Big Rock Candy Mountaineering Launches the El Cap Boot, a Vintage-Chic Mountaineering Shoe That’s Actually Resoleable

Big Rock Candy Mountaineering’s El Cap Boot is a timeless leather lace-up that draws from the French varappe climbing shoe — varappe meaning rock climbing in French — but reinterprets it for daily wear. Handmade in Portugal, each pair is designed around a custom last that prioritizes day-long comfort, and its Blake-stitched construction means the sole can be replaced when it wears through.

The upper, lining, and insole are all leather, with a rubberized leather mudguard protecting the toe, heel, and base of the upper. Metal eyelets and a lace lock handle fastening, while an “ice axe” leather ankle guard adds a distinctive touch. The outsole is stamped with BRCM’s carabiner logo, and every box includes a dust bag plus three spare lace sets — one contrast, one tonal, and one black. The boot comes in US sizes 6–13, including half sizes up to 12, and is currently available at Huckberry in Nutmeg Brown and Chocolate (though Chocolate has already sold out).

Big Rock Candy Mountaineering itself was born when Samuel Hardeman and Peter Middleton struggled to find a vintage Eddie Bauer Kara Koram down parka — the jacket made for the 1953 American expedition to K2. With good originals often fetching $1,000 or more and sleeves rarely long enough, they decided to create their own version instead. Both men had deep apparel backgrounds: Hardeman interned at Knickerbocker when it still had a Brooklyn factory, sewing before and after office hours, and later worked at Rowing Blazers. Middleton researched fabrics at Ralph Lauren before launching Wythe with a Kickstarter campaign for oxford shirts. Mutual friends introduced the two because of their shared obsession with mid-century outdoor gear. Initially they considered making the parka for Wythe, but their research into the early American outdoor industry convinced them to start a separate brand, which launched in 2024.

Today, BRCM creates clothing inspired by the alpinists and gear makers of the 1950s through the 1970s. Their Arctic Parka, for instance, updates the mid-century American expedition parka with 600 fill-power duck down and custom ice-axe buttons. Footwear came early on, and Hardeman has admitted it was a major risk — yet the El Cap boot has since become one of the brand’s best-selling categories. Hardeman is candid that BRCM isn’t aiming to be the most technical outdoor label; he hikes in the brand’s shorts and boots, and Middleton skis in the Bridalveil Jacket. The range sells through Huckberry in the US and stockists such as Merci in Paris and Beams Boy in Japan.

With its blend of old-world aesthetics, modern materials, and repairable construction, the El Cap Boot offers a refreshing alternative to disposable footwear. It’s a piece of gear that nods to mountaineering heritage while fitting seamlessly into everyday life — and it’s built to be resoled rather than replaced.