In an age when most outdoor brands chase cheap overseas labour, one Italian family is still making every flagship boot in the very same factory their grandfather opened in 1929. That uncompromising commitment to local, artisan production is increasingly rare – and exactly why Zamberlan deserves a place on every European’s feet.

The Manufacturer

Nestled at the foot of the Piccole Dolomiti in northern Italy’s famous Montebelluna district – the undisputed global capital of premium bootmaking – Zamberlan has been family-owned and run since Giuseppe Zamberlan founded the company in 1929. Today, third-generation siblings Maria and Marco Zamberlan oversee production in the original factory in Pievebelvicino di Torrebelvicino, Veneto. Almost the entire collection (especially all flagship and high-end models) is still handcrafted on site by Italian artisans – a deliberate choice that keeps quality sky-high and the carbon footprint low. Visit https://eu.zamberlan.com/ to explore the full story.

A Short, Inspiring Story

Giuseppe Zamberlan began by repairing climbers’ boots after the Great War, but he quickly realised the mountains deserved better footwear than was available. Together with his friend Vitale Bramani (the inventor of Vibram), he pioneered the modern carved-rubber sole and the robust Norwegese welted construction that is still Zamberlan’s signature today.

His son Emilio grew the company, and now Maria and Marco personally field-test every new prototype on ice climbs, via ferrata and multi-day treks.

“We don’t just design boots – we live in them,” says Marco Zamberlan. “Every pair that leaves our factory carries almost a century of family passion for the mountains.”

What They Make

Zamberlan specialises in serious mountain footwear that is built to be resoled and handed down for decades – true heirloom quality.

• Mountaineering & Alpinism Boots (e.g. Baltoro GTX RR, Expert Pro GTX RR) – Norwegese hand-welted, 2.8–3.0 mm thick Italian leather, compatible with crampons, fully resoleable. Built for 4-season alpine use and proven on 8 000 m peaks. https://eu.zamberlan.com/mountaineering-boots.html
• Backpacking & Heavy Trekking Boots (e.g. Vioz GTX, Amelia GTX) – The Vioz is one of the best-selling leather backpacking boots in Europe for 20+ years; legendary comfort straight out of the box and legendary durability. https://eu.zamberlan.com/trekking-boots.html
• Lightweight Hiking & Approach Shoes (e.g. Salathé GTX RR, Free Blast Neon) – Trail-runner feel with proper ankle support and Vibram Megagrip; perfect for fast-moving day hikes and via ferrata. https://eu.zamberlan.com/mens-hiking-shoes.html
• Hunting & Winter Boots (e.g. Lynx GTX, Polar Hunter) – Silent, insulated, scent-controlling models trusted by professional hunters across Scandinavia and the Alps.

Because production remains in Italy, you get superior Tuscan leather, local vegetable tanning, shorter supply chains, and skilled workers who have often spent their entire careers at Zamberlan. The result? Boots that last so long they are routinely resoled two or three times and still look superb after 15–20 years of hard use.

Why Should You Buy This?

Every time you lace up a pair of Zamberlan boots you are keeping artisan jobs in Veneto, reducing transoceanic shipping emissions, and investing in footwear that will outlive fast-fashion alternatives by decades. You are also voting for the kind of proud, responsible European manufacturing we want to see more of.

By mapping EU manufacturers weekly via blogs on www.ineurope.eu, you’re strengthening a passionate, responsible Europe – one durable step at a time.

Call to Action

Treat your feet (and our continent) to genuine Italian mountain craftsmanship: shop directly at https://eu.zamberlan.com/ or find your nearest European stockist.