THE HISTORY OF THE SHOE IN COLDER CLIMATES

Have you ever imagined life without shoes? Today it is an unimaginable thing since the current world is full of all types of footwear. The discovery of shoes is attributed to the fact that human beings needed to protect their feet from outside effects such as cold, rocky surfaces, among others. During the early days, shoes were made to be known artisans in the society, unlike today, whereby shoe making form a factory industry earning enormous sums of money year in year out. The history of shoes can be put into the following eras: Prehistory era dating back to 2.5 million BC to 1250 BC, Antiquity 1250 BC to 476 BC, The Middle ages 474 BC to 1453 BC, and Modern Times 1918 to date. 

Over different eras, there have been various views among human beings, a different understanding of beliefs and art, political as well as economic factors. These factors have enhanced the shapes, designs, materials as well as styles in people's wardrobe. The stylishness and fashion of shoes have been transformed by the detection and seizure of new lands, different understandings of the world, and novel technologies. 

Sandals, which grew into fame during the Antiquity era as a result of the development of social classes, are known to have changed the original footwear, which dominated prehistory times. The first human footwear structures, establishment, and invention of the heel and their extensive use associated with feudalism are believed to have happened during the Middle Ages. Modern footwear is believed to have hit the market during the Renaissance and Baroque eras, which are periods of Early Modern ages. Modern technology has changed how shoes were designed, their fashion, and the social classes they were accorded since shoe making process has been made easy and straightforward.

First Footwear. 

The history of human footwear is so diverse that there is no definite pair of shoes marking its beginning. This is attributed to the fact that there have been several kinds of footwear associated with different climates, as well as diverse materials used in different zones where shoes emanated from. For instance, Northern zones footwear is known to have been made from thick leather, which was incorporated with either fur or hay to give them the desired warmth. The southern region's footwear was dominated by sandals made from papyrus fibre and palm leaves. Looking at Northerners' materials as opposed to their counterparts from the south, they depict a kind of shoes made to provide warmth. At the same time, the Southerners needed shoes for protection from natural outside effects.

Archeologists recorded the year 1991 as a great year in the history of footwear since it was in this particular year when they discovered a naturally embalmed human whom they named Oetzi. The fossil of Oetzi is believed to have lived about 3300 years ago. The named fossil is thought to have worn shoes crafted from deerskin while its sole was constructed from bearskin and sated with hay.  This discovery predicts precisely how the Stone Age period footwear manufacture technique was constituted. This type of footwear from Oetzi had a countable number of stitches; it was made in a way to provide the feet with warmth, while its uppers were made of wrinkled leather. The design observed in this footwear indicates that the shoe manufacturers had simple tools for the worker and limited know-how on how to make the shoes.

A lot of transformations and perfections on footwear models are believed to have happened during the migration era in the 4th to 6th centuries, and during the crusades, that's in the 11th to 13th centuries a time when Europeans trailed eastwards. This period saw Egyptian sandals, as well as the pointed shoes, flood the European market since there were increased contacts between the East and Europe. Almost at the same time, the heels were discovered a factor that gave a massive boost to Western footwear development. During the Middle Ages, footwear to be worn was dependent on their social class. Italy and Spain are the countries known to have contributed a lot to the flourishing of exclusive and prevalent trends of footwear. The achievement of this field by these two countries is attributed to the fact that they had the sturdiest seaports in Europe. They also enjoyed the presence of craftsmen shops as well as merchants who were developing at a rapid speed. Financial centres were also established in these two countries, which provided a good atmosphere for the footwear to establish firmly in the two countries. 

Before we get to see the shoes in colder environments, let's briefly look at different kinds of footwear trends over diverse historical ages.

Old Times and Antiquity.

Antiquity is the period capturing the time between 1250 BC to 476 BC.it saw the emergence of the first sandals in ancient Egypt, which were crafted from palm leaves, raw leather, and papyrus fibre. The sandals were strained and knotted at the ending of the foot. They are believed to have been made for only clerics and the pharaoh though later, all the ancient Egyptians were able to wear them. They were made in different colours, and each colour was a symbol of a definite social class.

During this period, the Greeks and Romans had sandals as their shoe models. Their sandals were long and designed in a way that they went midway to the knees; they also had numerous laces. In both countries, shoes were not put into the categories of gender, so either male or female could wear whichever shoe. Though everybody wore particular footwear, it had some regulations, for instance, in Greek, the sandals could only be worn by free citizens to differentiate them from the slaves. In Rome, the shoes were worn to put out someone's social class and their position in society; for this matter, a thin-soled shoe with many laces was a sign of one's high rank in the community.

The Middle Ages (476 to 1453 BC).

Despite the middle ages being associated with dark periods, it is believed that a tremendous amount of footwear styles and fashions emerged during this period. This era is associated with the invention of heels worn by men at their inception; the pointed shoes were born in the same period. Espadrilles, a type of footwear that originated from the Pyrenees, arrived in Central Europe and became popular among the Europeans during this period. These shoes were well-liked, for they were made of jute canvas, which made them light hence enabling them to provide a unique comfort to their wearers.

During the same period, the Europeans from central and north invented leather boots. These boots were designed in a way that could make them turn inside out and were sewn up together with their soles making them seamless structures. This design made them strong, but only soft and flexible leather could be used to construct them. These shoes could be worn during all the seasons as hay or fur could be added from inside to make them warm during cold seasons.

It was still during this period when poulaines were discovered; these were an unusual type of footwear which is believed to have long and pointed tips. The tips length could go up to half a meter. The length of their tip was a symbol of status. It is said that some of the tips were so long that special kind of laces was used to tie them to legs to facilitate proper walking of the wearer. This unusual footwear was made from velvet though some fancy elements were used to decorate them. 

Early Modern Times (1453-1918).

Men were the first gender to wear heeled shoes, which they did until the end of the 18th century. Their legs were considered a standard of beauty, though the women had an opportunity to wear fancy shoes, they were supposed to be hidden under long skirts or dresses. The rulers of Europe, such as the kings, wore high heeled shoes to pronounce their supremacy during the renaissance period. 

During the baroque cultural period, a period related to a lot of intricacy pretence, drama, and enormity, shoes were crafted from expensive materials such as velvet, silk, and satin as if this was not enough, they were decorated with synthetic flowers, gemstones, and ribbons. During this period, men were known to wear red-heeled shoes, a factor which signified their social status in society.

Men and women shoes started showing the difference in style, heel colour, and shape by the beginning of the 19th century. This period represents the end of an era where men used to wear high heeled shoes than women. The most significant breakthrough in the history of footwear making is believed to have happened during the period of the industrial revolution. In this period, investors and artisans in North America and the United Kingdom discovered efficient shoe sewing machines, which led to mass production of footwear. Due to the mass production of shoes, footwear became accessible to most of the people. By mid of the 19th century, the left and right shoe design become different. 

In the same century, laced shoes became popular; this was after the Americans started hardening the end of their shoelaces. The shoes which had laces above the ankles become common among men.

Modern Times (1918 TO DATE). 

The second phase of the 20th century saw a remarkable breakthrough in the production of footwear. These are attributed to American pop beliefs' institution and affluence, which made many people aspire to be different, unique, and form part of a particular subculture. The presence of various lifestyles, inexpensive raw materials, and new configurations transformed ladies and gentlemen's appearance. It is believed that Hollywood singers and actors played a vital role in promoting the popularity of footwear. 

Sports had an extraordinary impact on the shoe industry; for instance, basketball is considerably associated with the revolution of footwear, which was achieved through basketball sports shoes in 1917. This saw advancement in making, design, and classy of these basketball shoes season in season out. By the end of the 19th century, elegant, modern, beautiful and comfy shoes made of fabric with rubber soles were made by an American company. This was followed by mass production of shoes which came in different forms, styles and fashions.   

Footwear has had a very rich history over a long period, with the first pair of shoes having been made to protect the wearer from external effects such as rocky surfaces and coldness. The purpose of the shoes was incredibly advanced as time went by to suit various human expectations such as social class, status and gender. Today shoes still serve different purposes just like the olden days; for instance, we have shoes designed for various occasions such as sports, military, office wear, to name a few. Shoes are as well designed to suit different kinds of environments or regions, also not forgetting different weather and seasons. First, let's look at the shoes made for cold weather or what we can refer to as winter. 

Best Winter Footwear. 

Winter is a season known for its extreme coldness; thus, one needs to identify the correct type of footwear to guard them against such adverse weather conditions. One will be tasked with balancing the kind of footwear they admire while looking for a suitable pair to take them through a cold season; here are some of the top-class winter boots for you. 

Kamik Men’s Nationplus Boot.

Nationplus is known for its comfy. They are designed rated at -40 degrees, thus a sure pair to keep one's feet warm during the cold season. They are made of leather at their uppers while their soles consist of rubber. This ensures that the shoe is properly insulated as well as waterproof assuring the user of the much-needed comfort during the cold weather. These boots have a moisture-wicking lining and rust-proof lacing system, which makes them stay dry all through. Their soles are designed to protect the wearer's foot from wet conditions underfoot, thus giving them the quality one would wish to get from a shoe during winter.  

Kingshow Globalwin Winter Boots.

It's a unique boot designed to cope with winter. It has a cushioned collar, which ensures that one does not experience ankle discomfort while on it; thus, it can be worn comfortably for a long duration. This boot's lacing system is well suited to provide the right fitting; therefore, one foot is always secure in them. They have outer rubber soles, which makes them durable in addition to keeping proper traction with any surface, thus ensuring the stability of the wearer all through. Its comfort is added on by the light cushioning which is provided in its footbed. On top of these features, this boot is also waterproof as well as designed to have a microfiber lining which reflects heat, making it a top winter boot for ladies. 

Sorel Caribou Snow Boot.  

This is rated at -40 degrees, making one's foot remain warm and dry in whatever kind of weather they are experiencing. Its uppers are made of leather to give the wearer’s foot the highest level of protection. It is designed to accommodate a removable ThermoThermo plus felt of 9mm; this ensures that one's feet will remain warm and dry throughout. It has a rubber sole making it durable as well as comfortable pair one can think of; the soles are also lugged to make them cope with any terrain hence providing the much-needed stability to the user of these fantastic boots. It is designed to have a Sherpa snow collar, which increases the amount of the warmth supplied, thus making one's feet extra cozy during cold weather. Their outer soles are highly vulcanized, enabling them to wick away water. 

Sorel Joan of Arctic Boot.

It is known for its fashion and style hence standing out as a suitable pair for people looking for style and fashion during winter. Its uppers are made of leather, ensuring that one's foot is well protected; it is modified to obtain a waterproof feature, so its wearer is always free from experiencing wetness on their feet. It has a removable, felt inner, a factor that ensures one’s foot remains warm and snug, thus giving the wearer the comfort they desire. It is shelled with a vulcanized rubber outsole incorporated with a seam-sealed waterproof design, which ensures that one’s feet are kept out of any dump conditions hence building up the much-needed comfort. The shoe is given a touch of faux fur snow collar, giving it a fabulous look as well as style, thus producing one of the classy pair any modern lady would wish to have in their shoe cabinet. It has a unique D- ring-shaped lacing system which keeps the wearer's feet secured all through; on top of this, its rubber soles are lugged to ensure that the wearer is always secure in whichever terrain they traverse on. It is a suitable pair designed for ladies who would wish to participate in sporting activities such as sledding during the winter season.

Kamik Women’s Momentum Snow Boot.

Its unique feature is the gusseted tongue, which helps in keeping the winter snow at bay. It is seam-sealed to ensure that one's feet remain cool and dry. It also has a plush faux- fur collar, which gives it a great appearance and increases its warmth. It has a Thinsulate coting and removable footbed to make it offer more comfort to the wearer. It is designed to accommodate an anti-odour treatment mechanism; hence the wearer will not worry about any stench emanating from the shoe. Its lining is breathable, so one's feet will have to remain cool and dry all through. The lining is also designed to wick away any moisture, ensuring that damp conditions will never be experienced within the shoe. Its sole is made to offer excellent traction with any surface making the wearer secure in whichever terrain they traverse. 

Columbia Men’s Bugaboot Plus III.

Its construction gives it a seam-seal to maintain dryness of the wearer’s feet all through. It has an Omni-heat reflective lining, which increases the level of warmth in the shoe, making it even cozier. In addition to this, it has exceptional insulation preventing the wearer from experiencing any effects of cold weather.  It has a fantastic looking upper made of leather, which increases the wearer's safety as well as outer rubber soles, which makes the shoe durable on top of providing it with excellent traction within various surfaces, ensuring that the wearer remains stable all through. 

The North Face Men’s Chilkat.

Its name depicts a side of a mountain that is not easy to climb (North Face). These boots are waterproof as well as, well-insulated to assure the wearer of remaining warm and dry all through. They are designed to have icepick soles, which gives them excellent traction while traversing over,snow, making them the best pair to use while walking on snow terrain. They are molded in a unique injection-mold TPR shell, which is waterproof. They also have a touch of anatomical engineering to add their comfort. They have a well-designed lacing system to ensure that one's feet remain secure all through.

Columbia Women’s Minx Mid II.

It is characterized by geo-quilts, ghillie lacing, and faux-fur collar. These features ensure that the boot is secure and well-fitting to one's foot; the wearer's feet remain warm and dry, making it a comfortable pair to have; these features are again boosted by the shoe being waterproof and a reinforced overlay. It has a lightweight midsole making it lightweight; it is also designed to have a rubber sole, which is well lugged to ensure that no matter the kind of terrain one is traversing on, they will remain sure-footed. It has a 200g coating for harnessing heat as well as having a reflective lining; these features make it stand out as one of the unique boots to have for the winter season. 

Sorel Women’s Tivoli III Booties. 

They are unique for these features: waterproof, they possess a two-tone suede, and their uppers are made of leather. These features give them a good look making them a fancy pair of shoes to own. They are known for being extra warm, a factor which is attributed to faux- trim, which is incorporated to the microfleece lining all which is part of their making, giving them a stylish touch which any modern lady would want to be associated with. Their closure is made of lace-up, ensuring that one's feet are fitted and well secured in them. They have nice looking heels, and their outer soles are made of rubber, which is durable and gives them an excellent traction with any surface; thus, one is assured of stability all through irrespective of the terrain they are traversing on.

Merrell Men's Moab Polar Boots.

It is made unique by having M-Select dry treatment, which ensures that one's foot remains warm and dry all through. It is considered the greatest men's hiking boot as it protects the wearer's from whichever external factors while on the snow surface. Its outer sole is made of M-Select ICE GRIP; this creates excellent traction with whichever surface the wearer may traverse on assuring them of much-needed stability. Its uppers are made of leather, which increases their durability.  

Snowshoeing is a quite exciting exercise conducted to attain specific objectives such as; transportation, sporting, or even fun during a great outdoor experience. For one to get the fun and knowledge associated with snowshoeing, they need to acquire the best snowshoes. Excellent traction, floating, and stability are the aspects that should be given priority in snowshoeing; hence one will need the shoes which will enable them to achieve these aspects. Here is a list of shoes well suited to carry out the snowshoeing exercise. 

MSR Lightning Ascent.

MSR Lightning is known to offer the best traction, floatation as well as stability, which are the vital aspects in snowshoeing. These feature provided by this excellent footwear ensures that one's experience in walking in the snow is fantastic. It is designed to produce 360- degrees frames, split teeth Torsions2 crampons; these features enable the weight of the snowshoer to be disseminated squarely, thus enabling them to have perpetual as well as incessant acquaintance with the snow, assuring them of definite stability. These shoes are also designed to form posilock at bindings, freeze-resistant, making them safe to use in snowshoeing. They also have modular floatation tails, which gives their user the capability to ploy through the snow efficiently. These shoes take ergonomic design, which makes them durable, lightweight, and strong, making them impeccable for traversing. 

MSR Revo Ascent.

This is believed to be the most versatile and stable footwear in the market. It offers great traction with the surface due to its perimeter steel teeth; the teeth make it durable and comfortable to traverse in snow areas. The teeth also ensure that the wearer's weight is distributed evenly, enabling one to maintain fantastic contact with the surface hence making them more stable.

This shoe also has an injection-molded plastic deck, which increases their durability while at the same time enabling them to flex, making them quite useful to walk on in the snow. They have a modular floatation tail, which provides them with fantastic maneuverability. They have televators heel lifts, which offers good traction in whichever kind of surface, ensuring that the wearer is stable and safe on them.

Tubbs Wilderness.

This footwear is characterized by comfort, durability, and versatility. They can be used in any snow irrespective of the prevailing conditions. It is designed to produce a 180 pro binding, which gives it fantastic stability. This also makes it more secure to walk on as it holds one's foot cozily in the shoe. It has heel crampons to help the wearer walk on the sloped landscape. It is a lightweight shoe making it comfortable and efficient to walk on; it also has an aluminium frame which swings separately from the binding, making the shoe reduce snow build up as one traverse; the structure is also designed in a way to reduce fatigue by reducing the impact while one walks.

Tubbs Flex Vertical.

This is known for its fantastic stability and dynamic binding; it is designed to produce a Boa closure system that enables the wearer to distribute their weight around their foot. They have a flex tail, which aids in reducing fatigue along the wearer's joints. It has a carbon rail traction mechanism which can traverse efficiently in whichever kind of landscape; this makes the wearer safe on these shoes. It is also modified to accommodate a rotating toe cord, which has a limiting rotation design as well as a heel riser; this enables them to reduce fatigue, thus lessening strain in the wearer's calves. They have a fantastic traction system assuring the wearer of security in whichever landscape they may traverse on.

Chinook Trekker Snowshoes.

They are designed to make them an easy type of snowshoes to walk on. They are made with a weighty aluminum frame, which makes them durable. Its traction mechanism is so perfect that the user is secure in traversing in any kind of landscape. Their crampons, which are made of aluminum, have the ability to interchange freely with a tail that will plunge off, giving the shoes a room to shed bits of snow, which might collect on the shoes as one strides.  

Footwear has come a long way; it has a rich history among diverse communities in different parts of the world. It comes in several designs, each made to achieve a given purpose. Today shoes form a vital aspect of human life; it can be said that human and shoes are inseparable. Everyone has their favorite place from where they get their desired footwear, whether from a shop, market, or even the current online platforms.  Freaky Shoe Company is one of the online platforms that deals with designing all kinds of footwear, ranging from school footwear, sports shoes to shoes made for great occasions. In case you feel that your shoe dealer is failing you with kind of footwear they are supplying you with and you need more quality and classy footwear, then visit freaky shoe company on their website: freakyshoes.com.