How The Paraboot Clusaz Took the Fashion World by Storm
The Paraboot Clusaz, with its low-top hiking shoe silhouette, has been a surprisingly popular shoe since its release in 2020, picking up traction almost instantly and becoming a staple of the brand's roster. With a distinctive speed hook and D-Ring lacing system combined with a derby shape, the Clusaz is insanely recognisable and incredibly unique. With the shoe becoming harder and harder to get your hands on, and the limited quantities selling out within hours of release, we thought we’d break down how the Clusaz took the menswear space by storm.
Styling: The Move Away From Gorpcore
Maybe the most recognisable design choice on the Clusaz is the inspiration it takes from classic hiking shoes. Much like the brand's more traditional hiker, the Avoriaz, the Clusaz features a D-Ring lacing system with speed hooks for easy tying, a feature that has been linked to hiking boots since the 1960s. It's no secret that hiking gear has been on trend for years now, with Gorpcore, a style dominated by Arc’teryx jackets and Salomon trainers, appearing around 2017. As the style has progressed, it seems that people are straying from the hyper-technical gear to something a little more comfortable and accessible, which is where we’ve seen brands like Paraboot and Danner gain notoriety.
With hardier construction and designs more in line with classic boots than their Gorpcore cousins, these heritage boots still have the rugged and outdoorsy design that people are searching for. The Clusaz seems to be the natural extension of this, blending the hiker into mainstream fashion by using a low-top Derby silhouette. Unconstrained by the structure of classic hiking boots while retaining a timeless shape, the Clusaz sits in a middle ground, making the style hugely accessible, and therefore, hugely desirable.
Construction: Built for the Outdoors
While it's true that the Clusaz definitely prioritises fashion over being a true hiker, that doesn’t mean the shoe is badly built. Quite the opposite, in fact. It’s well known that Paraboot produces some of the highest quality footwear on the market, and this shoe is no exception. The brand's unparalleled and methodic construction process, which includes the use of an incredibly high quality leather outer and fully waterproof Norwegian Welted soles, means that the Clusaz can withstand anything a traditional hiking boot can. If you want proof, we actually took a pair on a ten mile hike from Rye to Hastings to test them, and they stood up incredibly. Not only were they comfortable, but the shoes withstood a mighty, muddy beating, and kept the wearer's feet relatively intact while doing so!
Obviously, a low top hiking shoe isn’t ideal for the average trek, so we’re not suggesting you wear them on your next adventure, but their performance on our outing did prove how resilient the Clusaz are. This is a huge pull for many people, with an emphasis on buying things to last rather than buying into trends. Knowing you’ll have a shoe that looks good and will last you not only makes you feel more comfortable with a purchase, but also gives you peace of mind that you won’t be shelling out again anytime soon!
So, with the Clusaz getting harder to find, they’re definitely one to add to the list. Having a pair in your rotation can fill a multitude of gaps, making them not only stylish, but also incredibly versatile, and one of the most accessible shoes of the moment!
