i am curious. I haven’t been out much in recent years. Do the Hut Crews now wear trail runners instead of the formerly worn Limmer Boots?
Footwear of Hut Crews
- Thread starter Bergamo
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I believe they are generally in trail runners. Perhaps others can chime in, this is just an anecdote:
We hiked up to Galehead (mountain and hut) a couple weeks ago, and I specifically recall pausing at a water crossing to allow a hut croo member to pass, with their load of trash on their way down. I watched them get a foot wet in the water, and saw runners, not boots.
They also still have those wooden external frame packs. I haven't ever tried one on, but they look miserable. I suppose it's tradition, and perhaps a good way to transport their heavy loads.
We hiked up to Galehead (mountain and hut) a couple weeks ago, and I specifically recall pausing at a water crossing to allow a hut croo member to pass, with their load of trash on their way down. I watched them get a foot wet in the water, and saw runners, not boots.
They also still have those wooden external frame packs. I haven't ever tried one on, but they look miserable. I suppose it's tradition, and perhaps a good way to transport their heavy loads.
I can only speak about the RMC crews. Until this year, I hadn’t seen a 3-season RMC (or AMC tent site/shelter) caretaker in anything other than trail runners. This summer RMC had a caretaker who grew up wearing Limmer’s and still wore them. The exception.
On the other hand, I noted that the RMC trail crew that was working on Lowes all had Limmers.
Perhaps when I wear out my Fabianos, I’ll try Limmers next. I should be so lucky to live that long. I’m
On the other hand, I noted that the RMC trail crew that was working on Lowes all had Limmers.
Perhaps when I wear out my Fabianos, I’ll try Limmers next. I should be so lucky to live that long. I’m
DayTrip
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I'm guessing Fabiano's are old? I don't even know what they are....
I didn't either, so I looked them up. They're a brand of alpine hiking boot, full welt. Probably cost about about $400 new. The type of boot you get repaired, not replaced.I'm guessing Fabiano's are old? I don't even know what they are....
Fabiano actually originated out of a shoe repair shop in Boston by an Italian immigrant. Scarpa eventually took them under their hood and sold Fabiano as there High End Line adjacent to the already existing Scarpa line. While working in the Outdoor Industry full time back in the 90’s we sold both brands. Both boots were considered top end when it came to the Norwegian welted boots. Yes they were pricey boasting a price tag between $300-$400 now over 30 years ago. Fabiano was also one of the premiere Tele Boots in the pre plastic boot era filling the need for “stiffer” boots.
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Thanks. Am familiar with Scarpa, but not Fabiano.
Crazylegs
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I don't often chime in but I couldn't resist. Bought a pair of Fabiano Rio's from Black Dome Outfitters located in Asheville, NC when I was living there back @1996. Still have them. Need to have the leather reconditioned and the boot re-soled but they are great, albeit heavy, sturdy boots.
Black Dome..that was another classic!
Someone triggered my way-back machine.....for my first ever backpacking trip in the Whites (Mt. Madison via Madison Gulf Trail), I purchased a pair of Rio's. Still have 'em and they still work, not that I use them for hiking any longer. One resole and regular leather maintenance was all they needed. I think I bought them in 1983 for $99 at Farrs' Sporting Goods, Manchester, CT. Even used them in on my first winter climb up Lion's Head, lol. What a great purchase they were, never experienced any issues. Later in life I was fortunate enough to be the New England rep for them and Scarpa, as the brothers' Fabiano (can't recall their first names) became the US distributors for Scarpa for a short while. I also still have an old pair of Scarpa leather mountain boots (Cervino?), full shank and all. Sorry, this is what happens to me sometimes.
Quietman
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Speaking of "Domes", I still have my 1st pair of Nike Lava Dome's, the "first" trail runners from 1982+\- (they were marketed as "approach shoes"). I had WMNF rangers telling me multiple times that these were unsafe for hiking and that I would be needing rescue for ankle injuries (true story). Never happened. Been using sneaker style shoes since then.
Fabiano mountain boots were my go to in the 70s. Also used Fabiano Black Beauties as a rock climbing shoe for a few years as alternative to the ever present RRs. God I’m old!
I was an EB guy. I also still have an old pair of Boreal Fires. We use to hike in to obscure Crags with our Limmers then convert over to one of the above to actually climb. There were no approach shoes until the famed 5 Tennies arrived. Yea it is interesting getting old. I definitely don’t fit into my old painter pants anymore. https://www.climbingshoereview.com/history-of-climbing-shoes/
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Someone triggered my way-back machine.....for my first ever backpacking trip in the Whites (Mt. Madison via Madison Gulf Trail), I purchased a pair of Rio's. Still have 'em and they still work, not that I use them for hiking any longer. One resole and regular leather maintenance was all they needed. I think I bought them in 1983 for $99 at Farrs' Sporting Goods, Manchester, CT. Even used them in on my first winter climb up Lion's Head, lol. What a great purchase they were, never experienced any issues. Later in life I was fortunate enough to be the New England rep for them and Scarpa, as the brothers' Fabiano (can't recall their first names) became the US distributors for Scarpa for a short while. I also still have an old pair of Scarpa leather mountain boots (Cervino?), full shank and all. Sorry, this is what happens to me sometimes.
I would love your feedback on my Fabiano story to see if it rings true with your understanding of how things fell apart between Fabiano and Scarpa.
Fabiano Boots
I was aware of Fabiano in the 80s but ended up in a pair of Merrill Wilderness. IIRC, either Hiltons sold them, or at least one of their employees wore a pair of the 3/4 shank Mountain Masters in the shop.
In the mid 90s, word went out on rec.backcountry that Fabiano was clearing out old stock from their warehouse in Southie down near the L Street power station.
My wife and I went there and we both got a pair of the 1/2 shank Rias for $95 each. A steal. This is the story I was told by one of the 2 Fabiano brothers that was there.
He said that his father, Eddie Fabiano and the founder, grew up in Asolo, Italy and was a childhood friend of the owner of Scarpa boots. They worked out a deal. Scarpa would manufacture the Fabiano boots and Fabiano would serve as Scarpa’s North American distributor for their hiking boots.
By the early 90s, both Fabiano and Scarpa were being led by the children of the respective families and didn’t have the same childhood bonds with each other that the fathers had. Also, Scarpa had developed a second distribution channel in the USA. Black Diamond (formerly Chouinard Equipment) began to sell Scarpa’s plastic mountaineering and telemark boots. I was unclear on this point but I believe that Black Diamond was the distributor for the plastic boots and Fabiano had everything else.
When the distribution contract was due to be renewed, the market for traditional leather boots was transitioning into injection molded technologies and Black Diamond was going gangbusters with the Scarpa plastic telemark boots. Fabiano first asked and then started insisting that the Scarpa children renew the contract, but they were dragging their feet.
While negotiations over the distribution contract were ongoing, Fabiano went to the major outdoor retailer show and took orders for Fabiano and Scarpa boots just like they always did.
But they didn’t send them to Scarpa. Instead, they told Scarpa they would give them the order numbers only AFTER Scarpa renewed their distribution contract.
So Scarpa informed Fabiano that a) they were entering into a distribution contract with Black Diamond and b) would be willing to sit out the year in terms of their hiking boots.
So Fabiano told Scarpa they would have their Fabiano designs produced elsewhere and demanded that Scarpa return Fabiano’s lasts and patterns.
So Scarpa informed Fabiano they would be keeping the lasts due to the interruption in the orders.
So Fabiano and Scarpa were locked in a legal dispute, Fabiano was running out of operating cash and so they decided to close out their inventory to raise enough cash to fund the legal fight.
It didn’t work. Fabiano went away and in the following years, a few of the Fabiano designs showed up in the Scarpa catalog. The 1/2 shank Fabiano Ria became the Scarpa Rio.
It’s hard to describe, much less defend the virtue of full leather Norwegian Welted boots these days. I still love them.
My Rias are currently on their 2nd resole, both done by Limmer.
An article on Fabiano Boots.
https://www.outinunder.com/content/fabiano-boots-or-cement-overshoes
Excellent info. The Outdoor Retail Industry is such a dog eat dog world. Just go ask EMS among many other companies.
You have more detail on that whole mess than I ever did! But yes, that story is pretty accurate AFAIK. We were made aware of the distribution going to BD at the summer Salt Lake City show, so I was out of one company to rep for. Not long after that, two others I repped for either changed ownership (Sherpa Snowshoes) or lost a significant product (Charlet Moser going from Trango to Petzl) for USA distribution. So all those things happened within a couple months in the late summer/fall of 1999 I think. That's when I gave up the business. Seems I do recall going to the South Boston Fabiano warehouse and picking some footwear at a great price. But anyway, I was fed up with whole thing and moved on to another career. Great info, thanks for that.
We probably crossed paths at some point as my outdoor retail career was at it’s peak during that time. I know a few folks that were reps and moved on. It’s a tough life style but worth the perks if you are a skier, hiker, or climber albeit an under 50 guy’s gig for most. You probably remember Climb High whose founder was European. I forget his name off the top of my head but he was a big influence at the time as one of not so many importers of the iconic brand names you have mentioned above.
Climb High, of course. I can't recall his name either. Not to take this thread in another direction, but who'd you work for? There was a lot to like about being a sales rep, but in the end I was sick and tired of traveling, holding people's hands, and then have all the aforementioned changes take place.
Helmet Lenes
Good memory, Thom. I used to deal with Climb High when I taught winter hiking skills and we bought Dachstein mitts and socks from them.
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