Troentorp Clogs

Posted by Tiffany on March 22nd, 2010    6 Comments »

Lately I’ve been spotting clogs in every color and pattern imaginable. I’ve seen heels that rival Louboutins. I’ve seen platforms, sandals, closed backs, boots, and even mary janes… all sporting familiar wooden soles. So to kick off this series where we’ll be evaluating clogs of all sorts, I wanted to bring it right back to basics.

In 1907, August Johansson started a small Swedish clog factory in the town of Troentorp, just outside of Båstad, Southern Sweden.

Over a hundred years later, the business is still going strong as Troentorps Toffel Fabrik. With techniques passed down through generations of wooden clog cobblers, the emphasis here has always been on craftsmanship and comfort. It’s made these clogs the traditional mainstays in Sweden, and popular worldwide with nurses, chefs, and anyone else who spends all day on their feet.

They’re not the sexiest option out there, but I was really looking forward to receiving these. I found the thought of getting a pair of shoes that I knew I could wear for the rest of my life wonderfully satisfying… even exciting. Especially since the basic black Johansson model is a classic that I actually find quite stylish in its simplicity.

These… not so much.

Unfortunately it wasn’t Troentorp’s Johansson clogs that arrived in response to my media request, but their Wright model instead. In brown. Frankly, not my style at all. Slowly, begrudgingly, after the harsh blow of disappointment passed, I was still able to find some things to admire.

Troentorp uses nails to attach the leather to the wood, much nicer than staples like all the rest. The wood heels have some nice detailing on the heels, and the leather upper is thick and well formed.

It’s a very comfortable shoe. The orthopedically designed foot bed provides even weight distribution and good arch support. Moisture-absorbing alder wood is used for the foot bed, and a thick polyurethane sole gives it some cushion and grip. Also one thing I always appreciate, there’s lots of toe room.

The only thing I was concerned about as I set out on my mile walk was the bridge of the shoe over the top of my foot. Tight… a little too tight. But that’s something that gets better as the leather stretches with wear. I just hoped I wouldn’t ruin my feet on day one!

With errands to run in the East Bay, I decided to explore Berkeley. It’s Spring Break, the ideal time to go, when the heaving student population are all somewhere else working on their tans and tequila tolerances.

It was a gorgeous second day of Spring. The campus was deserted, but all the usual signs of life were there.

On Telegraph Avenue the street vendors hawked their wares, skate shops mingled with bookstores and tattoo parlors. A band unloaded for tonight’s show.

And of course there’s Blondie’s Pizza. I couldn’t resist.

By the time I looked down at my pedometer, I’d walked well past my mile. The Troentorps were comfortable to walk in and the tight bridge never got bad.

All in all, a nice walk. Good shoes. But I won’t be wearing them much. I’m still pining for those black Johanssons after all.

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