Footwear – Alpine Shop Blog

October 14, 2021October 22, 2021

Give a Little. Save Big. Glennon Card Discount Days are October 14-24, 2021

Back in 2011, Alpine Shop was one of the first retailers to sign on to assist SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital with their new “Glennon Card” promotion. Little did we know then just how big this would promotion grow!

When you purchase a Glennon Card – either at Alpine Shop, on on-line at www.glennoncard.org, 100% of your money benefits the kids cared for by SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. Plus, the Glennon Card also provides you with significant discounts at over 270 retailers, restaurants and salons on-line and in the area (including Alpine Shop!) through Sunday, October 24. With unlimited use for 10 days, it’s easy to recoup the cost of the card. Best of all, 100% of card sales benefit the kids.

Here’s how it works: You can purchase a Glennon Card either in any Alpine Shop location or on-line here for $60 and use it all participating merchants. With your card, you’ll receive a 20% discount on nearly everything in our stores* with the main exception being a 10% discount on full-priced bikes, boats or snowsport hardgoods.

Alpine Shop is proud to have been one of the top Local Merchants for Glennon Card sales over the past five years. Please come in and purchase your Card anytime between now and Sunday, Oct. 24, and be sure to select Alpine Shop as how you heard about the Glennon Card if you purchase a digital card through the on-line checkout here.

2021 GLENNON CARD RULES AND EXCLUSIONS:
Card sharing is strictly prohibited. Since the Glennon Card is a fundraising event to help the sick and injured children cared for at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon, we encourage shoppers to buy their own Glennon Card. Participating retailers will not accept cards unless purchaser has been verified with a valid photo ID.

*20% off promotion applies to the full retail price on in-store apparel, footwear and camping gear only and is not eligible to be combined with other promotions or offers, except for clearance goods (marked with $_.97 pricing) which will be discounted from the lowest-marked price.Hardgoods such as bikes, boats and ski & snowsport hardgoods receive a 10% off discount. Used items for sale in Alpine Shop’s Winter Swap are not eligible for any discount. Select brands and items are excluded. Please see an Alpine Shop outfitter for details.

If you would like to shop on-line with us, please access our site through this link here. You will need the passcode that is either on the second page of the paper Glennon Card or from the information you received through your digital card.

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021

Gift Ideas for Mom

We know. You meant to grab a gift weeks ago for Mom. But if you’re still on the fence as to what to buy, the friendly outfitters from Alpine Shop and The Pathfinder have some fantastic ideas for you!

Smartwool Merino Wool Tank Top — Smartwool Merino Wool Sport 150 Tank Top $45

Birketnstock sandals — Birkentstock Gizeh Sandals $99.95

Red sun dress with pink and orange flowers — Patagonia Amber Dawn Dress $59.95

October 16, 2020

Give a Little. Save Big. Glennon Card Discount Days are October 16-25, 2020

When you purchase a Glennon Card – either at Alpine Shop, on on-line at www.glennoncard.org, 100% of your money benefits the kids cared for by SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. Plus, the Glennon Card also provides you with significant discounts at over 250 retailers, restaurants and salons on-line and in the area (including Alpine Shop!) through Sunday, October 25. With unlimited use for 10 days, it’s easy to recoup the cost of the card. Best of all, 100% of card sales benefit the kids.

Alpine Shop is proud to have been the top Local Merchant for Glennon Card sales in 2017 & 2018 and in the top five for 2019. We’d like to reclaim the top spot in 2020 with your help! Please come in and purchase your Card anytime between now and Sunday, Oct. 25, and be sure to select Alpine Shop as how you heard about the Glennon Card if you purchase a digital card through the on-line checkout here.

2020 GLENNON CARD RULES AND EXCLUSIONS:
Card sharing is strictly prohibited. Since the Glennon Card is a fundraising event to help the sick and injured children cared for at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon, we encourage shoppers to buy their own Glennon Card! Participating retailers will not accept cards unless purchaser has been verified with a valid photo ID.

Select brands and items are excluded. Please see an Alpine Shop outfitter for details.

June 13, 2020June 13, 2020

Shop Teva. Win Some Swag!

Starting today, Saturday, June 13, shop for Teva products at alpineshop.com and win some swag!

Spend ANY amount on Teva to be eligible to win a spork and straw set (while supplies last), or be one of the first six (6) people to spend over $90 on Teva to win one of everything shown above!

**Items shown: Teva portable bluetooth speaker, Teva keychain, Teva reusable camp spork, United By Blue reusable straw set**

#giveaway #alpineshoponline #tevatime #getOUTSIDEyourself

Offer good only while supplies last!

March 26, 2020

Alpine Shop’s Top 5 Hiking Boots for Spring

Despite the unceasing stream of bad news, spring is still coming. The rain will stop, the days will brighten, and the world will turn green again. If you’re dreading days of isolation, it may just be time to take a hike.

At Alpine Shop, we’ve got top-rated hiking boots to get you back to nature this season. The best part? Hiking is the original “social distancing.”

Our Top 5 Picks for Hiking this Spring

Salomon Quest

These boots were voted best for rugged terrain according to Switch Back Travel, and fans call them tough and supportive, yet comfortable. Updated just last year, these shoes were redesigned to provide a more flexible platform for comfort and an improved outsole for grip. We love Salomon Quest because they include technology designed to reduce fatigue. With seam-sealed GORE-TEX membranes, they’ll keep your feet dry, too. We think you’ll find them stable, cushioning, and perfect for your next backpacking trip.

Oboz Sawtooth II

These are new in stock, and we couldn’t be happier to offer them to our hikers.

Oboz has a reputation for designing comfortable footwear, and the Sawtooth II model is no exception. Plush on the inside and tough on the outside, these boots are perfect for your next camping trip. We like the breathable mesh paneling and the lighter weight of these shoes, which fit snugly around your ankle. Oboz shoes have an O FIT Insole, a proprietary feature that gives you an unbeatable fit.

Vasque St. Elias GTX

Our next pick is the updated St. Elias GTX. Don’t let their rather clunky appearance fool you. These shoes are comfortable right out of the box. They’re also flexible and sturdy, which makes them perfect for long distance hikes. Plus, they feature a waterproof leather upper and a GORE-TEX membrane to keep your toes nice and dry. We love these shoes because, while they have a classic boot look, they’re still nice and nimble on the trail.

Merrell Moab 2

If you aren’t familiar with this brand, you soon will be. Some hikers say that Merrell Moab boots set the standard for footwear. What makes the Moab so popular? The reasonable price is one factor. They’re also lightweight and comfy, with a supportive footbed and Vibram traction. With a waterproof membrane and lots of arch support, these hikers will carry you across any terrain.

Keen Targhee III

This is another product that comes with a reasonable price tag and comfort from the first wear. We call the Keen line iconic because it’s been popular since its inception, known to be reliable for day hiking and weekend camping trips. These shoes offer a waterproof yet breathable membrane and a stable heel. They’re durable and stylish enough to become your go-to favorite this season.

All of these choices are ready to wear and durable enough to hold up to rough trail conditions and spring rains. They’re perfect for when you can’t take one more moment in the house. Want more recommendations? Contact us at Alpine Shop or visit our online store!

October 21, 2019October 21, 2019

Give a Little. Save Big. Glennon Card Discount Days are October 18-27, 2019

When you purchase a Glennon Card – either at Alpine Shop, on on-line at www.glennoncard.org, 100% of your money benefits the kids cared for by SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. Plus, the Glennon Card also provides you with significant discounts at over 345 retailers, restaurants and salons in the area (including Alpine Shop!) through this Sunday, October 27. With unlimited use for 10 days, it’s easy to recoup the cost of the card. Best of all, 100% of card sales benefit the kids.

Here’s how it works: You can purchase a Digital Glennon Card on-line here for $50 and use it all participating merchants, or if you would prefer a paper version, you can grab one for $60 at any Alpine Shop retail location now through Oct. 27. Either way, you’ll receive a 20% discount on nearly everything in our stores* with the main exception being a 10% discount on full-priced bikes, boats or snowsport hardgoods.

Alpine Shop is proud to have been the top Local Merchant for Glennon Card sales in 2017 & 2018 and hope to remain the same for 2019. Please come in and purchase your Card anytime between now and Sunday, Oct. 27, or be sure to select Alpine Shop as how you heard about the Glennon Card at the on-line checkout here.

2019 GLENNON CARD RULES AND EXCLUSIONS:
Card sharing is strictly prohibited. Since the Glennon Card is a fundraising event to help the sick and injured children cared for at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon, we encourage shoppers to buy their own Glennon Card! Participating retailers will not accept cards unless purchaser has been verified with a valid photo ID.

*20% off promotion applies to the retail price on in-store apparel, footwear and camping gear only and is not eligible to be combined with other promotions or offers, except for clearance goods (marked with $_.97 pricing) which will be discounted from the lowest-marked price. Hardgoods such as bikes, boats and ski & snowsport hardgoods receive a 10% off discount. Online and Special Order items are not eligible.

Select brands and items are excluded. Please see an Alpine Shop outfitter for details.

August 15, 2019August 20, 2019

RESULTS 08-15-19 | Conquering Cardiac

BALLWIN, MO – When you name a course after a hill titled “Cardiac Hill,” you’d expect times to go up. Instead, the 218 runners that tackled the “Cardiac Course” at Castlewood State Park on Thursday, August 15, pushed the pace up a notch compared to the week before. The approximately 4 mile race featured two substantial climbs, including the previously mentioned “Cardiac Hill” and also saw participants make their first finish-line-crossing of Kiefer Creek.

Jon-Paul LaVenture hits the creek crossing right before the finish line on Thursday night’s Race 3 of the 2019 Trail Run Series.

Once again, Jon-Paul LaVenture (37, Ballwin) was the first to cross through the Alpine Shop arch in a time of 26:28.5, more than a minute faster than last week’s second-place runner, Andy Rains (26, Ballwin, 27:43.2). Josh Wright (41, Kirkwood), who took third place last week, as well, crossed the finish line in 28:19.3 to round out the top three in the overall standings. Those three will also hold the points lead heading into the final race of the 2019 Series next week.

Women’s winner for the second straight week, Jaime Maher, hits the full depth of Keifer Creek near the end of the race.

For the women’s open category, Jaime Maher (36, St. Louis), last week’s winner, took first once again in a time of 33:04.9, beating last week’s second place finisher, Lory Cooper (32, St. Louis, 33:37.9), to the line by just over 30 seconds. Repeating the “familiarity” theme of this year’s races, Yuting Huang (28, Ballwin), last week’s third place woman, took – you guessed it – third place with a time of 35:34.8.

Men’s Master’s winner, Chris Martel (center, “1”), heads out with the lead group at the start of Race 3 of the 2019 Trail Run Series.

Chris Martel (53, Francis Park) won his 11th straight masters Trail Run Series race with a final time of 29:38.7 (7th overall). Eric Buckley (56, St. Louis, 31:42.6) was second in the division for the second straight week. And Ryan Yoch (56, O’Fallon, IL, 32:07.0) returned to the top three after taking second during the first week’s race. On the women’s side, Kate Dewey (51, Chesterfield) took home her third straight win with a time of 38:24.6, with Sherri Schultz (50, Chesterfield, 39:56.5) and Julie Dobslaw (51, University City, 40:48.0) once again, taking second and third, respectively.

Women’s Master’s winner, Kate Dewey heads down the hill to the creek near the end of Race 3 of the 2019 Trail Run Series.

The final race of the 2019 Alpine Shop Trail Run Series will take place next Thursday night, August 22 at 6:15 pm.

Overall Results
Age Group Results
Point Series Totals
Photos (by Jacob Trost)

April 15, 2019April 24, 2019

Chaco Turns 30! Birthday Celebrations in April

Help us wish Chaco a very happy 30th birthday this April at one of four different birthday celebrations over two different days! Join us on Wednesday, April 24 at our St. Louis-area locations- Alpine Shop Kirkwood from 6-8 pm and Alpine Shop Chesterfield from 5-7 pm; and at Alpine Shop Columbia and The Pathfinder in Manhattan, Kan., on Thursday, April 25 from 5-7 pm.

To celebrate, we’re offering 15% off all Chacos on April 24-25 inside our stores all day long. We’ll also be giving away two pairs of sandals at each location. Simply sign up to win!

Plus, you can also take home a Chaco Wrist Wrap Bracelet for FREE simply by presenting your phone to us showing a photo of you and your Chacos in a post you make on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtags: #BirthdayChacos & #AlpineShop! It’s that simple!

All stores will feature Chaco tacos along with local craft beer (except at The Pathfinder) and birthday cake! There’s no charge to join in the fun, but we hope you’ll find a new pair of Chacos to help celebrate 30 years of the iconic sandal!

August 27, 2013

MadRock Shark 2.0 Review

Assistant Manager for the Columbia store and avid climber, Ryan Gajewski, dishes out some pretty awesome hands on experience for the new MadRock Shark 2.0 climbing shoe!

Over the past four months I have been testing the new MadRock Shark 2.0 climbing shoe. What is new this year is the split sole technology. The idea is to make the shoe more aggressive which aids in over hangs. I have found this to be the first time Mad Rock has put this technology in their shoes.
First things first, where were they tested? I tried to climb in multiple areas with different rock quality in order to get a real idea of how good the new style worked under different conditions.
I started in three gyms such as Boulder Gardens (Columbia, Mo), Upper Limits (St. Louis) and So Ill (St. Louis).

Outside locations included:
-Sandstone: Sam’s Throne, AR, Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, AR, Obed/Clear Creek, TN and Eldorado Canyon, CO
-Granite: Leavenworth, WA
-Limestone: Providence, Warsaw , Wilton, and Columbia, MO

Types of routes that were climbed:
Gyms:
-Sport climbing & Bouldering
Outside:
-Bouldering, Sport and Trad

Here is what I found.

Pros:
-Price point. Every other split sole shoe retails around +$180.00 making the modest $119.00 very attractive.
-Fit. They are a very true fit, meaning you don’t have to guess and go down two shoe sizes like a lot of other bands. This makes finding your fit a lot easier and less frustrating. I found I only downsized 1/2 my street shoe.
-Comfort. Most split soles are very aggressive, this means you usually have to sacrifice comfort. The mad rocks fit very well with a super comfortable heel, and even though your toe are curled there are no pressure spots.
-Aggressive. These shoes even feel confident before you leave the ground, especially on overhanging boulders, I found they were very helpful when powering through thin lip turns and wild heel hooks.

Cons:
-Heel “mowhawk” is a neat concept but it only works well on specific types of heel hooks. I found that it sometimes would pop my heel off the rock when doing very small, smearing heel hooks.
-The rubber is not as sticky as La Sportiva’s Vibram or 5.10’s stealth rubber.
-It’s pretty specialized, this is not necessarily a bad thing, but a new climber would not enjoy these because of their aggressiveness.

These shoes are the perfect buy for the climber who is ready to jump to a more aggressive shoe, but doesn’t want to blow their entire paycheck. I feel this shoe really comes alive on the boulder wall in the gym. The rubber is not as good as others, therefore I found myself reaching for my higher end Sportiva’s and Evolve’s while outside.
The Sharks are a must for the aspiring climber who wants a second more aggressive shoe but doesn’t want to break the bank. These shoes can cruise you up your 5.7 and V0 warmup and then take you to your 5.13 roof or V8 problem without a hitch. And, on a closing note, they also won editor’s choice in Climbing magazine!

Send hard,
Ryan Gajewski

September 11, 2012

Alpine Shop’s Pedorthist Picks Footwear for the Fall

Introducing Angie Bono, Alpine Shop’s certified pedorthist and senior bootfitter. (We’ll explain what that means in just a second.) We asked her to give us some background on what she does and what she likes for fall in the footwear department at Alpine Shop.

Where does my passion for helping people with their feet come from?

Angie Bono C.Ped. — Angie Bono – Certified Pedorthist and master morel hunter. Angie has helped hundreds of people across Missouri with all kinds of foot problems. Find out how she can help you today. (But, no, she won’t tell you where she found the morels.)

I have worked at Alpine Shop for 13 years. About three years into my employment here, the Shop sent me to a professional boot fitting class as part of its efforts to improve the quality of our service for our customers. That class taught me my first lessons about the biomechanics of the human foot, boot anatomy, how to dial in a fit and where the majority of common foot problems originate .

About the same time, my mom started having a terrible time with her feet, suffering from both plantar fasciitis and tarsal tunnel syndrome. She worked for 32 years at the phone company walking on concrete floors and climbing metal ladders. She always just wore a pair of simple white tennis shoes. Watching a loved one suddenly having to hobble around like an old woman because of excruciating pain just killed me.

Then a light went on: If I could help people with their feet through my job… Maybe they wouldn’t have end up with the same problems like my Mom!

I’ve spent the last eight years continuing to further my education and my skills regarding the footwear we sell here at Alpine Shop and the correct way to fit that footwear to best help our customers.

I’m now a Certified Pedorthist, which means I am a professional health care specialist dealing in the use of footwear and supportive devices to address conditions which affect the feet and lower limbs. I’m trained in the assessment of your lower limb anatomy and biomechanics, and also the appropriate use of corrective footwear, including shoes, shoe modifications, orthotics and other devices.

I’ve helped everyone from professional athletes to 70-year-old men just starting to hike to try to stay in shape. I’ve outfitted hundreds of boy scouts and helped many, many others along the way with everything from flip-flops to dress shoes. My passion is being able to help others with their feet. If I’d known back then what I know now, maybe I could have prevented my Mom’s problems from developing. Now, I’m here to help you!

Angie Bono C.Ped.

What’s cool this fall and winter in footwear?

Dansko Clog in fashionable, limited-time only colors — How about the paint splatter pair?

From my closet to yours:

One of my favorite days of the retail year is when we get in our new Danskos. If you don’t have a pair yet; they will change your life. Eight different Dansko collections carry the American Podiatric Medical Association seal of approval. (That means they have been found beneficial to foot health.) As Alpine Shop’s Certified Pedorthist, senior boot fitter, and general “I can totally help you with your feet!” person, I LOVE Danskos.

This season’s fall lineup of Danskos looks really, really nice. And, by the way, some of the colors are in limited edition! Come in and get that pair of Paint Splatter; they won’t be here for long.

The North Face Back to Berkley Boot at Alpine Shop — TNF Back to Berkley Boot

The COOLEST Men’s Winter Boots

The North Face Back to Berkley 68. It speaks of The North Face’s History and roots. BUT it doesn’t just look cool; it’s loaded with sweet features and EXTRA RED LACES!
It has Primaloft® insulation to keep your feet warm, and looking good!
The bottom of the shoe (the outsole) is made out of a temperature activated rubber, that gets harder as the temperature gets lower. It’s called IcePick® technology, because the rubber becomes spiky points that dig in to slippery snowy or icy terrain.

So: Good looking, super warm, and it bites into the weather conditions.

Trail Running. Salomon is where it’s at.

Salomon XR Mission Trail Run shoe — Salomon XR Mission Trail Run Shoe (blue) for women

Introducing the Salomon XR Mission for Men and Women.

These shoes are designed for slightly less technical trails than some of the previous options we have carried from Salomon. It is absolutely perfect for harder packed surfaces, like well defined trails in drier weather. It is bulked up with all of the cushioning that would take you from light trail to road runs.

This shoe has “muscle,” and by muscle I mean three areas of scientifically placed cushion that roll you through heel strike, mid foot stance, and on your toe-off phase of gait.

Lastly this shoe has an amazing fore-foot fit. (Say that three times fast!) It’s new to Salomon and it’s called Sensi-Fit. It’s a stretchy area in the forefoot that helps fits medium to a wider fore-foot. More importantly it allows the forefoot to expand naturally upon impact.

So far this is my favorite new Salomon, just ordered my pair yesterday in this color:

That’s what’s hot for this fall in footwear!