Who We Are: Tradition and Innovation

HAIX® (pronounced “hikes”) is a family-owned footwear manufacturer trusted by thousands of firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, law enforcement officers, foresters and arborists, safety workers and more. We started small. In 1948, Bavarian shoemaker Xaver Haimerl began making hiking and work boots. His son, Ewald Haimerl, developed the area’s first leather fire boot in 1992. Today, we hand-craft over 1 million pairs of shoes annually and we are proud to sell them to dealers, distributors, and directly to individuals around the globe.

Our US office was established in 2003 and serves the United States and Canada. We have produced outstanding footwear since 1948. We are best known for our fire and EMS products, but we also offer a wide range of law enforcement, forestry, and safety footwear.

Our mission has always been to make the best specialized footwear on the market. Period. From forestry boots to tactical boots, we offer the industry's most innovative and thoughtfully designed products. We aim to create protective, comfortable footwear at a good price-to-performance ratio—boots that stand up to years of use under the most rigorous conditions. The safety of our customers is our top priority.