Ballistic Nylon? GORE-TEX? Ronnie Fieg’s Hardy Boot is Near-Indestructible
Kith founder Ronnie Fieg’s newest collaboration, a boot made together with Minnesota-based footwear maker Vasque, can be described in many ways: hard-wearing, sturdy, rugged… however, that all feels like a slight understatement.
To truly do this hardy hiking boot justice, there’s only one way to describe it: the Ronnie Fieg for Vasque Skywalk GTX is near-indestructible.
"Vasque has been a part of my life since I began working in footwear thirty years ago. When I started in retail, I had the chance to really learn about product by holding it, seeing it, and examining it," Fieg tells Highsnobiety.
"That’s something I fear is lost today. The curiosity to learn about a product in-person, rather than just reading about it online. Because when you are able to spend time with product up-close the way I have, you learn what qualities separate good from great. Vasque is how I would define great."
Utilizing all the expertise built by Vasque in its 60-year existence, the shoe features ballistic nylon paneling on the upper. Yes, the highly engineered, woven nylon historically used in the military.
Developed to protect soldiers, especially airmen, from sharp objects and shrapnel, the material was largely replaced by militaries after the invention of Kevlar in the ‘60s. However, it can still be found on ultra-strong outdoor gear — such as these boots!
Layered above its sturdy ballistic nylon are supple suede overlays, providing some extra texture to the shoe’s look. And, in case that isn’t wear-resistant enough for you, the whole model is wrapped with a GORE-TEX membrane for a breathable and waterproof exterior.
Once these are released on October 25, available online and in-store via Kith, it’s likely the only outdoor boot you’ll have to buy for a long time. I can’t see these tearing or falling apart any time soon.
"I first officially partnered with Vasque in 2018 on the Sundownder GTX and Skywalk GTX," says Fieg. "These are two silhouettes I’ve worn for as long as I can remember. They are timeless, and more importantly, they are functional and high quality. The Skywalk is one of my favorite boot silhouettes ever, so seeing my name in their font on the collar is special for me."
There’s rarely a quiet day in the world of Ronnie Fieg and Kith, its ever-strong collaborative output and regular seasonal collections mean there’s always something going on. And, in tandem with these Vasque boots hitting its shelves, October 25 promises to be an especially busy day in the Kith-everse.
The full Kith Fall/Winter 2024 collection, unveiled earlier this week through a campaign with Japanese actor Ken Watanabe, will also be released this Friday. And it includes another footwear collab: the return of Clarks' signature Rushden Boot.
"It feels great to include two of my own colorways of the Skywalk in our Kith Winter collection, alongside so many other updated and premium products. Merging products from my past with the ones I’m making today is one of the many reasons Kith exists," says Fieg.
Leather jackets, double-breasted suits, woven leather shirting, ballistic nylon boots… Kith is dropping the lot on Friday. And more. The Kith store is going to be a busy place.
