The Brasher Heritage

Christopher William “Chris” Brasher CBE. 1928-2003

Christopher William “Chris” Brasher was born on the 21^st August 1928. Deservedly renowned in the outdoor and running world, Chris Brasher embodied everything that the British visionaries of old stood for, he was tenacious with his dreams and ideas, which led him to create one of the most iconic British brands in walking footwear.

Chris Brasher was a runner, a sports journalist, an arctic expedition leader, a country gent and an entrepreneur. Above all that Chris was an outdoor enthusiast like you or I, with a fresh perspective and unwavering will to succeed.

During his lifetime Chris was a part of many moments of history, often creating it himself:

• 1954: Roger Bannister’s legendary first 4-minute mile. Chris was the pacemaker for the first 3 minutes.
• 1956: Won gold in the steeplechase event at the Melbourne Olympics - lead to him becoming the UK’s Sportsman of the Year
• 1966-69: Co-founder and chairman of the British Orienteering Federation
• 1981: Co-Founder and Life President of the London Marathon
• 1990 and 1999: Awarded the Outdoor Writers Guild Golden Awards for innovation and services to the outdoor world
• 1996: Awarded CBE
• 2003: Awarded the Sports Industry Lifetime Achievement Award

At his heart Chris was a kind, caring and sometimes eccentric individual, willing to push himself for the benefit of others. An account from an old friend, Ian Milne (Ranelagh Harriers) shows us that Chris was a man who knew how to enjoy himself.

“Another time he & I were up in the Lakes with Joss Naylor. We were to cross the Langdales on a route from Grasmere to Wasdale.

Before we started Chris insisted on a couple of pints of Guinness in Grasmere before we drove north to our start point below Dunmail Raise. When we got to that point, Joss and I lost no time in putting our shoes on and getting ready to climb the first of the fells (a 1 in 3 climb at best).

We were soon met with a quick shout from Chris, who we discovered was busily filling his pipe, and stuffing his tobacco pouch into his bumbag.

True to type, he puffed smoke on his way up Dunmail Raise letting us know in no uncertain terms that we were here to enjoy ourselves, not to take things too seriously. “

It was during another one of these adventures that Chris had an idea that would revolutionise the way walking footwear was made forever...

Brasher: Properly British built

The idea behind the first brasher boot was conceived by the man himself in 1978. The story goes like this:

Whilst walking the Roof of Wales with Paddy Buckley, both Chris and Paddy suffered all sorts of blisters and problems with their walking boots. They posted the defective boots home for later examination, and soldiered through the next 180 miles in their training shoes without any trouble and in relative comfort. This lead Chris to ask the question:

“Why aren't walking boots as comfortable as trainers?"

Inspiring the creation of the first, cushioned Brasher Boot.

The core purpose of all brasher branded gear is easily summarised in four simple criteria:

• Out of the box comfort.
• Complete waterproof protection.
• Lightweight.
• Underfoot performance.

After twenty-five different prototypes, and five years of field testing across the UK, the revolutionary boot was put on the market for the first time in 1983.

Known simply as “The Brasher” the boot exemplified true British craftsmanship and innovation, featuring a suede upper with a bellows tongue, a triple density sole composed of shock absorbing EVA and a waterproof membrane for complete moisture protection. This feature set is still used in top level mountaineering boots today. As a sign of Chris’ confidence in the quality of the boot, brasher offered a bottle of champagne to anyone who wore the boots and developed a blister.

Now trading as The Brasher Boot Company, Chris continued to develop footwear that accommodated for every type of outdoor enthusiast, from women’s boots with a specific narrower fit, to comfortable lifestyle pieces that don’t compromise on outdoor functionality, to the high collared Mountain Master and its’ legendary Vibram outsole and iconic crimson interior.

33 years later, with Chris sadly no longer with us, brasher are still manufacturing high quality, performance based footwear that still adhere to the same four criteria mentioned above. Each boot is packed with the experience and knowledge that comes with such a rich history to draw from.

Unfortunately, brasher can’t offer out champagne any more, but they can still make super-comfortable walking boots.

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