Skip to main content

Feit’s handmade Mid Hiker: A one-man operation from start to finish

They say you shouldn’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes. It’s an old expression, and though you might not be able to deduce much about the personal life of the master craftsman behind Feit’s Hand Sewn Mid Hiker ($550), it takes a matter seconds to understand his commitment to precision, durability, and comfort. After all, he constructs the shoe from start to finish.

Recommended Videos

Founded by brothers Tull and Josh Price, Australian-based Feit is a company working to create phenomenal footwear with minimal environmental footprint. The company’s leather is vegetable-dyed and directly sourced from Italian tanneries, and infused with other vegetable matter such as tree bark, leaves, fruits, and other ingredients during the tannin process. The handmade Mid Hiker sports Feit’s classic Goodyear construction — a process involving the upper shoe being stretched over the last and then stitched to a leather strip known as a welt — and touts a comfortable Buffalo leather foot bed and a flexible Vibram Gumlite outsole.

The shoes even utilize a super thick, 3.6-mm vegetable leather, typically reserved for seat belts, thus combining techniques new and old for the utmost stability. The sole is stitched to the welt instead of being glue, and afterward, left up to 10 days in a room where a light dousing of steam tightens the shoe and ensures a superior shape. The shoes are non irritant and breath comfortably when finished, and feature biodegradable leather that only becomes richer and more soft to the touch as it ages. Plus, they remain neutral during hot and cold days and never smell — meaning they’re just as suitable for your romp along the trail in spring as they are about town in the fall.

Brandon Widder
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brandon Widder is a journalist and a staff writer for the Manual and its brother site, Digital Trends, where he covers tech…
Tiffany & Co. revives legendary Atlas watch collection
Tiffany & Co. has officially relaunched its iconic Atlas® watches
the Atlas watches feature graphic Roman numerals and streamlined silhouettes

To the surprise of absolutely no one, Tiffany & Co. has resuscitated its storied Atlas collection, reimagining the legendary Roman numeral motif for today's discerning watch collectors. Released originally in the 1990s and inspired by the iconic Atlas clock at Tiffany's Fifth Avenue flagship, these timepieces bring together timeless elegance and contemporary sophistication.

Precision craftsmanship, unmistakable style

Read more
Adidas Originals dominates Paris Fashion Week with bold style
Adidas Originals takes over Paris Fashion Week
person tying adidas shoes

With just under a year left until the FIFA World Cup lands in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, it’s no wonder that every brand has football fever. Brands like Nike and New Balance have launched their football iterations, which will gradually build excitement over the next year. However, football isn’t only coming to our wardrobes, it’s officially landed on the runway. Last month, Adidas Originals took their football inspiration to the next level via a series of collaborations with multiple fashion designers during Paris Fashion Week. While it seems like football-inspired looks, also known as “blokecore”, is here to stay, no one has established this trend more than Adidas. With new iterations of their various football-inspired footwear, Paris Fashion Week becomes the center of Adidas Originals’ football world, and their multiple collaborations are only a piece of what to expect over the next year from the brand.

Adidas brings football to the runway at Paris Fashion Week

Read more
The art of timeless design: Why Urban Jürgensen is one to watch
How Urban Jürgensen redefined haute horlogerie with its remarkable comeback
Urban Jurgensen has returned to the forefront of horology

The revival of historic watchmaker brand Urban Jürgensen has been a marvel to witness as it once teetered on the brink of obscurity. Today, UJ has re-emerged as a benchmark in the industry, working under the direction of a visionary new leader. Founded in 1773, the brand faced the possibility of extinction in the late 20th century before being revitalized by a group of watchmaking purists. Currently, Urban Jürgensen is getting rave reviews for blending centuries of craftsmanship with modern innovation — proving that true luxury is timeless.

Tradition meets state-of-the-art innovation

Read more