Typically, I talk about hiking and mountaineering boots, but today I wanted to feature a post about something a little different… Moccasins. Nearly all Native American tribes wore moccasins, and though the basic construction of the shoe was similar between most tribes, it was the patterns that set each tribe apart. The subtle differences in patterns were identifiable immediately. Minnetonka is perhaps the most renowned brand in the modern age, known for producing some of the finest leather moccasins available today. The original Minnetonka moccasin was born in a gift shop in 1946, when Americans took to the open road along some of the first highways that connected the east to the west
The fine folks over at Minnetonka sent me a pair of their gorgeous Moosehide moccasins. The Moosehide Classics are a wonderful looking, high quality pair of moccasins that are thrice, aesthetically pleasing to look at, pleasurable to the sense of smell, and super comfortable on my feet. When I first pulled the Moosehide Classics from their shoe box, I was stunned by how soft they were. I immediately put them up to my nose and inhaled that lovely authentic leather scent. Touching the moose hide gives me a sort of mixed feeling of awe and appreciation for the animal, as I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing what it’s like to be mere feet from a towering moose in the wild. They are impressive, amazing creatures that deserve to frolic in the forests forevermore.
The Moosehide Classic moccasins are classy, yet adheres to a lot of the traditional design characteristics that are expected of moccasins. Minnetonka’s moccasins are made of 3-4 pieces of leather that are sewn together with strands of thin leather as they traditionally were made. But what is different is Minnetonka’s modern take on the addition of a rubber sole, which is molded to add traction and to provide the user a much longer lasting shoe than if it were made of leather. Long use of a leather sole will wear through, greatly affecting the longevity of the moccasin.
The Moosehide Classic moccasins are classy, yet adheres to a lot of the traditional design characteristics that are expected of moccasins. Minnetonka’s moccasins are made of 3-4 pieces of leather that are sewn together with strands of thin leather as they traditionally were made. But what is different is Minnetonka’s modern take on the addition of a rubber sole, which is molded to add traction and to provide the user a much longer lasting shoe than if it were made of leather. Long use of a leather sole will wear through, greatly affecting the longevity of the moccasin.
I found the Moosehide Classic moccasins to be very nice, rich in quality and history, and exceeding my expectations. When you put them on your bare feet, they form fit snuggly, yet not in a negative way, but more in a made-for-you type of fitting. They fit me like a glove, and require no painful transition period of stretching the material so it doesn’t rub or chafe the skin. I am a big fan of these moccasins and of Minnetonka. When I travel, they’re coming with me as my leisure and strolling shoe, because they are so comfortable. They’re almost like house slippers, yet made strong to outlast the trials of the outside world.
If you would like to find out more about Minnetonka’s moccasins, click here.
Article written & Photos by Brandon Scott
If you would like to find out more about Minnetonka’s moccasins, click here.
Article written & Photos by Brandon Scott
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