Giesswein Vent Lodge Shoe

A very well made boiled wool lodge or camp shoe with an excellent cork and latex arch support footbed. Waterproof rubber soles.

During a Tour of Mont Blanc hike last September I became very enamored with the boiled wool slippers that were provided to the guests staying at our nightly accommodations. To keep their hotels and huts clean they would require us to remove our dirty hiking boots in a storage room and pick out a pair of boiled wool slippers to wear inside.

While cruising the floor at the Winter Outdoor Retailers trade show in January I happened upon the Giesswein booth. After looking over their line of products I zeroed in on the Lodge shoe. Giesswein has been making their products three generations in the village of Brixlegg, Austria.

I received a pair of the Lodge shoe in Euro size 42 or US9 and they fit really well. A heel loop at the back makes slipping them on a breeze and a quick tie toggle cinches them tight. The lodge shoe has been perfect for wearing at my Tahoe ski cabin since the rubber soles are gentle on the floors and the boiled wool upper keeps my feet warm and cozy.

While they keep my feet warm the wool upper breathes really well so my feet don't sweat. The shoe comes with a cork/latex removable footbed that has excellent arch and lateral support. I find that the more I wear the Lodge shoe the more the insole molds to my feet, very comfortable. While they have the appearance of a slipper this is a full-on shoe that can be worn outside as well as inside.

The molded rubber sole provides good traction even on packed snow and the wool upper is naturally water resistant. These shoes would be perfect around the campfire.

When the Lodge shoe gets dirty it can be washed without the footbeds on the gentle cycle of my washing machine and then left to air dry, very handy.

When ordering make sure the Lodge Shoe has the cork/latex insole as in Europe and certain US-based websites they are sold with a leather insole.

• Colors: Green, Black, Henna, Earth, Hibiscus, Ocean, Plum, Slate
• Sizes: Euro 36-48
• Cost: $142