HANWAG BERGPOST 2 – 2011/12 | 1
News, Stories and interesting Facts about the Bavarian Bootmaker
Edition 2 | Winter 2011/2012 | Free
Josef Wagner celebrates 90th Birthday
Ois Guade, Sepp! *
* means ”Happy Birthday” in a heavy Bavarian dialect
Foto: Peter Wilson
Two important birthdays in just one year: Hanwag has been around for 90 years and the very person who has successfully lead, directed and influenced the company for decades also celebrates his 90th birthday. Josef “Sepp” Wagner turns 90 on Dec. 21, 2011. Many people will chant “Ois Guade”, the Bavarian way of saying “Happy Birthday”. Text: Julia Englhart ”Sepp” Wagner on top of the Zugspitze - Germany‘s highest mountain.
Game, Set, Match... But “retirement” isn’t really his thing, and just being idle? Never! Even today you will run into Sepp Wagner in the production facility in Vierkirchen, just outside of Munich, Germany. He dives right in, oversees the finished products, and passes along his knowledge to colleagues. He does treat himself to the special luxury of a mid-day nap. And Thursdays? No time in the morning! He still meets his three tennis partners for a round of doubles each week. For this issue of the Bergpost we took the opportunity to ask him a few questions – ones that of those at Hanwag only he can answer. We wanted to know all about his re-
lationship with German climbing and paragliding legend (and namesake) Sepp Gschwendtner, how the small Bavarian shoe-making facility survived the war – and why you can only get the Munich beer brand “Spaten” at the plant. The interview with Hanwag’s “Sepp” you can read on the next page. And we’d like to offer our heartfelt best wishes – not only to his 90th birthday, but also to his life’s work... which is something you can actually wear!
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ix months ago we published our first issue of the customer newspaper, “Bergpost”. Of course, we were quite eager to find out how it would come out and if it would be enthusiastically read! We immediately questioned our friends and acquaintances further, prodding them with, “So, what do you think?”
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Greetings Bergpost readers!
Interview with President Emeritus Josef ”Sepp” Wagner
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Not only the tennis court is a good place to be: Sepp Wagner at the production facility.
The responses we received thrilled us. From all different types of people – customers, colleagues, shoe freaks, shoe fans, alpinists, lift operators, 24-hour trekkers, 8a climbers, adults and kids alike – we heard very positive feedback: “Authentic stories and interesting topics”. With that in mind, here you now have the brandnew second issue of the Bergpost. In the last issue we focused on our company’s 90th anniversary. This time around, it’s all about another 90th – the 90th birthday of our senior manager Josef Wagner in December 2011. So excuse us please for stepping back in time again, but “Sepp” – the nickname for Josef in
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EDITORIAL
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THIS EDITION:
Bavarian – has things to share. Nine decades – with 75 of those years with just one company – aren’t just for the shoemaker and for shoemaking a long time! Have fun reading!
Jürgen Siegwarth and the Hanwag team
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Boot in Detail: The Alaska GTX®
Retail: Interview with Evert Bobeldijk from Zwerfkei Outdoor Centre (Netherlands)
Twelve Young People from the Irschenberg Caritas Kinderdorf Cross the Alps on Foot
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Technology: The Secret behind Hanwag’s IceGrip Sole
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Hanwag Customers: Konrad Mühlberger
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What’s the Difference between Double Stitching and Genuine Double Stitching?
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The People behind Hanwag: Eva-Maria Lindinger
Page P.S. Just like last time we‘d love to get your feedback, whether it be praise or criticism. Drop us an email at Bergpost@hanwag.de or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com / Hanwag
Bivouac Shelter Successfully Mounted: How the Box was Flown in…
Photo: Thomas Gratzl
panded the once small shoemaker – with great success – until he finally entered a well-earned (not-so-truly) retirement in 2006 at 85 years of age.
Foto: Rafael Kroetz
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t all began for Hanwag at the family farm, “Samer Veitl”, where the three Wagner brothers who all ended up laying down strong roots in the boot market all grew up. Hans Wagner founded Hanwag, Lorenz Wagner also took a sip from the alphabet soup with his company Lowa, while Adolf Wagner broke rank – at least with his company’s name – by founding Hochland. Each made his own way. Hans Wagner turned early on to his nephew Joseph, called Sepp. Seventy-five years have slipped past since Sepp first tried his hand at shoemaking. In the last few decades much has happened: the company’s survival of the war and the difficult years afterward, the “economic miracle” (which were also the golden ages in the shoe market), and the continual balancing act of trend forecasting, innovation, technology, the modern and the traditional. Josef Wagner took over the management of Hanwag in 1964 and further ex-
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Hanwag ProTeam: Thorsten Hoyer
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Interview: Sepp Wagner
Bivouac Shelter Successfully Mounted
1946 from being a prisoner of war in France, everything was already back to normal. It was time to really dig in. A company with stories: What were Hanwag’s biggest successes and most important developments? The biggest success was and still is totally clear: Alpine boots. Of course today you can’t compare a modern boot with the heavy old bricks of yesteryear. In the mid1920s my uncle Hans Wagner had already begun production of truewelted construction boots. It took 60 stitches those days for one single size 42 boot – and each one was hand-stitched in strong leather.
Foto: Peter Wilson
“You have to think about that... 120 stitches for one pair of boots!”
Interview: Our President Emeritus Sepp Wagner tells us all about himself and the past 75 years at Hanwag.
“Boots? My goodness!” Text: Julia Englhart
“89 and a bit” replies Josef “Sepp” Wagner when asked about his age. I’m with the nearly 90-yearold nephew of Hanwag-founder Hans Wagner to ask him a few questions that probably nobody else here can answer. In his heavy Bavarian dialect, he reaches deep into the past – Sepp has been with the business for more than 75 years. He began in 1936 as a shoemaking apprentice and went on to head up the company for 42 years. Talking to him is a journey into bootmaking history from the early days to the present.
Mr. Wagner, you’ve worked for 75 years at Hanwag. What do you think about when you look back on all those years? The most important thing first: The shoemaking profession and leading the company has always been a pleasure for me. You see something you created with your hands’ work at the end of the day and are satisfied when a shoe fits well and fulfils its purpose. That’s the satisfaction derived by craftsmen. It was never boring and still isn’t to this day. Just like other companies likely experience, we had our ups and downs, successes and crises. In addition, there were situations during the war and the time afterward when you just didn’t know if the manufacturing facility would still be standing the next day. That was far from fun... but we kept on. How did Hanwag survive World War II undamaged? Undamaged? Well, we were luckily never a bombing target, but everything changed afterward. After the war ended, looters struck, and they simply took everything with them that wasn’t nailed down: All the shoes, finished or not, tools and materials. But of course the large heavy machinery was left. My goodness, how could you carry those out? By four months after the end of the war my uncle Hans Wagner and the workers were far enough along to be able to start up production again slowly. When I returned to Vierkirchen in
Since then so much has changed and been developed, from materials, to manufacturing methods and even the machinery that we have in the plant. You can most certainly speak of success! Such are the developments that a lot of us experienced over the years, even created ourselves, or helped with and participated in. In the early ‘30s brogue oxfords and breeches were totally trendy. So for a time it seemed all we made were brogues. We were flexible. Also in this phase skiing was the thing to do. So we built randonnée boots and were very successful. Our style, Haute Route, was in the ‘60s one of the most successful alpine touring boots on the market. Why don’t you make ski boots anymore? You have to do what you can do best! When it became common for ski boots to be made of artificial materials, we turned to focus on our specialty – injection moulding wasn’t a part of that – so we stepped back from the ski boot market. That was quite an event! But it turned out to be the best decision. Because of that we began to make climbing shoes – and with Sepp Gschwendtner we had a great advisor in our camp. Sepp times two, one called Gschwendtner and one called Wagner – tell us about your work with the climbing legend? OK, so now we get to talk about fun and pleasure again! The close relationship with Sepp didn’t just turn out great climbing shoes (for those times), but also meant a whole lot of fun. We really complemented each other well and spoke the same language: He was an expert in climbing, and I was in craftsmanship. It just really worked perfectly. Later Sepp got into paragliding and so did we. I dare to say Hanwag is today’s most successful paragliding boot-maker. Shoemaker, yesterday and today – what’s changed? Back at you: Trekking, yesterday and today – what’s changed? I can’t begin to compare a lightweight 700-gram Gore-Tex® trekking boot with one from before that was three
times as heavy. But of course we‘re still travelling over the same terrain. Special mountaineering boots has also reached an unbelievably high level: light but still functional. Things have even reached the same level in production. Up until the ’60s, there were almost exclusively trained shoemakers. They knew all about manufacturing rocksolid footwear. These days, modern machinery has taken over a part of the work and, in some areas we can hire and train people who aren’t even familiar with the trade. It’s much more difficult to find those who can master the Norwegian welt construction methods. I always enjoyed to train others myself in this traditional art – that has gone well even today. There are only very few shoe manufacturers who are able to craft true welted construction footwear. These robust pieces now sell really well. How did it come to the acquisition of Hanwag by the Swedish Fenix Outdoor Group, which also owns Fjällräven, Primus, Brunton und Tierra? My daughter worked in the company and wanted to keep it going after my retirement. Then she passed away from a serious illness. There was lots of uncertainty in the troubled times after that about how the company would be able to continue. Years later I had to think seriously about the future of Hanwag. I sought a suitable buyer whom I told that the prerequisite was keeping all the employees. The Swedish Fenix Outdoor Group took over Hanwag in 2004. Today I’m still satisfied about my decision. The company is running as it always was, there is a lot of growth, the production has stayed in Vierkirchen, and the quality standards have remained on the same level. I know that Hanwag is in good hands. I trust what is going on here, and I don’t come here to control what’s happening. But I don’t hesitate to cast a look over the production each day.
How the Box was Flown in… Photos | Joachim Stark
A flying red shoebox? Well, not exactly.... In mid-August 2011 the bivouac shelter that we gifted for our 90th anniversary to the German Alpine Association and, therefore, to the entire alpine community, was installed. And how else other than by helicopter was it able to take its place at 2,684 meters on the Jubiläumsgrat (Jubilee Arète), which connects the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain and Alpspitze? A special transport helicopter, a “Super Puma”, flew the emergency shelter in one piece, attached to four steel cables high to its home where the foundation had already been prepared. The flight proceeded so quickly that ProTeam member and photo-
grapher Joachim Stark was really stressed to get all the photos. We don’t want to deprive you of his best images! The bivouac shelter now offers alpinists a sanctuary in summer as well as in winter against wind and bad weather. You can find more at www.hanwag.de.
One last question just between us: Down on the production floor there is a beer vending machine. But why the Munich brand ‘Spatenbräu’? (Sepp chuckles briefly) Really simple: we always had beverages from the Vierkirchen brewery. It was acquired by Spaten at some point – and we were “bought” along with that, if you will. That works out, and none of us really drink beer during the workday anyway. If we do, then it’s an occasional happy hour pint!
“Jo” Stark spends most of his time out in the mountains. He is a graduated Sports Sciencist and works as a journalist and photographer. Last August, he went up the jubilee ridge with his camera to portray the installation. www.joachimstark.de
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SHOE IN Detail:
A dozen youth from a children’s home in the small Bavarian town of Irschenberg cross the Alps
ALaska GTX
® Awarded: The Alaska GTX® is not only one of our most popular trekking models - it is also a multiple award winner. German magazine “Outdoor” awarded it already four times, one recommendation came from magazin “Alpin” and “4 Seasons” test editors honoured the Alaska GTX® as “State of the Art” trekking boot.
Comfortable and robust - a true classic among trekking boots
Air-Pulse System: Increased comfort and enhanced air circulation due to a pumping action in the tongue and cushioning while walking.
Reduced Seams (Balmoral): Fewer seams reduce the risk of rubbing and pressure points. Hanwag uses a special technique, which makes it possible to reduce the number of seams. It might sound simple, but it involves very complex craftsmanship.
Photo: Thomas Gratzl
Lining: GORE-TEX®: Patented ultra-lightweight micro-porous expanded PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) membrane. Durably waterproof and very breathable.
Deep-Pull Lacing: Special side clamps effectively hold the heel in place and ensure full ankle support. Helps to prevent twisted ankles and minimizes blisters. Nubuk: Top-grain leather sanded on the outside to produce a velvet-like surface. Strong, durable and expensive. For the Alaska GTX®, we use 2.6 to 2.8 mm thick nubuk leather.
Insole: The ”heart” of a boot (not visible from the outside) connecting the upper and the sole unit. The Alaska GTX® comes with a graded memory insole for high stability.
Elevated Brim: An all-round rubber rand, handcrafted around the lower part of the upper. It protects the leather from scree and rocks and significantly increases the boot’s stability and durability.
Responsibility for the group leaders: the trek passed alpine trails and high peaks.
Irschenberg – Alpine Peaks – Adriatic Sea More than 400 kilometres and some 15,000 meters of elevation change in three weeks: That’s what was on the vacation plan for 12 youth ages 11-17 from the Caritas children’s home in the German town of Irschenberg. Together with five supervisors they planned the Alpine crossing that went from upper Bavaria’s Irschenberg (well-known to area drivers because of its famous traffic bottlenecks) all the way to Lignano on the Italian Adriatic Sea north of Venice. Text: Thomas Gratzl
Weight: The Alaska GTX® weighs in at 850 grams in size 7.5.
Strap-on Crampon: Crampon compatible sole construction for strap-on (flexible/walking) crampons. Designed for general mountaineering activities and easy snow and glacier travel. Not suitable for steep ice and harder mixed climbs.
Interview: Evert Bobeldijk from the Zwerfkei Outdoor Center in The Netherlands
Trekking Boots for Flatlanders
Hanwag is based in Vierkirchen, Bavaria. The Dutch Zwerfkei Outdoor Center is at home in Woerden between Amsterdam and Rotterdam. About 800 kilometres distance – but both places are driven by the love for outdoor sports – and for footwear in particular. Evert Bobeldijk has been head of the Zwerfkei Center for 25 years.
For 27 years the Zwerfkei Outdoor Center has sold high-end gear. Since when did Hanwag boots join the assortment? I’ve been managing this shop now for 25 years and pretty much at the same time started with Hanwag, so to speak. When I arrived, the first boots from Vierkirchen were already on the racks. I remember that well: We began with one welted-construction model and three trekking styles. We were certainly the first shop in the Netherlands to sell Hanwag boots.
Evert Bobeldijk in the Zwerfkei Outdoor Center. For the last 27 years outdoor enthusiasts have found high-quality gear and honest advice here in the 3,300-square-meter store.
Photo: Zwerfkei Outdoor Center
Text: Julia Englhart
How did the sales of Alpine and Trekking boots evolve in your shop? About five years ago we experienced a real outdoor boom, and we still are pleased to have pretty stable growth. In our shop we carry about 200 different Alpine and Trekking boots that are very popular – even styles
for mountaineering. But mostly what sells very well are light trekking boots of categories A and B (find out more about our categories in the last issue of the Bergpost [http://www.hanwag. de/media/fck-media/bergpost-english.pdf]). For example Banks GTX is a favourite. Of course we now sell more than just the four styles from Hanwag. About 80 percent of Hanwag‘s entire collection is on our racks! We have always stood for high-quality here – especially with boots. That does us well. Many customers return after many years and after many adventures to buy the same style again. That really means for me that it’s a quality offering. And that’s what we’re all about! The Netherlands is renowned for cheese, tulips, camper vans and canals – but mountains?
Not to be found! How can you explain the enthusiasm for trekking and the outdoors? One connects what is classically known as trekking with the mountains, yes of course. But you can also hike in the flatlands here or on the ocean front to discover nature. That’s how I explain the development of more and more people heading outdoors. They want to get to know nature and be physically active – which you can do when you are trekking. And of course a lot of people from The Netherlands take holidays in the mountains. We notice that in the shop. We always inquire what customers have planned for the boots and what kind of terrain they will be used on in order to best advise them. When you hear the holiday destinations you can actually become quite envious!
By bike through the Alpine foothills, by foot over the Alps, and by raft all the way to the sea. We outfitted the group with boots and were quite eager to hear if it went well... Social worker Thomas Gratzl, who went along as a leader, reports:
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hew, boy did we really pick something to do or what? Powered only by our own gumption from the front door all the way to the sea, i.e., from Irschenberg to the Adriatic Sea. Along with 12 youth who live in the children’s home with us, four other chaperones and myself go along. I certainly have a whole lot of respect for the distance that lies before us. But I also know that we can do it. We start out promptly at the beginning of the holidays. A bit funny really: Others plunk themselves in a car and have the distance behind them in a half-day. We have planned three weeks to do it. We bike the first part of the journey to the main Alpine divide. Already on the first day in the Bavarian Alps we get a good feeling for the impressive scenery that would move us in the coming three weeks. Most of the youth have never before been trekking in the mountains for any longer than a day or two.
Photo: Thomas Gratzl
Vibram® Fuora: Durable trekking sole with semi-rigid shank and counter-posted anti-slip tread in the middle section. Heel shock absorber and anti-supination/-overpronation inserts in PU mid sole for motion control. The women‘s version Alaska Lady GTX® comes with elevated heel.
kilometres in a desert-like climate! But that too we conquered. Despite the adversities that Mother Nature tossed in front of her visitors, as well as the cramps and combats, big and small, with which we battled – both with ourselves and each other! Together we push ahead until the end. For the beach vacationers we must be quite a sight when we arrive on the 20th of August: plenty exhausted but overjoyed to climb out of our rafts and, hand-in-hand, to leap jubilantly into the sea. Without our boots on, it goes without saying!
The young alpinists walked on different HANWAG models:
One, two and UP with the feet: Robust boots are the be-all and end-all for a three-week-long crossing of the Alps.
The first high point: On the last day of the bike stage we catch a glimpse of Austria’s Grossvenediger peak. Breathtaking! But we are also awe-struck since this peak is actually on our schedule! The impressive high-alpine world of glaciers doesn’t leave any of us cold, whether young or old. Full of pride we are able to announce after three days in the accompaniment of two mountain guides that we have crossed the first big hurdle! We are convinced now that nothing else can stand in our way. None of the youth wants to go back anymore. All insecurities have disappeared, and the goal is plainly in sight: Bella Italia! In spite of the expected effort and some difficulties we hold together strongly as a team, helping out and supporting each other whenever it is needed.
No one is fast or slow; we are a team! Towards the end of our mountain
adventure even an expected threehour-long trek means nothing and, without question, is conquered in two-and-a-half hours. By foot we trek all the way to the Italian town of Tolmezzo. From here we intend to take a raft the rest of the way. When we arrive, the rafts await us. We all believe that now on the river Tagliamento the easy part of our journey begins. Paddle a little, splash about, pushed along by the current, the Adriatic coast beckons…
Friction GTX®
Ferrata Combi GTX®
Even paddling boats isn’t a natural gift But the raft section is much more challenging and slower than we thought. Even on the river a certain amount of energy expenditure is demanded. And when the water under us becomes less and less and, finally, is totally impassable, even more energy is required: We have to do a portage for a section, actually carrying the boats! It is indeed a tough day’s trek to carry heavily laden rafts for 30
Crack GTX® Photo: Thomas Gratzl
Photo: Thomas Gratzl
Fit: Hanwag is renowned for the superb quality of its footwear. All parameters, e.g. lasts, materials, lacing and soles are engineered for the best possible fit. We cobble this model also in a special version for women on a gender specific last: Alaska Lady GTX®.
Young alpinists from top to bottom – appropriate gear including crampons and ice axes were part of the package.
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Technology: The Secret behind Hanwag’s IceGrip Sole
Friedl’s Boot Basics
It ain’t no Gimmick
➊ ➋ ➌ ➍
IceGrip sole appeared on the . ”It’s just a gimmick” I remember thinking, ”I mean how on earth is a normal rubber sole going to provide a better grip on ice?” It just so happened that a pair of
How does HANWAG IceGrip work? Our IceGrip sole features a special rubber compound with extremely fine glass particles which cling to the surface having an effect like sanding paper. This makes it the perfect sole for all kinds of winter boots - and: all winter boots are cemented constructed, that means they are stable and easy to resole.
test boots arrived at my house as winter descended upon us. I live in Huben, a small hamlet at the end of the Priental, a pretty narrow valley in the in Bavarian Alps and a place where winter is still a real winter. We sometimes get one-and-a-half meters of snow. I’ll also admit that I’m the proud owner of a Honda track drive snowblower. Even Michi, my neighbour casts envious glances from time to time – and he’s a farmer who has more than his fair share of big machines and toys for big boys. Where we live there are a fair few mountain huts that remain open throughout the winter. Their approach roads get cleared of snow and turn into a sledger’s paradise (and I mean proper sport sledges not those stiff, boring wooden ones). So basically it’s the perfect place for testing winter boots.
I have to admit that I was astonished at the grip provided by my IceGrip boots. There’s not much difference when you use them on snow, where it’s mainly the tread that provides the traction. But on hard, icy ground (e. g. walking behind my snow blower or on the toboggan runs) and even on the icy roof of my house – the results were incredible. I’m prepared to stick my neck out and say that the IceGrip sole is significantly safer than conventional soles. It could also be particular beneficial for older people. The best way to test it is to wear a normal shoe on one foot and a shoe with an IceGrip sole on the other. Go try it out for yourself – and you’ll soon see whether it’s a gimmick or not. A word of caution: should you enter a room with nice parquet flooring, take your boots off first. The
IceGrip soles contain fine glass particles that have an effect similar to that of sand paper – best take them off if you want to be invited back!
Text: Johann Friedl Till Gottbrath is known as the founder and former chief editor of Outdoor magazine (one of the most important outdoor printed media in Germany). Together with Susanne Kern he has been running Kern Gottbrath Kommunikation for 12 years. KGK represents Hanwag amongst other clients. True to his love of the mountains, he lives in an old farmhouse in Chiemgau, in the Bavarian Alps.
Double stitching was used in the 1920s because it was robust, in the 1960s because it was fashionable and in the 1990s because of its retro appeal. Today it’s used because it makes sturdy footwear that looks good and lasts a lifetime. In the Alps, footwear manufacturers are proud of their double-stitched boots (in Germany we call them “Zwiegenähte”). However, just because a boot has double stitching, it doesn’t mean that it is a genuinely double-stitched boot. Confused? Friedl is just the man to explain the difference.
Friends for Life The phone rings in the service department: “Grüß Gott, my name is Konrad Mühlberger. I’m phoning about my randonnèe skiing boots. Unfortunately I’ve lost the loopfastener – would you be able to send me a replacement?”
Konrad Mühlberger wearing his Hanwag ”Osorno” boots. They’ll be out and about again together this winter.
reflects on his aerial feats from ground level instead. “It used to be just the countryside, my paraglider, my boots and me. I would look down and say to myself ‘What have I got myself into this time!’” These days Konrad uses his boots for hiking, because “they are so comfortable and so well worn in. I’m really attached to them and couldn’t imagine wearing anything else.” TG
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ouble-stitched footwear can be easily recognised by its characteristic double rows of stitching. There are two different ways of doing this – there is “genuine” double stitching and “false” double stitching. We only use the first of these techniques. Here’s how we do it. First we punch out the insole ➊ (the foundation or heart of the shoe that can’t be seen from outside) and then tack it to the last. Then we introduce the first row of stitching. ➍ This stitching connects the leather upper and the lining ➋ to the insole rib ➊ (a lip on the insole used to stitch it to the lasted upper). Once this first row of stitching is completed we turn up the upper. We bend the leather upper ➏ at a right angle so that the edge lays flat on the midsole. This is called outflanging. On certain models a reinforcing strip ➌ (aka reverse welt or Norwegian welt) is also added to the side of the boot at this point. Next, we trim any excess material from the heel, toe cap and the lining. The remainder, i.e. the leather upper margin (aka flange) is then secured with a second row of stitching. This second row of stitching (hence double stitching) ➎ combines together the leather upper, reinforcing strip (if applicable) and midsole. ➐. The finished boot has an upper that is secured by two strong rows of stitching. This is what we mean by genuine double stitching. At
Reinforcing Strip Stitching Double Stitching
Leather Upper
Midsole
Hanwag we only use this technique. Other manufacturers produce footwear using “false” double stitching. Here’s how they do it. Their first stage also has a row of stitching (the same as genuine double stitching). However, during the second stage the entire margin is removed from the heel, toe cap, and lining and the leather upper (i.e. there is no flange). The second row of stitching therefore only passes through the reinforcing strip and the midsole. This means that the leather upper is not stitched a second time. On footwear with genuine double stitching the edge of the leather upper is visible on the edge of midsole/sole below the reinforcing strip. You won’t find this on footwear with false double stitching. Instead, it disappears inside the shoe. At the end of the day it’s not what a boot looks like but its robustness and stability that counts. And this is where these distinct construction techniques produce very different results. Only genuine double stitching secures the leather upper using a sec-
ond stitch, which provides additional stability. False stitching only secures the upper to the reinforcing strip, which is a much weaker connection. With false stitching, the midsole is glued to the upper, but even the best glues are not as strong as stitching. In addition, if the reinforcing strip or stitching breaks, the boot cannot be repaired. There is another third type of false double stitching, which is even less effective. I’m referring to footwear that appears to have double stitching, but which is only glued. Look carefully and you’ll see that they have a standard outsole only with a doublestitched look. Basically they are good for nothing, or as we say in Bavaria “a recht’s Glump”. Needless to say, we don’t use these types of soles at Hanwag. All of our double-stitched boots have genuine double stitching. Only a few bootmakers still master the demanding process of double stitching boots. This is the way it has been at Hanwag for over ninety years and this is the way it will continue.
A new era of comfort In the past, there was an often painful price to pay for the robustness of double-stitched boots: it took ages to wear them in. All kinds of stories get told, e.g. tales of German army recruits peeing into their boots etc]. Anyway, forget about all that. Today’s foam padding, soft leather linings and handcrafted expertise mean that modern double-stitched boots take far less time to wear in – or none at all.
The People behind Hanwag: Eva-Maria Lindinger
“I’ve got more shoes than Cameron Diaz” Text: Josefine Hille
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Konrad Mühlberger with his boots: Hanwag “Osorno” (left), Hanwag “Fly” (right)
Photo: Peter Wilson
Foto: Peter Wilson
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Friedl knows everything there is to know about bootmaking. His full name is Johann Friedl, but at Hanwag everyone calls him just Friedl. He comes from Austria and he’s been with us as a footwear developer since 2009.
What’s the Difference Between “Double Stitching” and “Genuine Double Stitching?”
Hanwag Customers: Konrad Mühlberger
e’ve been repairing footwear for years, but in this case we were unable to help Konrad Mühlberger with his ”Osorno” boots. And we know a thing or two about ski boots. In the 1970s the Hanwag “Haute Route” was practically the only randonnée skiing boot on the market until 1979. As new injection moulding techniques for ski boots were introduced – a completely different technological process and not one that reflects Hanwag’s traditional strengths – we decided to concentrate on making what we can make best: mountain boots and trekking footwear. And continue to do so to this day. Chatting to Konrad on the phone, it soon transpired that he uses his Hanwag footwear not just in the snow… but also in the air. We decided to pay him a visit at his home in Allershausen, Upper Bavaria to take a closer look at his boots and get to know him. He continued to use his 20-yearold Hanwag “Fly” paragliding boots until recently. Now at the age of seventy-seven – and much to his wife’s relief – he uses them for hiking and
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Lining
va-Maria Lindinger has a lot of shoes. In fact she currently has over 1,000 pairs – which is probably more than Cameron Diaz owns. No, she’s not a shopaholic, Eva-Maria works in the service department at Hanwag where she deals with the complaints and repairs. If your old Hanwag boots need resoling or repairing then Eva-Maria is the person to talk to. Upon arrival the footwear is monitored to determine the appropriate course of action. It’s not always the most glamorous of tasks – old boots are not generally known for their fragrant smell. Nevertheless Eva-Maria takes it all in her stride, “Sometimes you just have to hold your breath and get on with it. Although I sometimes wish that people would at least clean their boots before sending them to us. I mean they could remove cow dung stuck in the sole first.” After closer examination, the shoes are taken over to the repair or resoling department, while
Evi wages war on the paperwork (the invoices and postage labels). Despite this she’s always ready to listen or provide good advice should a customer call or get in touch by email. Asked if she finds her job stressful, she said, “Yes, it is sometimes – we resole more than 500 boots a month. But I don’t mind, because I enjoy what I do. And I talk to all kinds of different people every day, which is really important to me.” Eva-Maria is fascinated by some of the stories behind the boots. Customers sometimes even send in their holiday photos. Postcards from around the world are proudly displayed on the wall in her office. How did Eva-Maria (27) come to join Hanwag? She used to be a sales manager in a furniture store. Then she decided to turn her back on home furnishings to work in footwear. She has been a member of the Hanwag team for almost two years and knows exactly how to win over her bootmaker colleagues when something needs sorting out in a hurry. “I have been known to bribe them with
chocolates or pieces of cake – the chocolates seem to work best,” she adds with a wink. “You don’t get anywhere without a few tricks up your sleeve.” We did ask Eva-Maria how many pairs of shoes she actually has at home. She rolled her eyes at the question. “Hmm… somewhere around 120 pairs.”
ABOUT Hanwag Bergpost is the customer magazine from Hanwag GmbH and is published twice a year. Publisher Hanwag GmbH, Wiesenfeldstraße. 7, 85256 Vierkirchen, Germany, +49 – (0)8139 – 9356 0, Jürgen Siegwarth, www.hanwag.de, bergpost@hanwag.de (The contents are the sole responsibility of Hanwag.) Printing by Offizin Scheufele, Tränkestr. 17, 70597 Stuttgart, www.scheufele.de, Germany Print circulation: 8.000 printed copies Editorial and Conceptual Development Kern Gottbrath Kommunikation GbR, Ungererstr. 161, 80805 München, Germany, www.K-G-K.com
Photo: Peter Wilson
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can still recall the very first meeting. We were sitting there in the office when suddenly a winter boot with an IceGrip sole appeared on the desk We were sitting there and suddenly a winter boot with an
Till relying on the traction of the IceGrip sole. After shovelling off the snow, the roof underneath was quite icy. His wife forced him to leave the snowblower in the garage.
Photo: Nicole Dörr
Better watch out, I’m the Hanwag PR-man and an artful deceiver… at least that’s what some say. However, as a matter of principle, I never claim anything that I don’t believe in. When it comes to the IceGrip sole, I’m proud to stand behind it – or rather on it.
Foto: Peter Wilson
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Insole
No shoe shopaholic: Eva-Maria Lindinger works in our service department.
Editorial Team (Text and Photography) Julia Englhart, Till Gottbrath, Peter Wilson, Benedikt Braun, Jürgen Siegwarth, Johann Friedl, Thomas Gratzl, Josefine Hille, Jo Stark, Nicole Dörr. Graphic Design & Production B612 GmbH, Franz Scholz, Tübinger Str. 77-1, 70178 Stuttgart, Germany, www.b612-design.de Translation: Therese Iknoian, James Heath
8 | HANWAG BERGPOST 2 – 2011/12
24 Stunden von Bayern
NEWS
Approach shoe BADILE LOW GTX ® – as Recommended by Bergsteiger Magazine
444 Participants hike for 24 Hours through Bavaria’s Frankenwald
Hikers Brave Border Guards and Witches We have been organising Bavaria’s cult hiking event ”Hanwag 24 Stunden von Bayern” together with the Bavarian Tourist Board for four years. 2011 saw 444 participants hike day and night through the Frankenwald Nature Park around Bad Steben. And 24 hours is a long time to be on your feet, but there was no chance of getting bored. The organisers had done a superb job and even had a few surprises in store. There was a rebuilt control point at the former East German border between Franconia
The German magazine ”Bergsteiger” tested twelve approach shoes in its 2011 June issue, including the Hanwag Badile Low GTX®. It was awarded the ”Bergsteiger TIPP Gelände” for being the best shoe in rough terrain. The testers highlighted its superb all-terrain capability, good grip and fast lacing. According to the editors, the Badile Low GTX is ”an excellent shoe for via ferratas and rough terrain”.
and Thuringia complete with border guards, local brass bands providing musical entertainment and witches serving herbal liqueurs in the woods. These and other highlights helped make the 24 hours a memorable experience for hikers. Aged between 18 and 70, they came from all over Germany and a few of them were even from elsewhere in Europe. For more detailed information about the 2012 ”Hanwag 24 Stunden von Bayern” event please visit: www.24h-von-bayern.de
By Dog Sled, Cross-Country Skis and on Foot
Photo: Till Gottbrath
Photo: Frode Sandbech
It’s always good if your hobby matches your occupation. And even better so, if you test yourself what you sell. Hans Axelhed sells our footwear in Sweden and spends a lot of time in the great outdoors – where having the right footwear makes a huge difference. Hans once spent four weeks travelling through North Scandinavia by dog sled, covering over 1,200 kilometres in the process. The active 64-year old is currently training for his next adventure (this time it’s without mountain boots). In March 2012, he will be taking part in the legendary Vasaloppet cross-country ski marathon. It’s the oldest and bestknown long-distance (90 km) cross-country ski race in the world and attracts 15,000 participants. We wish him every success!
One day and one night: the hikers in the very early morning...
Hanwag ProTeam gets Two New Members Michi ”Staxi” Stacheder and Benno Keill are passionate climbers, mountaineers and skiers who make a living from their ‘vertical’ hobbies. We are delighted to welcome the two mountain guides from the foothills of the Bavarian Alps to the team and look forward to hearing more about how they put their Hanwag footwear to good use. For more information about their company, Mountain Elements, visit www.mountain-elements.com
Introducing the Hanwag ProTeam: Thorsten Hoyer
Thorsten Hoyer, Distance Trekker
Powerful Personalities with the Drive to Move: Hanwag ProTeam We don’t get involved with celebrities who for money are more than happy to lend us their faces – or, in this case, their feet. Instead, we work together with 17 outdoor enthusiasts who are always on the go outdoors. They have fun contributing suggestions for improving the footwear. From the team, we figure out what we do well, what we could do better, but also where for example a boot has a pressure point. In each issue of the Hanwag Bergpost we want to introduce you to team members. Ongoing news from and about the ProTeam you’ll find at www. hanwag.de/proteam.
ProTeam member Thorsten Hoyer isn’t only on the move a lot; rather, he is on the go in extreme ways: 220 kilometres all at once through Iceland, 125 kilometres non-stop over the Alps, or simply setting out and then seeing how long until he stops. In August 2011 he set a new personal best: 231 kilometres without stopping in 58 hours – and of course all of that without sleeping and with unbelievable rain downpours along the way. The adventure started in Eisenach in northern Germany’s Thuringia, then it took Thorsten over the so-called “Rennsteig” – a ridge path in the Thur-
ingian Forest in Central Germany – then along the “Frankenweg” – a route in Franconia in the northern reaches of Bavaria – until almost Kronach in northern Bavaria. He never got bored because he had companions along the way: reporters, friends, deliverers of gummy bears and candies, and other trekkers popped in from time to time. Two radio stations reported during the entire trek how our ProTeam member was faring. No matter where the path leads and how long “non-stop” lasts, Thorsten is usually wearing the Altai GTX. Maybe he’ll tackle a new distance soon: 300 kilometres non-stop? We’re awaiting eagerly to find out what Thorsten will take on in the future.
Hanwag Expands Partnership with DAV Munich / Oberland Sections In August 2011, a new Hanwag emergency shelter was successfully flown in and installed on Germany’s most famous alpine ridge, the “Jubiläumsgrat” (Jubilee Arête) between the Zugspitze (2,962 m) and the Hochblassen (2,706 m). This was the first in a series of joint activities in cooperation with the Munich and Oberland sections of the DAV, Germany’s Alpine Association. In future there will be Hanwag stands at major DAV events and we will be equipping twenty DAV trainers with test footwear and expanding our footwear test centre at the Taschachhaus in Pitztal (Tyrol, Austria). Hanwag will also be at the following events:
November 20, 2011: “Munich Mountains” Alpintag at the Munich Olympiapark Photo: Jo Stark
Photo: Jo Stark
231 kilometres, non-stop: Thorsten Hoyer on the move
ProTeam Member Thorsten Hoyer doesn’t just trek, rather he treeeeeeeeeeeeeeeks.
Winter season 2011/12: Alpine Highlights, DAV presentations at the Gasteig centre, Munich For more news and events, please visit www.hanwag.de