I’ve been aware of Palladium Boots and their Pampa line since the days of Emo Pixie Dream Girls; all my friends would don their all-black high tops to go to shows.
In this video, you’ll get a quick look at their Fall 2023 lineup, with a few pieces specifically meant for hiking. Palladium Boots have a long and storied history, starting in France in 1947 for soldiers in the Indochina and Algerian Wars. The boots were originally used for battle, and although their designs remain true to the original, they continue to evolve.
Here, we’ll be focusing on their lightweight hiking line. However, if you take a look at their site you’ll see that Palladium Boots offers a vast array of shoes for different purposes or styles.
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Company Info
During the 1920s, Palladium began making tires for some new thing called airplanes. To expand their production and meet increasing demand, they opened a new plant in Pont De Cheruy, France, in 1947 to produce footwear. This led to the launch of their army-style desert boots which quickly became a huge success for the French Foreign Legion.
The Pampa Boot arrived soon after, offering a lightweight and waterproof design that was ideal for trekking through difficult terrain. This inspired the Jungle Boots we saw in Vietnam.
In the 1960s, Palladium made temperature-resistant boots for geologist and author Haroun Tazieff‘s volcano explorations of Mt. Etna, Mt Stromboli (lol, really?!), and Mt. Lipari.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, their underground streetwear caught on with the punk and ski bunny crowd. They even introduced eco-friendly, organic cotton and recycled rubber soles in 1991.
K-Swiss bought Palladium in 2009 to expand their range of performance and fashion footwear. The company has continued to innovate, collaborating with artists and individuals to create limited-edition shoes, building on the timeless Pampa Boot design.
- STYLE: 77238-297-M – PAMPA TRAVEL LITE+ WATERPROOF – MSRP $150 USD
- 100% Vegan with no animal product in the upper including the glue
- UPPER: Recycled polyester
- LINING: 50% recycled polyester / 50% polyester
- SOCKLINER: Recycled foam – covered in recycled polyester and polyester
- BOTTOM + TOE CAP: Foxing and protective toe cap in rubber / lightweight outsole in EVA
- BRANDING: Woven label on tongue / Printed round logo on lateral quarter / Printed logo on medial logo
- FEATURES: TPU reinforcement on heel for stability / Internal supportive structure in textile / Fast lacing construction with elastic laces for easy entry / Buckle to adapt the lacing / Reflective prints on top quarters / Heel loop
- STYLE: 76656-313-M – PAMPA LITE+ RECYCLE WP+ – MSRP $140 USD
- 100% Vegan with no animal product in the upper including the glue
- UPPER: waterproof shoe made in 100% recycled polyester
- LINING: recycled polyester
- SOCKLINER: 85% recycled foam + 15% PU / cover in 80% recycled polyester + 20% polyester
- BOTTOM + TOE CAP: rubber with 15% recycled rubber / EVA / Rubber pads under the bottom to avoid slippery
- BRANDING: Woven label folded around the tongue / Waterproof + label on heel / Palladium print on lateral quarter
- FEATURES: bootie construction with recycled membrane / gusset / flat lace in recycled polyester / eyelets / heel loop
- STYLE: 06440-237-M – PAMPA HI ZIP NBK APPLE CINNAMON – MSRP $140.00 (AS OF 03/08/23, $120.40)
- UPPER: Nubuck leather
- LINING: mesh in 100% polyester
- SOCKLINER: Die cut EVA + EVA cup – cover in 100% polyester
- BOTTOM + TOE CAP: Rubber + Die cut EVA
- BRANDING: Woven label on tongue / rubber logo on lateral side / woven label on lateral quarter / GPS logo on inner zip flap
- FEATURES: flat lace in polyester / eyelets / heel loop in nylon / zip on medial quarter / inner zip flap in microfiber / zip puller in leather / removable insole. Cold weather boot. Comes with two pairs of laces – one in traditional hiking red and the other color to match the upper.
- STYLE: 77954-275-M – LEGION HIKER SURF TAN – MSRP $140
- UPPER: Nubuck leather
- LINING: mesh in 100% polyester
- SOCKLINER: Die cut EVA + EVA cup – cover in 100% polyester
- BOTTOM + TOE CAP: Rubber + Die cut EVA
- BRANDING: Woven label on tongue / rubber logo on lateral side / woven label on lateral quarter / GPS logo on inner zip flap
- FEATURES: flat lace in polyester / eyelets / heel loop in nylon / zip on medial quarter / inner zip flap in microfiber / zip puller in leather / removable insole. Cold weather boot. Comes with two pairs of laces – one in traditional hiking red and the other color to match the upper.
Opinions
Palladium’s catalog offers a variety of styles, from historically awesome desert and jungle boots to unique fashion and lifestyle gear. I was impressed with theirTravel Lite+ WP+ shoes in particular – their weight is so light that picking them up almost gave me a rush.
I won’t be wearing their chunky platform boots when I join my BTGGF for a night at the Goth IHOP, but their practical outdoor shoes are perfect for taking a hike or engaging in a bit of target practice in my backyard.
I think our TFB friend might benefit from trying out some Palladium shoes, as they’re definitely similar to other brands he has tested.
Conclusion
Palladium has experienced a resurgence in the last five years. Jared commented that Palladium is really pushing into the outdoor market and I can definitely see the difference.
Not only do they offer shoes with voluminous soles (similar to my Hokas), but they also have their classic desert and jungle boots that have been modernized, plus a few pairs resembling the Timbs famously sported by Fat Joe and Joell Ortiz.
After conversing with Jared, he offered me a promotional pair of boots. However, even though they were supposedly my size, when they arrived they were a half size too large. I’d say it’s important to pay close attention to the size chart before purchasing, but my choice was made using their size chart…
Returning the boots proved difficult due to the requirement of using FedEx drop-off locations, these are as uncommon as an individual with all their teeth in my ultra-rural community. I am currently waiting on a replacement pair and I am hopeful that K-Swiss’s partnership with Palladium will soon allow easier options for exchanges on their online store. (They confirmed this is in the works by email.)
If you are interested in a pair of these boots, I suggest you look into alternatives such as Zappos that offer easier exchange processes.
Don’t forget to check out Palladium at their site or social media:
Explorer’s Club Loyalty Program
@Palladium – Instagram
@PalladiumBoots – Youtube
@PalladiumBoots – Facebook
The opinions expressed above are entirely from the author and weren’t subject to review by K-Swiss, Palladium Boots, or any external entity.
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