especially pink.

The company has an interesting position. The employee must check the shoes for comfort: just walk in new shoes for 10 days. Dream work…

Price

Sports shoes and mules will cost you at least 500 euros, and the average price for shoes will be 700-800 euros.

The elegance of French shoe design.

arrow_left The elegance of French shoe design.

Stylish decor.

arrow_left Stylish decor.

miu miu

History of creation

The brand was founded in 1993 as new project famous brand Prada. The founder is the same Miuccia Prada, an Italian fashion designer. Miu Miu brand produces women's clothing and accessories.

What shoes are produced

Miu Miu offers a wide range of footwear: pumps and sandals bright colors with or without heels of different heights, glamorous slippers and sneakers, playful ballet flats and ankle boots.

Peculiarities

Young designers, often avant-gardists, collaborate with the Miu Miu brand.

Price

For 400 euros you can please yourself with sandals, but you will have to spend more on shoes.

Pink, bows and rhinestones - everything a woman's leg needs.

arrow_left Pink, bows and rhinestones - everything a woman's leg needs.

The elegant brightness of Miu Miu.

arrow_left The elegant brightness of Miu Miu.

Walter Steiger

History of creation

Walter Steiger Sr. opened the first boutique in Geneva in 1932. His son, also Walter, made the firm world famous. He opened boutiques in Paris, London and later in New York.

The philosophy of the brand is to search for the most harmonious proportions in shoes.

What shoes are produced

The Walter Steiger brand primarily offers shoes and sandals with high and medium heels, but you can also look at laconic low shoes, loafers, ballet flats.

Peculiarities

Some models of this brand are easily recognizable by the famous curved heel. The creations created by this brand are considered classics in the history of fashion.

Walter Steiger is known for his passion for innovation and originality. Despite this, fashion critics characterize this style as a desire for minimalism, purity and lightness of lines. Models of this brand are distinguished by the almost complete absence of decor.

The founder of the brand himself said that his research is in the search for new proportions and forms, and jewelry has never been his "trick".

Price

The cost of shoes ranges from 350 - 700 euros per pair.

The famous heel.

arrow_left The famous heel.

Black and gold for stylish sophistication.

arrow_left Black and gold for stylish sophistication.

Gucci

History of creation

The Italian waiter Guccio Gucci, at the age of 40, opened a workshop for the production of bags and suitcases in Florence with the accumulated money. With the development of the company appeared clothes, shoes and accessories.

What shoes are produced

The choice of elegant shoes is huge: stilettos, ballet flats, moccasins, loafers, mules, boots and boots, sneakers.

Peculiarities

Gucci shoes are primarily valued for their high quality and comfort to wear.

Many models are made of leather with a repeating embossed brand logo.

In the magnificent film Roman Holiday, the heroine of the American star Audrey Hepburn appears with a Gucci scarf and dances in the great Italian designer's moccasins.

First lady Jackie Kennedy was a fan of the brand's handbags.

Grace Kelly is an American actress, and later the Princess of Monaco, for a long time was the advertising face of the brand, and later made the company the official supplier of the princely court.

Price

The cheapest slippers will cost you 550 euros.

Gucci has taken over the fashion world.

arrow_left Gucci has taken over the fashion world.

J Lo in runway shoes.

arrow_left J Lo in runway shoes.

Stuart Weitzman

History of creation

American Stuart Weitzman began drawing models for his father's shoe company, and then created his own international luxury brand. Stewart is known as the creator of many of the most expensive pairs of shoes.

When the spring coolness is replaced by a cold snowy winter, it's time to think about winter shoes. For men, practicality, comfort and, of course, protection from the cold are more important. But sometimes you have to think about style, especially if your everyday look is a strict suit, which is not suitable for every boots. But whatever your everyday look, first you need to determine the main criteria for choosing winter shoes for men.

How to choose the right winter shoes

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to find practical winter shoes that can be worn for years. The main problem of many winter boots is getting wet, which is unacceptable in cold weather. Raw cold feet are the main cause of colds.

When choosing boots, we often pay attention to them. appearance, without thinking about how the sole is fixed, by what method it is stitched, from what material the product is made, and so on.

Winter boots are different, but in the season of slush or ice, the same problems always arise. Important parameters for the selection of good winter shoes for men are the following factors:

1. In order for the shoes to be warm, fur must be present inside. It is not necessary to look only for natural products. Artificial high-tech fur is a worthy replacement, capable of warming no less than natural fur. Moreover, this option is an inexpensive winter shoes for men.
2. To increase the degree of protection against moisture, it is suitable as Genuine Leather and synthetic analogues. Leather substitutes are quite capable of retaining moisture on the surface, preventing it from penetrating inside. Suede products are best left for dry winter days.
3. When buying shoes, pay attention to the thickness of the sole. This is another factor that can protect you from the cold. The thick sole reduces the risk of moisture ingress, retains heat better and does not allow the cold to seep through. The best sole today is considered to be a multi-layer sole made of durable material with tread pattern.
4. Sometimes manufacturers indicate on labels or boxes the minimum temperature that the product can withstand. If the weather outside is much colder, then such purchases should be avoided. These shoes won't last long.

Parameters of quality shoes

Winter shoes should first of all warm the feet, so you need to choose high boots. Proper winter boots should cover the ankles.
If you prefer products made from natural materials, then calfskin is the best option. The most unfortunate option among natural materials is pressed leather.

Pay attention to the sole. It is better to give preference to a corrugated sole so that the boots do not slip. It is desirable that the protrusion of the sole is large, with deep grooves. In frosty winter it is not advisable to buy shoes with thin leather soles. This option is suitable only if you almost do not walk, but travel by car. The sole material must be rubber or polyurethane. Sometimes manufacturers use different mixtures of materials. It is because of poor-quality polyurethane that products often get wet, since such material does not withstand severe frost and bursts.

Check the quality of the sole fastening and seams. The sole should not easily move away from the skin, and even more so, form large gaps. If you saw a protruding frozen glue, then this option is definitely not suitable for cold weather and slush. Manufacturers of high-quality shoes attach the sole by vulcanization. Regular firmware needs to be additionally treated with water-repellent materials. For example, the vulcanization method is used by ECCO or Vibram.

Types of materials for winter men's shoes

Calfskin is the most expensive and wear-resistant material. Warm winter shoes for men it is made of thick leather, additionally impregnated with water-repellent agents. Calf leather is very soft. In such shoes, the feet get tired less and feel comfortable. Products made of calfskin are especially suitable for people with large protruding bones on their legs. In shoes made of this material, you will not experience pain.

Pigskin is not so practical, but with proper care also can last a long time.

Suede fabric looks elegant but is only suitable for dry winters.

1. Lining

If you prefer artificial material, then you need to choose a special structured material used in branded sports shoes. Such material does not “lose weight” over time, does not allow moisture to pass through and leaves room for air microcirculation.

If you are a lover of natural fur, it is better to give preference to natural sheepskin. This dense and warm type of fur sags a little over time, taking the shape of your foot. It is better to refuse rabbit or hare fur, as such fur “goes bald” very quickly.

2. Clasps

The type of fastener completely depends on your everyday look. Laces and Velcro are more suitable for jeans or sporty style, but classic locks are more suitable for costumes.

How to take care of your winter boots

How much the material will be able to protect you depends on skin care. protective equipment just a must for winter boots. AT shoe stores today there is a wide range of different sprays, creams and gels that need to be applied to shoes in accordance with the instructions. Among the products offered, water-repellent sprays are most often used. They are easy to use and give excellent results.

Do not forget about the means that protect products from reagents that are sprinkled on roads in winter time. Such products will protect your shoes from white spots that are very difficult to remove.

To be sure to protect your shoes from moisture, coat the seams located on the sole with a water-repellent agent. Also instead of such funds you can use wax or paraffin. This procedure must be repeated 1-2 times a week.

Most often, it is the moisture that gets into the shoes that provokes the appearance of an unpleasant odor. Products must be dried and this should be done as often as possible. Today, stores sell special shoe dryers that fit inside and leave for several hours, or even all night, depending on the model. You can dry boots in other ways, for example, by placing them in a room with a warm floor or not a radiator. The main thing is not to place shoes on a hot battery, so that the rubber materials do not dry out and the leather does not deteriorate. Batteries should be warm.

Attention: Faux leather is very fragile and needs to be handled with care. During severe frosts the artificial material loses elasticity, so nothing can be done with it until the material reaches room temperature.

Advice: When buying winter shoes, you need to try them on with a thick toe. In frosty weather, you will definitely want to wear warm socks, or maybe two pairs, in which case you won't be able to wear the shoes comfortably due to the intense pressure.

Rating of manufacturers of high-quality men's shoes

With quality materials and modern technologies manufacturing, high wear resistance and reliability are products of such companies as:

Rieker – german brand, which produces warm, comfortable winter shoes for men, made only from natural materials. Such shoes do not bring discomfort to their owner and are ideal for everyday wear. This brand has a very reasonable cost, excellent quality and high practicality.

VITO is a Finnish brand that produces winter boots made of natural fur and leather. A thick sole and a dense layer of fur protect even the most severe frosts and do not allow slipping on ice.

DC Woodland Military- high-quality shoes that cope with their basic functions even at a temperature of -25 degrees. Natural suede, wool lining, comfortable tongue, foam-filled ankle, thick rubber sole - these are the parameters for which many men appreciate this brand. The cost of such boots is quite high, but such products will serve for many years.

The Spar is a Belarusian company that works only with natural materials. The company issues comfortable shoes quality tailoring. The rubber outsole has an anti-slip effect.

Burgerschuhe is a German brand that is very popular among men due to the lack of slipping on ice, natural warm fur with air microcirculation and water-repellent impregnation, which will not allow you to get wet even in the wettest weather.

Columbia is a popular brand in the Russian market. Winter shoes of this brand are moisture resistant, practical and very warm. Model design and comfortable performance are perfect for everyday use.

Ralf Ringer- Ringer boots have earned the gratitude of numerous buyers in the Russian market, thanks to high-tech products suitable for the harshest winters in Russia. Both inside and out, the shoes are made of natural materials. Youth winter footwear for men of the Ringer company will serve you for several seasons.

Vitacci- warm and stylish products for everyday use with an anti-slip effect. This brand has a rich assortment, where every man will find what he likes.

Wrangler- a company that produces shoes for all seasons, not only from natural materials, but also from high-quality substitutes. Buyers of this brand note the high quality of the firmware in each model of the brand.

Marko is a Belarusian manufacturer that manufactures boots that meet all quality standards. Warm and comfortable products of this brand can be purchased at reasonable prices.

Remember that well-made shoes with proper and timely care can be worn not just for years, but for decades. At the same time, the shoes will not lose their original appearance, and will always remain in good condition.

Once a solo project - British Grenson Shoes. It was started by a man named William Green. He learned the art of shoemaking from his mother when he helped her sew men's shoes, which the family provided to all their neighbors. Over time, Green moved out from his mother and opened his own business, and in 1866 he decided that it was time to hire workers for tailoring to take care of taking orders, finding materials and selling. The next step was the official registration of William Green & Son. In 1884, Green opened the Greens Yard factory. Green & Son soon became Grenson as it is known today, becoming one of the first trademarks to be registered in the UK.

The Great Depression somewhat crippled the company's business, but the demand for Grenson boots returned again when the British army needed to shoe their soldiers going to the fields of World War II. By the end of the 1940s, production increased many times, and the staff of factory workers grew by 400 people.

Green's relatives led the company for almost a century - until William's great-grandson decided to sell the family business in the 1980s. Since then, two captains have changed at the helm of the company, but the quality of Grenson products still meets the requirements once formulated by its creator. Not only does the company now make perhaps the neatest and most elegant of the traditional working-class boots, but it also engages in useful creative alliances. For example, with the no less respectable brand Barbour, known for its waxed jackets. Especially for this experiment, both companies combined their best corporate features: the aristocratically light skin of the Grenson brogues is topped with a colored cotton insert.

Red Wing Heritage 6 Classic Moc Toe Oro-original

Now this brand of traditional American shoes is an indispensable guarantor of quality and a symbol of masculinity. But the first pair of Red Wing boots in 1905 was sold for just $1.75. Shortly before this, Charles Beckman, a shoe dealer from Minnesota, noticed that the shoes of local workers were no good. Their work is difficult, and they need shoes to match - able to withstand any load and not let you down in the mine, in the field or in logging. At the same time, boots should be comfortable enough so that they are not remembered in the midst of work. And so Beckman, with fourteen investors, opens an enterprise whose slogan is short and simple: "Work is our work."

The company was named after the city where Beckman was from - and that, in turn, bears the name of the Indian chief Red Wing. His image in the mid-1910s became the company's logo. For more than a century, she has never moved: in the old building where the first pair was once sewn, there is an office in which models are developed for the Red Wing Heritage collection. The boots produced in it exactly repeat the design of fifty, sixty and even eighty years ago - for example, the so-called chiefboots, they are also “farm boots”.

Despite the obvious everyday focus of the brand, some models are not without a militaristic spirit. Take the same Red Wing No. 16: These were the shoes worn by the American infantry during the First World War.

Frye Locke Lace Up

The characters of the series True Blood suck blood in the boots of this particular brand, and one notorious bespectacled teenager fights with dark magic in them. Apparently, the magic of this shoe has not changed since 1863, when John Fry from the town of Marlborough, Massachusetts, sewed the first shoes. They were neither a style icon nor last word in design, but they did an excellent job of providing comfortable shoes for hundreds of New England factory workers. And when, at the end of the 19th century, these hard workers and their families went west in search of a better life, they set off in Fry's boots.

As Fry's family grew, so did his company. In 1938, during a trip to Washington, the grandson of the founder, John Fry Jr., met with one admiral. He complained: they say, it has become difficult to find your favorite Wellingtons - waterproof leather boots, the forerunners of modern rubber. Fry Jr. graciously offered to personally sew a pair for him. After that, orders poured in from all sides, especially during the Second World War. Fry's Wellingtons, also known as jetboots, have been trodden all over the world, from Normandy to Okinawa. Even the infamous American tanker General Patton had one pair. No less popular were the cavalry boots, which later became so fond of bikers - Frye Harness Boots. And the Smithsonian Institution chose the Campus model as one of America's most significant artifacts of the 1960s.

Often there is a debate on the Internet with what to wear boots from "working" brands of shoes. Answer: almost everything. Jeans, chinos, cargo pants, sweatpants and even an office suit can be paired with workboots if desired - for example, with the same Locke Lace Up.

Clarks Desert Boot

Price: 5000 rubles (Clarks stores)

The boots may not have the toughest character, but definitely the most loyal - despite the suede disposition. It all started in 1825 in the British village of Street, Somerset, where Cyrus Clark dressed sheepskins, and his brother James sewed slippers out of them. Clarks did all the sewing by hand until the Singer sewing machine appeared - things went much faster with it. And when the Hygienic line was released, the models of which followed the natural contour of the foot, the brothers could finally boldly position themselves as manufacturers of truly comfortable and wearable shoes.

In the middle of the 20th century, Nathan Clark, James' great-grandson, developed the Desert Boot model. As a basis, he took ordinary boots that his comrades, military officers, found in the bazaars of Egypt during the Second World War. The British found the shoe to be quite suitable for desert operations - hence the name "desert". Thanks to their simplicity and versatility, the boots quickly gained popularity among buyers, and they can still be purchased at a very reasonable price - just £70. There is a version that "deserts" are a subspecies of Chukka boots, allegedly invented a little earlier. But true connoisseurs argue that only suede boots with two pairs of holes for laces have the right to be called "deserts", while "chukka" is the same, only in leather, with a hard sole, abundant lacing and narrower in ankle.

A decade later, when the passion for "deserts" subsided, Clarks creates another model that has become a classic - Wallabee, a good-looking suede moccasin. In the 1970s, the company actively invested in technical research, creating a new hardy and lightweight sole known as crepe sole (the term has nothing to do with pancakes - this is the name of a special soft type of rubber).

Doc Martens 1460

These world-famous British shoes were invented by a German - a young doctor, Klaus Mertens. Once, during an unsuccessful skiing trip, he broke his ankle. The Second World War had just ended, there were no other shoes, except for army boots, and the injured leg did not feel very comfortable in them. Then Dr. Mertens designed the first prototype of the legendary boot: he took and sewed pieces of a car tire to the sole. This reduced the pain of stepping on, but walking was still uncomfortable, and the doctor continued to improve even when the leg had already passed.

In 1947, Mertens met an old university friend, Herbert Funk, and together they came up with an air-cushioned double sole, patented the invention, and organized a shoe business. They made soles from rubber obtained from Luftwaffe bases, insoles from shoulder straps, and blanks for two pairs of boots were obtained from one pair of leather officer trousers.

By the end of the 1950s, Mertens and Funk's products had spread throughout Germany, with three-quarters of sales going to women over forty - and what more down-to-earth buyers could you imagine? The target audience changed dramatically when the British shoe concern R. Griggs Group Ltd. bought the rights to manufacture shoes in the United Kingdom. The head of the concern, William Griggs, anglicized the name of the brand, slightly changed the shape of the heel, added a branded yellow stitching and finalized the design of the sole, later patenting it under the name AirWair. The first British martens were produced on April 1, 1960, and the 1460 is still produced unchanged. Shoes were in incredible demand among cops, postmen and factory workers, and since the 1970s have become super popular with fringe youth movements.

American Chippewa Boots started out as a logging company. At the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, there was a huge demand for timber and lumber - the country was actively built, thousands of new buildings were erected. Accordingly, the army of lumberjack workers grew, and all of them needed good shoes. The factory producing it started operating in 1901 in the town of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, on the very border with Canada - the Indian name was inherited from the tribe living in these parts. Then she had 175 workers, mostly women, and released 1200 pairs daily.

At the forefront of work footwear, Chippewa Boots set out to make best boots and shoes in the United States. In pursuit of the perfect boot, she made her famous Logger Boot, designed to facilitate the difficult and dangerous work of American lumberjacks - the very ones who, in their prime, could steam almost half a hectare of forest in a day. Today, the company's products extend far beyond the founders of the boots: motorcycle, cowboy - the range includes more than one hundred models. In addition, all Chippewa boots and boots are equipped with developments from respected brands such as Thinsulate and Vibram, which means that the shoes are not threatened by temperature changes, moisture and other misfortunes.

A giant takeover corporation that managed to get at its disposal, in addition to Timberland, such brands as Hush Puppies, Patagonia and Harley-Davidson Footwear. The Wolverine brand has been on the market since 1883, and its creator, J. A. Krause, became famous for founding an electric company to open a tannery in Rockford, which was supposed to bring electricity to the city and power new production. Is it any wonder that the energetic entrepreneur in a short time brought the daily production to 300 pairs of shoes, which for its durability was nicknamed the “1000 mile boot”. They were made from horse skin, hence the name of the company: it does not go back to the wolverine (English wolverine), but to the breed of horses.

In 1919, the Wolverine Shoe and Tanning Company began to conquer the world, but these plans were buried by the Great Depression. And again, the war intervened: during the Second World War, the company develops pigskin gloves for the American Navy, which remain on sale even after the victory. Apparently, this success forced Wolverine to reconsider the production technology. The transition from horseskin to pigskin turned out to be very successful: the boots became much softer, which immediately affected sales.

In the late 1960s, the Wolverine Shoe and Tanning Company bought a newcomer to the market - the Hush Puppies brand, breaking all sales records: statistics show that one in ten American adults must have at least one pair of these shoes. In 1992, Hush Puppies introduced the Durashocks, "the first truly comfortable work boot." The model is still available now: shock-absorbing cushions in the heel and toe area and the signature Vibram sole make it truly flawless to wear.

Perhaps the first serious boots that entered the Russian market. You say "tractors" - you mean Caterpillar. But to achieve such a stable association, the company had to go through a long winding path. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Californians Benjamin Holt and Daniel Best independently began to supply caterpillar tractors. Realizing that agricultural machinery is in demand more than ever, the partners merged their companies into the Caterpillar Tractor Company. Simultaneously with the United States, Caterpillar equipment appeared in Tsarist Russia, and later in the Soviet Union: the company supplied us with diesel engines.

The Caterpillar empire grew rapidly: more than 150 countries of the world were supplied with tractors, tractors and other brutal equipment. It was then that the need arose for the creation of strong and practical shoes for workers. For this purpose, Caterpillar Footwear Co was founded in the 1980s and licensed to produce professional footwear under the CAT brand. The first models did not differ much from modern ones: from the very beginning, manufacturers relied on strength and reliability - thick caterpillar soles and protective steel inserts in the noses. Such shoes quickly gained popularity among hard workers, and after 1994, when CAT Footwear became part of the American corporation Wolverine World Wide, among the rest of the population.

Born on the construction site, CAT shoes for a short time has become one of the leaders in the market of tourist, sports and casual footwear. Now the yellow nubuck pair literally hangs out of the TV, waiting for us on the street and meets us at the club. Model Mardy, for example, is especially dearly loved by Keira Knightley: the photo chronicle shows that the actress has actually grown together with them.

Today, the choice of shoes is so rich that it can satisfy even the most demanding customers. Classical, sports, "casual" - store shelves are replete with a variety of various models for every taste and income. And the number of manufacturers is just spinning. The question naturally arises: which company's shoes are the best? Let's find out which manufacturers are the most in demand today and have proven themselves from the best side in the shoe market of the planet.

The best sports shoe companies

Dress Shoes: Top Brands

Classic shoes are always in trend. It is relevant both in the office and on solemn event. Let's find out which brands have proven themselves not only with excellent quality, but also with the best price.

• is an American company founded in the 1970s. It has always been the standard of quality and restrained classics. In 1984, the company became the property of Reebok, which brought new fresh notes to the “boring” classic. Today the company is a segment of the Adidas corporation and is positioned as a manufacturer classic shoes"on the new way". Often classic models boots and boots are combined with bright colors. The XCS technology used by the brand protects shoes from mechanical damage.



Ballerinas by Rockport



• - English budget brand that produces shoes for the whole family. It has proven itself with excellent quality of materials, convenience and practicality of models.



Men's boots by Clarks



• - Danish trademark. It is very popular in Russia and the CIS countries. The price segment is above average. It produces collections of men's, children's and women's shoes. Especially popular are winter and demi-season models due to the use of innovative GoreTex material.



Men's boots from Ecco



• is an Italian brand founded in 1995 that has established itself as a manufacturer of quality footwear for the whole family in casual style.



Women's shoes from Geox



• Pikolinos- Spanish manufacturer of men's and women's stylish casual shoes. High quality shoes, using only natural materials.



Women's shoes from Pikolinos



• is a shoe brand from Switzerland. Shoes are produced in the middle price segment. Summer collections of shoes have proven themselves well. Winter shoes do not always withstand the changeable climate of Russian winters.



Women's shoes from Rieker



• - american brand for the whole family, which has recently gained popularity in Russia, thanks to its high red men's boots. Shoes of excellent quality in casual style, sometimes with sports motifs.



Men's boots from Timberland

This is not a complete list of all manufacturers on the Russian market. When choosing shoes, remember that a "recognizable" brand is only half of a successful purchase.

When the light autumn coolness smoothly turns into a real winter cold, it is very important to change light shoes for warmer shoes in time. This will protect against seasonal colds. For the representatives of the stronger sex, in most cases, high-quality men's shoes are more suitable. Winter types of shoes can be different, but boots or ugg boots are not always appropriate, and if you also have to comply with the office dress code, then the problem is exacerbated. I would like to combine quality, aesthetic appearance, and not overpay for such an acquisition, and for this it is advisable to carefully understand this issue.

Durability of winter boots

The problem with modern shoes is annoying impracticality, and it's very annoying when, in a matter of a couple of months, apparently quite decent men's shoes fall apart. Winter models, which are offered in the markets and in cheap stores, rarely make it to spring, and in especially neglected cases, they begin to let water through after a couple of weeks of wearing even in relatively prosperous urban conditions.

Even cheap boots designed for one season should last in acceptable condition from the onset of cold weather to spring heat, but in practice this is extremely rare. It turns out that it is more profitable to purchase high-quality shoes that will last more than one season, ideally at least two to three years. Since men's shoes are less subject to fashion changes, there is unlikely to be any loss on the aesthetic side.

What boots are needed in a winter city?

The modern metropolis is a rather contradictory environment. On the one hand, there are asphalt roads around, on the other hand, the sidewalk can quickly and unobtrusively turn into impassable mud, and the mixture of sand makes shoes unusable in record time. So what should men's winter boots be like in order to reliably protect their feet from cold and moisture, and at the same time so that their quality matches the declared price?

On average, shoes should be comfortable and warm enough so that the owner can spend several hours outside at a temperature of about 20 degrees below zero without compromising health and well-being. The fitting will be the starting selection criterion, and if the shoes are tight even slightly, then the feet will freeze in them. Therefore, you need to try on winter shoes while you should be able to move your fingers freely.

What are the criteria for quality winter boots?

Everything needs to be evaluated, and first of all it is important to know the classification. Men's winter boots are enough which should reach the beginning of the ankle. The so-called low shoes slightly open the ankle joint and are suitable for relatively dry and not too frosty weather.

High quality genuine leather outperforms all synthetics, calfskin is better than pigskin, and pressed is the lowest grade among natural materials. An insulated lining is also highly desirable - fur or high-tech synthetics, which sometimes costs more. According to this description, brief characteristics can be compiled, according to which high-quality winter boots for men are genuine leather, natural fur. And do not forget about the material and structure of the sole.

The grooved "tractor" sole shows itself best of all in winter, providing reliable grip even with slippery pavement powdered with snow. At the same time, the protrusions of the sole should be large enough, with deep and wide grooves between them. Leather thin sole is only suitable for moving in a car, a maximum of a few steps along the sidewalk from the car to the office door.

You also need to evaluate the strength of the seams, the number of parts, the quality of the sole attachment. There are no trifles in this matter.

and other materials for winter boots

As mentioned above, high-quality winter boots for men are genuine leather, natural fur, plus semi-rigid tractor sole. Leatherette shoes may look good, but they are not suitable even for greenhouse conditions.

Calfskin is the most expensive, but also one of the most durable options. The winter boots are made of rather thick leather, which is additionally processed for increased water resistance and resistance to surface damage. Pigskin is less practical, but can last an average of three to four seasons, especially with proper care.

A special issue is elegant suede boots. As a rule, they look great, they are pleasant to wear, but in a wet urban winter they quickly lose their decent appearance. Cleaning off salt stains and dirt from suede is much more difficult. However, this is not a reason to refuse a purchase, it is simply advisable to leave suede boots for clear, dry cold days.

Material and structure of the sole

Expensive and elegant shoes may have leather soles, but they are only suitable for offices and well-groomed alleys. Sticking prophylaxis will not solve the problem. Rubber or polyurethane soles are suitable for good wear-resistant shoes, but different manufacturers use very different materials for this. Low-quality polyurethane becomes stiff in the cold and can burst under a certain load. However, serious firms use higher quality raw materials.

The sole is attached by vulcanization. This is one of the best options. ECCO shoes are made in this way. If the usual firmware is used, then you will have to additionally process the boots to increase moisture resistance, but it’s not a fact that the result will suit you.

The best results are shown by the structured outsole from brands such as Vibram. This company produces sports and semi-sports shoes, including those for long walks. The service life of branded shoes can easily exceed ten years.

What lining to choose?

Any artificial fur can be immediately considered a decorative application designed to mislead the buyer. It heats up very relatively, quickly falls off, wipes off and “loses weight”. If you already choose synthetic insulation, let it be a special structured material that is used in branded sports shoes. It reliably isolates from moisture, while leaving room for air microcirculation.

Good winter boots with fur are made of leather lined with natural sheepskin. This is a fairly dense and warm fur, over time it slightly falls off the insole, forming something similar to felt, which has taken on the individual characteristics of the foot. But rabbit or hare fur, despite all its naturalness, can be considered a waste of money. Such a heater "balds" in a matter of weeks.

Laces or other types of fasteners?

There can be practically no disagreement here: the zipper on the classic men's boots out of place, as well as Velcro or puffs. Options are possible only on the appropriate sports shoe or even then in combination with reliable laces. For example, Adidas men's winter boots are high-quality and comfortable shoes, but they don't match the official suit at all.

Choice of boots by price

In the lower price segment there is a market, cheap shops and, to some extent, chains like "Tsentroobuv". The determining criterion when such budget winter boots are purchased is the price. Male models 2000 rubles each cannot be worn for a long time, by definition, but if you're lucky, they will last until the middle of winter. Of course, we are talking about daily wear in different conditions, including bad weather.

practicality leaders

Thanks to modern materials and the latest shoe making techniques, visual differences between shoe types can be blurred. For example, they can look quite modest and concise, almost within the office dress code, but at the same time they retain a high degree of practicality. For everyday wear with a semi-formal suit, these shoes fit almost perfectly.

According to customer reviews, of the companies represented on our market, the leadership is held by the top three companies - Columbia, Garmont and Merell. Three to five seasons, such boots can withstand perfectly, it is enough to take care of them regularly. They are followed by the brands Caterpiller, Salomon and Ecco. The products of all listed companies use Vibram, GTX, Gore-tex or Sympatex technologies, already proven by consumers, not only in urban conditions, but also in long transitions of medium severity over rough terrain.

When choosing winter boots, it is better to pay attention to the products of reputable companies that rely on quality and their own reputation, and not on momentary quick profits.