In eastern Wisconsin, in the harsh mountain landscape, lived a man by the name of John Harvey. Throughout his whole life, Harvey had lived in his childhood home, a log cabin with only the bare necessities. Harvey lived off the land, and depended on clothing that could protect him from the ever-changing mountain climate. In 1932, on his way home from a 12 hour work day, Harvey’s life changed for ever – A change which later would be of great significance for the local residents of Harvey’s hometown. On his regular route, Harvey was hit by a massive mudslide that threw him 300 feet down the mountain. Miraculously, Harvey survived, fighting heroically back to his cabin after four days of hiking in bare feet. It was this fight for survival that inspired Harvey to create his very own hiking boots.

Back at the cabin, Harvey worked for weeks, cutting and sewing, before his first pair were finished. They were good – but not good enough. Still, Harvey used his hiking boots to see exactly how they wore. His prototype held up surprisingly well, which gave him the opportunity to test them in all types of weather. He used his experiences to improve his next pair. Almost one year after the prototypes were laced up for the first time, he donned his second pair. And this time, satisfaction was near.

Not only did the boots form to Harvey’s worn feet – but the design and appearance were in a class of their own.

Not that fashion meant anything to him, given his closest neighbour lived a 3-hour hike from his cabin, but his boots did show a sublime sense of form and design. Considering the boots were sewn without today’s advances in production and material, their general functionality was phenomenal. After a period of time, the locals discovered that Harvey produced his own hiking boots. It wasn’t long after, that they began to ask him to make boots for them as well. The first pair were for the local grocer. He, too, was thrilled with the comfort and design, and as he was in daily contact with the local residents, rumours of Harvey’s boots spread like wildfire. Two years after the local grocer received his first pair of boots, which he named Clip&Rope, Harvey no longer needed to live off the land. Clip&Rope made it possible for him to enjoy the land and nature until his death in the late 70’s.

When Harvey died, so did his boots – until one day in In the beginning of the 21st century, when a curious hiker found the abandoned log cabin. When exploring the cabin, the hiker found an old box filled with needles, thread, leather – and two pairs of original Clip&Rope boots.

Today, Clip&Rope boots are re-produced in a small, exclusive quantity, in a factory which also produced a few pairs when Harvey could not keep up with the demand back in the 60’s & 70’s.

Remember – they are worth saving…

Clip & Rope