Alex here, I wanted to share a bit of backstory to the development of our Rediscover grounded hiking boot.
One thing I’m endlessly grateful for is that, as a small independent company, we get to meet lots of amazing people and have fascinating conversations with them. As we’re the ones putting pen to paper to design the shoes at Bahé, we get to put what we learn from these conversations into practice.
Since launching Bahé we’ve met lots of people who share our vision for reconnecting with nature for the good of body and mind. This has created an incredible opportunity to learn and expand our perspective of what Bahé can become and what products we can create.
A few years back I crossed paths with Tristan Cameron Harper. A former professional ice hockey player, Tristan is now a photographer, mountain guide, and independent explorer who treks across the globe. When he’s not in his workshop in Scotland carving stone, he leads guided groups to remote areas via hiking, off-road driving, horse riding, or by whatever means necessary to reach these remote locations. Tristan treads many paths. He’s a deep thinker and a doer, conversations with him are always enriching experiences.
Over the year or so that we spent designing the Rediscover boot, it was fantastic to understand from Tristan, who has walked thousands of miles across the globe, what important features could be included in the boots. This helped us define what we wanted to create. Paired with my experience in shoe design and our expert production partners, we could figure out how to create it.
Tristan’s experience crossing varying terrains ranging from boggy heathland to rocky tundra meant he had a unique perspective on what was needed in terms of grip, weight, shoe flexibility, and level of support. We discussed things from tread patterns to eyelets, from toe protection to laces. As a shoe geek, I was in my element.
Design is an iterative process, we’re constantly testing, tweaking, and improving behind the scenes. While big corporate brands often change for the sake of producing something new to sell, our aim is to always focus on meaningful improvements and progress towards creating the healthiest shoes possible for human performance.
Since finalising the boots, Tristan has been wearing them in Scotland, Canada, Bhutan, the Nepal Himalayas, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, the Sahara Desert, Spain, the Swiss/French Alps, and America, with more countries planned for this year.
As someone constantly on the move, he’s testing them over a range of surfaces from snow to ice, including the many different textures of ice found around the world, and various types of rocky terrain and muddy ground. Most importantly, he’s putting them through a range of dynamic tests in cold, hot, wet, and icy weather, ensuring they are convenient in diverse landscapes and can handle any weather conditions.
"The biggest thing I have enjoyed about working with Bahé is being able to openly share my thoughts and personal opinions, acknowledging the countless different types of footwear I have used in different environments, helping me create a solid narrative contributing towards building the best footwear that is accessible for a multi-sensory experience that makes you feel fully engaged whilst supporting and maintaining your overall foot health."
I think the lesson here is to tread as many paths as possible, you never know who you might meet and where that may take you.
Tristan currently leads remote guiding trips around the world, focusing on adventure and experience, especially the connection we all crave, meeting with nomadic tribes, experiencing unique activities, and learning about the hidden diversity of cultures that ignite the spirit within us – what he likes to call 'soul fuel'.
You can find out more by visiting his website at www.North-Guides.com, his partner’s page at https://www.insaddleadventures.com/, or by checking out his Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tristancameronharper/ and messaging him directly to enquire about an adventure.
Explore the Rediscover Collection Here
