2019 is not an usual year for Calzaturiticio Zamberlan®: indeed, the shoe factory based in Torrebelvicino celebrate its 90th anniversary. Giuseppe Zamberlan was a humble clobber with the great aim to improve hiking. So in 1929 founded Calzaturificio Zamberlan and started to collaborate with Vitale Bramani, mountaineer and Vibram® founder, creating the famous rubber sole, to increase grip of the shoes also on harsher paths. From that moment onwards, research and production didn’t stop and in the following years of the 1970s, Giuseppe’s son, Emilio, brought the brand to the attention of worldwide markets. Zamberlan is now known in over 45 different countries, becoming the favorite footwear of thousand mountaineers and globetrotters, who post their fabulous, scenic photos on social media, making a good promotion of Made In Italy. Chairing the company today is the third generation: brother and sister, Marco and Maria Zamberlan.
Zamberlan’s Handmade Philosophy
Pioneers in the construction of mountain and hiking boots, Zamberlan® has dominated the market for so long. In a very competitive market where fashion and icons change with the rhythm of emotions, Zamberlan’s construction knowledge has put down roots.
Their secret? A way to work, live and stay closer to the their clients which they call Handmade Philosophy. The history and the ‘philosophy’ behind the company is also the history of a family when it all began with Giuseppe Zamberlan in his small workshop full of leather, glues and his shoemaker’s tools. Zamberlan has set themselves the goal of creating the best possible product that improves the wearer’s life. Zamberlan’s mission mirrors the mentality of all those enthusiasts who appreciate performance, who enjoy the journey and not just the destination, who choose to share and not just to compete. Handmade Philosophy expresses Zamberlan style, but it is also an invitation to live with the unique rhythms of “handmade” products.
Zamberlan and the Region: a 90-Year Story of Constant Evolution
The production headquarters remain in Pievebelvicino di Torrebelvicino, at the foot of the Little Dolomites in the province of Vicenza, right where the company was born. This is where the boots distributed worldwide are designed and crafted. With their eyes fixed on their "home" mountains, this historic manufacturing company has continuously invested in the local community, training and specializing men and women in a trade that represents Italian manufacturing excellence: Craftsmanship 2.0. This rich heritage is exactly what is being celebrated in 2019, 90 years since its founding. With fresh drive and new products, Zamberlan's passion for building premium footwear remains unchanged: one family, one company, one philosophy. Since 1929.
Zamberlan Continues "Made in Italy" Production
"Throughout our ninety-year history," explains Marco, CEO, product visionary, passionate Alpinist, and innovator, "we have always sought to preserve the values of handcrafted quality while constantly improving our products—especially from a technical standpoint, which is our greatest strength. Behind every Zamberlan product lies extensive research into fit, traction, and performance. We select only the finest premium leathers to ensure maximum comfort, anatomical adaptability, and long-lasting durability. There is the co-design of advanced outsoles with Vibram®, master-level stitching, and meticulous attention to every single detail. We constantly invest in technologies and production processes to blend traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation. For instance, the expert manual skill required by the complex Norwegian welt construction method must integrate seamlessly with the latest technical solutions."
Zamberlan: Between Tradition and Evolution
"Our grandfather was a humble cobbler who repaired shoes, but he never put aside his great passion for the mountains. His dream was to make hiking and mountaineering easier and more accessible," shares Maria, President of Calzaturificio Zamberlan. "So, in collaboration with Vitale Bramani—Alpinist, CAI (Italian Alpine Club) academic, and founder of Vibram®—he helped create something that didn't exist at the time: the rubber mountaineering sole, designed to radically improve traction on the most challenging terrain."
"Credit must also go to my father, Emilio, for his foresight in targeting pioneering markets like Japan and the USA; today, we are present in more than 40 countries worldwide."
"Today, the business involves the whole family because we were born and raised within the company. But we are also deeply tied to our region: we have always insisted on keeping production in Torrebelvicino out of respect for our roots and because of the incredibly close relationship we share with our workforce."
The Zamberlan Boot Collection: For All Altitudes, Skills, and Pursuits
From technical mountaineering and backpacking boots to approach shoes and everyday lifestyle footwear, Zamberlan offers a comprehensive collection. It seamlessly blends traditional bootmaking heritage with cutting-edge material innovation to meet the needs of modern mountain sports and outdoor exploration. The Zamberlan brand remains fiercely dedicated to its core mission: crafting the finest possible footwear to enhance the lives of those who wear it.
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Alpine: Open horizons and pristine summits. This line distills Zamberlan's ultimate expertise for those who love to climb high. Alpine is the range chosen by expert mountaineers and high-altitude professionals who demand elite performance in extreme conditions. All models are engineered for high-altitude mountaineering, technical expeditions, glacier travel, ice climbing, and dry-tooling. They are meticulously designed to guarantee a precise fit, maximum sensitivity, and top-tier performance.
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Backpacking: Renowned and trusted worldwide, the Zamberlan Backpacking line features rugged, premium leather boots that are fully resolable. Engineered to be durable and dependable, they are built to tackle unpredictable weather and the most demanding, uneven terrain. Every model features high-performance outsoles to ensure excellent stability and ankle support on rugged trails, combining aggressive traction with superior shock absorption. They are the perfect choice for hikers seeking uncompromising comfort, safety, and stability.
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Trail Hiking: Highly versatile, these boots are ideal for day hikes, light trekking, and daily outdoor wear. The Zamberlan Trail Hiking collection offers a comfortable out-of-the-box fit and lightweight sole units for excellent cushioning, without sacrificing essential stability and support.
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Lifestyle: All of Zamberlan's bootmaking expertise adapted for urban exploration, travel, and casual outdoor walks. The Lifestyle range is designed for those who want technical footwear features—such as an ergonomic fit, cushioning, breathability, and waterproofing—combined with the timeless aesthetic of premium, handcrafted leathers.
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Smart Hiking: Lightweight, agile, and dynamic. The Zamberlan Smart Hiking line was conceived by fusing key construction elements from trekking, hiking, nordic walking, and trail running. These highly versatile, multi-purpose shoes are perfect for various terrain types and fast-paced outdoor activities, offering out-of-the-box comfort, lightweight design, high grip, and excellent stability.
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Approach: Technical precision meets comfort for approach routes and via ferratas. Zamberlan technical Approach shoes are hybrid footwear options that share DNA with both heavy-duty hiking boots and rock climbing shoes. The primary objective of this category is to deliver comfort during long mountain approaches and technical security on via ferratas.
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Kids: A dedicated line of mountain footwear for children. Zamberlan's kids' range is engineered to ensure functionality, a supportive fit, and maximum protection for developing feet. High-quality materials, waterproof GORE-TEX linings, and child-specific lasts guarantee the perfect balance of stability and flexibility, keeping young adventurers comfortable even on long hikes.
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Hunting: Leveraging the heritage, rugged durability, and construction techniques that made Zamberlan® mountaineering boots famous, the brand also produces specialized Hunting boots to satisfy the rigorous demands of the most discerning backcountry hunters.