The finest leathers and materials, innovative technology, and more than a little patience go into making boots of this caliber. That's why Chippewa Boots will always be firmly planted in every landscape of our great nation as well as in the hearts of all who wear them.
Chippewa Boots was founded in October 1901 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The name comes from the Indian tribe of the region. The company's mission from day one was to manufacture the finest boots and shoes in the United States. It employed 175 employees, mainly women, and produced 1,200 pairs daily.
Chippewa Boots started out as a company that produced a top end logging boot for area camps in the pulp and paper industry. Timber was in high demand at the turn of the century and the need for wood and pulp drove men to the forests in the upper Midwest and Canada. Recognizing the need for extraordinary footwear Chippewa was there with its Logger Boot to shod thousands of skilled men who took dangerous and risky jobs as lumberjacks. These iconic workers required sharp saws, honed axes, strong ropes and sturdy Chippewa boots. With the right tools two lumberjacks could take down over an acre of white pine and hemlock in one day.
Chippewa Logger Boots quickly gained recognition throughout the Midwest as the best quality boots for the rugged outdoors. The reputation for quality provided the impetus for expansion into other markets across the United States.
By 1910 a new factory had been built and production increased to 2,500 pairs per day. It was said that this new factory was state of the art and hailed as the finest boot factory in the world. Sales were especially brisk starting in 1914 because of the European market's need for boots during World War I.
In the 1930s sales expanded and volume increased tremendously when Chippewa introduced work shoes and Engineer Boots for the oil fields of the day. The company known for developing and inventing the Logger Boot created the Engineer Boot by combining a stovepipe leg shaft over an English Riding boot last. They were worn by land surveyors, which is likely where the name "Engineer Boot" came from. Today, the Chippewa Engineer Boot is the footwear of choice for motorcyclists worldwide because they offer great leg protection and long wearing Vibram outsoles that stand up to paved roadways.
During World War II the military depended on Chippewa for the cold-weather footwear needs of its infantry soldiers, especially those that were dropped behind enemy lines in rugged mountains where extreme cold and snow made it difficult to traverse the mountain cliffs. Chippewa Arctic Boots were fleeced-lined and kept soldiers warm as they parachuted into mountains with snow skis. Even today the Chippewa Arctic Boots still feature outsoles and heels with grooves for ski bindings as tribute to the soldiers that made them famous. For its Diamond Jubilee in 1976 Chippewa introduced the "Minus 40" boot which replaced the extremely bulky military boot used at the time. The new Minus 40 was billed as the Super Insulated boot, the "finest, warmest, insulated Goodyear welt [boot] ever made". The company subsequently introduced the "Minus 50" version.
The 1950's were a watershed period in the outdoor market. As lifestyles changed more and more people began enjoying the great outdoors. They took up hunting, fishing and hiking in record numbers. It was during this period that Chippewa Boots emerged as a leader in innovative outdoor boot technology and became intrinsically associated with this leisure pastime explosion due to its combination of quality, practicality and comfort in an outdoor lifestyle silhouette. An example of this is the Chippewa Snake Boot which was developed for hunters and outdoorsmen who wanted protection from vipers while hunting, working or at leisure in the great outdoors.
The front lace system used on Chippewa Boots EPS (Emergency Protective Services) styles was first used on Chippewa 1959 flight boots that were approved and used by the Strategic Air Command and by Convair test pilots.
The Kush-N-Kollar feature on padded collars is a Chippewa innovation. It was so unique that a patent was applied for and awarded by the U.S. Patent Office. The Kush-N-Kollar component is designed to reduce the stress on the Achilles tendon while walking for long periods of time. It also provides the wearer with an easier break-in time period. All padded collars seen today are variations of the component created by Chippewa!
Chippewa was one of the first outdoor boot manufacturers to offer ladies outdoor boots that were actually made on a ladies last.
It was also the first footwear manufacturer to use Vibram outsoles, which were imported from Italy at the time. The continued use of Vibram outsoles is consistent with Chippewa's commitment to the utilization of quality components.
In 1984 Justin Industries purchased the Chippewa Boot Company because it saw value in adding a brand with integrity to the Justin Brands, Inc. family.
The past century has brought incredible changes in outdoor lifestyle footwear. Chippewa Boots is now in the enviable position of being one of the last high quality footwear manufacturers with a recognized reputation for tough, durable, dependable classic silhouettes. Chippewa Boots is for the consumer who appreciates and demands the highest quality and ultimate value in his outdoor lifestyle footwear.
Then as now the cornerstone and reputation of Chippewa Boots is plain and simple:
"The Best. By Far."
