CONTACT S2 barefoot hiking boots with ankle strap

Boots that will change your hiking experience

Contact S2 are advanced barefoot boots suitable for demanding hiking trails as well as simple walks in the forest. Many people also wear them for everyday use in urban environments.

Sole

Thanks to the deep thread made of vulcanised rubber, the soles provide excellent grip on a variety of terrains. They are also highly resistant to abrasion when walking on rocky ground. The vulcanised rubber soles can be replaced if they wear out.

How thick are the soles? The basic sole is 2.5 mm thick, with an additional 5 mm deep tread. The stitched wool insole, approximately 5 mm thick, also contributes to the overall thickness beneath your feet. An additional removable insole made from natural sheep’s wool can also be added.

Strap

The adjustable Velcro strap around the ankles hugs and stabilises the position of your feet inside the boots. The strap can also be removed if desired. Combined with the flat and thin sole, these boots provide a stable foot position even when walking on uneven terrain, especially during descents.

Materials

The materials used are locally sourced (within 350 km of our workshop) and of premium quality. We also offer servicing, allowing you to wear your boots comfortably for many years.

The uppers are made from impregnated leather, while the insoles are made from natural sheep’s wool. These materials are breathable and thermally insulating — they do not overheat in summer and provide excellent warmth in winter — while also adapting naturally to the shape of your feet.

Natural sheep’s wool serves as an excellent insulator in cold conditions while also providing a pleasant feeling in warmer weather.

Barefoot hiking

Contact S2 have all the characteristics of barefoot shoes: your feet can move freely and adapt naturally to the surface beneath you. They offer plenty of room in the toe area, so your feet will not feel cramped, even when descending.

Wearing these boots can strengthen your feet and improve their natural capabilities. It is important to transition gradually to this type of footwear. Start with easier and shorter routes, observe how your body responds, and gradually increase the difficulty, or continue with less demanding tours.

Water repellency

The boots provide an excellent internal climate because they are made from natural materials that allow them to breathe while also offering thermal insulation for your feet. Contact S2 also include features that help prevent water from entering the boots.

The first is the hydrophobic leather used for the uppers, which requires regular care with water-repellent products. The second is the vulcanised rubber sole, which extends approximately 2 cm above the ground and helps prevent water from entering the boots in wet conditions.

Boots made in this way provide a completely different experience compared to footwear made from synthetic materials with waterproof membranes. Natural materials allow air and moisture to escape from the boots while still providing thermal insulation, meaning they dry quickly in the air. The type of socks you wear is also important — quality natural materials such as wool complement these properties particularly well.

Flexibility

Contact S2 are highly flexible, allowing movement and bending in all directions.

Weight

Weight is expressed in grams per shoe and represents an approximate value, which may vary slightly depending on the materials used for the uppers.

• Size 36: 320 g
• Size 39: 360 g
• Size 42: 400 g
• Size 45: 440 g

Tradition and foot health

All Proalp footwear is developed and manufactured in our own workshop in Tržič. Awareness of foot health plays a central role in the development and manufacture of Proalp footwear. We combine centuries of shoemaking tradition with an understanding of natural foot movement.

While walking, feet continuously change shape and load distribution. Feet are naturally capable and dynamic, possessing flexibility and strength that significantly decrease over time due to wearing unsuitable footwear. Proper footwear allows complete freedom of movement and contact with the terrain beneath your feet, helping to preserve and improve foot vitality, which also contributes to the vitality of the entire body.