Behind the Return of Galibier—an Iconic French Alpine Brand You Should Know

You’ve probably heard of the storied French footwear company Paraboot. A favorite of menswear nerds (including self-deprecating comedian Adam Friedland) and niche outdoorsy folks for decades. But you may not know that it has a sister brand called Galibier, which preceded Paraboot by five years. Both were the work of French shoemaker Rémy-Alexis Richard, who founded Richard-Pontvert in 1908 (Pontvert was his wife’s maiden name) and began making shoes under the “Chaussures Extra” label. Later, according to a Galibier insider, he decided to distinguish the studded models from the rest, whether they had wooden or leather soles, by creating the Galibier brand.

Galibier officially launched in 1922, making boots for alpinists and others who needed footwear built to last a lifetime. Paraboot followed in 1927, catering to people navigating city streets. I first came across Galibier on social media a few months ago, only to learn that the reason I’d never heard of the brand was that it had been dormant for more than 30 years before relaunching in 2025.

Why bring the brand back now? I was fortunate enough to speak with the brand to learn about the boots that defined its early years, how Galibier helped shape alpinism in the 1970s, why Norwegian construction remains essential to its footwear, and why, this time around, the brand is embracing the streets as well as the summit.

Galibier Super Rando

Revolutionizing Mountain Footwear

Although Rémy-Alexis Richard founded the footwear company, it was his son, Julien Richard, who took over in 1948 with ambitions to expand the business. Under his leadership, Galibier turned its attention to the outdoors, focusing on footwear for skiing, mountaineering, hiking, and climbing.

Two boots that would come to define both the company and its place in alpinism debuted in 1950: the Super Guide and the Super Rando. These models helped establish Galibier’s reputation, offering performance in both low- and high-mountain environments while remaining comfortable enough for year-round wear.

“The Super Guide and the original Super Rando were revolutionary at the time because of their construction: boots made entirely from thick, 3.4-millimeter full-grain leather, with a rigid, resoleable outsole reinforced by a metal shank and compatible with crampons,” says Galibier.

That emphasis on longevity remains central to the brand’s identity. Galibier says they are still amazed to hear stories of customers who purchased their boots 70 years ago, had them resoled a couple of times, and continue to wear them today.

Both models have evolved to incorporate new technologies like a Vibram SpringLug with a Durastep rubber shell for traction and protection. A polyurethane foam inner for comfort, along with a Sympatex membrane, helps ensure that the shoes and boots are weather-resistant and meet the changing demands of mountain activities; Galibier’s underlying commitment remains unchanged. The goal is to make “reliable and performant (and stylish) boots you can keep for a long time.”

A Shared Heritage of Durability

While Galibier and Paraboot may cater to different clientele, the two brands share several manufacturing techniques, starting with Norwegian welt construction. Introduced to both brands in 1946, this traditional shoemaking method uses visible stitching to connect the upper to the sole. "Historically, mountain boots were often made using this construction because it provided greater water resistance and durability,” Galibier's spokesperson told me.

The process involves two rows of stitching. The first connects the welt to the insole, with the upper leather folded outward to create a characteristic raised edge that helps prevent water from penetrating the boot. The second stitch attaches the welt directly to the outsole. For both brands, continuing to use this construction is essential to preserving the durability that customers have come to expect from their footwear.

Beyond Norwegian welt construction, Galibier and Paraboot also share certain outsole designs. The lug patterns of the historic, climbing-oriented Makalu and Jannu outsoles, for example, are used on select models: the Super Guide and Super Rando for Galibier, and the Clusaz and Avoriaz for Paraboot. “These are used on selected models only,” Galibier told me.

The Super Guide's Norwegian Weld

Galibier and the Golden Age of Alpinism

The 1960s and ’70s saw a boom in climbing, and in Europe Galibier was among the pioneering brands meeting the needs of a growing market. Long before brand ambassadors were even a thing, the company outfitted athletes in the field—explorers, mountaineers, and climbers who pushed its products to their limits on expeditions around the world.

Three figures stand out as key developers and testers of the brand’s footwear: René Desmaison, Lionel Terray, and Pierre Allain. Desmaison opened numerous routes in the Alps, including on the north faces of the Mont Blanc massif alongside Italian mountaineers. Terray participated in major Himalayan expeditions, including the 1950 Annapurna expedition, while Allain invented and developed a wide range of mountaineering equipment, including the PA climbing shoe, which is regarded as the world's first dedicated rock-climbing shoe. Other legends, including Maurice Herzog and Paul-Émile Victor, also wore Galibier boots while exploring some of the world’s most remote regions.

Why Galibier Disappeared—and Why It Came Back

Galibier was at the forefront of outdoor footwear in the 1970s, but the following decade brought a shift toward synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester, and Gore-Tex, transforming the hiking footwear market. Demand grew for lighter equipment and more technical features, while burly leather boots became regarded as old-school. Facing these material innovations, Galibier eventually disappeared from the market, and its absence lasted for more than 30 years.

Today, however, the brand sees an opportunity to offer an alternative to the cycle of disposable outdoor products. “This trend has started to evolve, with consumers increasingly questioning products that may be lighter but need to be replaced every one or two years,” the brand says. With a focus on longevity, repairability, and traditional manufacturing, Galibier saw 2025 as the ideal time to revive its alpine heritage and reconnect people with its vision of mountain footwear.

With the brand's return also comes a new embrace of modern technology. Galibier says it's fully aware of today’s demand for high-performance products, “which is why technology plays a major role in our product development.” Across the collection, Galibier incorporates materials and components such as nylon ripstop, waterproof membranes, TPU, PU foam, and Vibram Durastep compounds. These technologies enhance performance and durability while reducing weight compared with the brand’s original boots.

Although the new footwear retains many of Galibier’s original design codes and its core identity, the products themselves have been reengineered for contemporary use. The result is a collection that draws on the brand’s alpine heritage while meeting the technical and performance demands of mountain activities as we participate in them today.

Galibier Super Rando Mid

Reissuing the Icons

For its comeback, Galibier reissued two icons, the Super Guide and the Super Rando, while introducing a new model, the Super Varappe. “The reissued Super Rando retains many of the original model’s design codes,” says Galibier, pointing to its red laces, thick, one-piece, full-grain leather upper, Norwegian welt construction, metal eyelets and locking hooks, and substantial outsole.

Although the Super Varappe is a new model, Galibier produced similar shoes in the 1970s and ’80s under the name Super Calcaire. Designed for rugged terrain and easy rock climbing, the earlier model laid the groundwork for today’s approach shoe. The new version features a lacing system that extends farther down the foot, a protective rand that wraps around the entire shoe, and a grid-patterned shank.

From Izeaux to a New Generation of Production

For decades, the Richard-Pontvert company operated out of its original factory in Izeaux, France, before relocating to Saint-Jean-de-Moirans in 2017. Since Galibier’s relaunch, however, production has expanded beyond the French facility, which has reached full capacity.

“Our Super Rando models are made by a family-owned factory in Portugal,” Galibier explains. The company selected the Portuguese manufacturer for its generations of shoemaking experience and expertise in Norwegian welt construction.

The Super Varappe models, meanwhile, are manufactured in Romania. “Their construction and manufacturing process are different and require a different set of technical skills and expertise,” says Galibier.

From the Mountain to the Street

Last year marked the return of a great outdoor footwear brand. While alpinists, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts are excited to see Galibier back in business, the company also recognizes an opportunity to reach a more casual audience. The relaunch comes at an opportune moment, as outdoor footwear, and approach shoes in particular, have become popular as everyday footwear in cities globally. Galibier's return taps into this real-time shift, with its boots finding a life beyond the mountains, worn not only for climbing and other outdoor pursuits but also for daily use, from navigating snowy streets to simply walking around town.

While Galibier appreciates the broader casual outdoor world embracing the boots’ design, the brand remains focused on its technical roots. “This is not what we aspire to be,” the brand's spokesperson told me. “We have always crafted boots for the people who need them most, through technical terrain, demanding pursuits, and harsh conditions. And we always will.”

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