Viking & Medieval Shoes
Viking & Medieval Shoes
Shoes are footwear that protect the sole of the foot and made their first appearance in the Stone Age as fur wrapped around the foot. The Bundschuh (strapped shoe) made of leather, documented from the 4th century, is a good example of how individual shoe variants persisted into the Middle Ages because they effectively protected the foot and could be easily made by oneself. Since the Vikings, most turn-sewn shoes made of leather were worn in Europe, which were first sewn inside out and then turned right side out and closed with straps, lacing or a button. From the 13th century onwards, boots and variants such as poulaines (pointed shoes) were added, which were increasingly designed to be fashionable.
Why do your Viking & Medieval shoes have rubber soles?
Quite simply, our Viking & Medieval shoes with rubber soles last longer! In the Middle Ages there were no ground coverings such as gravel, concrete or asphalt, which is why turn-sewn shoes or shoes with nailed leather soles are more authentic, but they simply do not last as long as a shoe with a more robust rubber sole. With a rubber sole, you also don't have to worry about slippery surfaces like wet grass during a medieval market. Ask a Viking reenactor what "fun" it is to walk on wet grass with their authentically turn-sewn leather shoes. However, if you would like historically correct shoes, we would be happy to give you contact information for a very good craftsman.
