Why We Called It BERT — The Story Behind the Pre and Post Activity Shoe

  BERT started with a dog named Berta and an everyday problem that nobody had solved. In 2017, our founder Juliana rescued Berta from the streets of Bogotá, Colombia. Every morning, walking her meant the same small frustration: trading warm house slippers for sneakers in a cold, rainy apartment building. It sounds minor. But it happened every single day. And it pointed to something bigger: there was no shoe designed for the moments right around an activity. Not during it. Around it.

That gap became BERT: the shoe that adventurers had been missing without knowing it.

From Slippers to a New Category

With the help of industrial designer Alberto Mantilla, the first version of BERT was built around one idea: a shoe that felt like a slipper but looked good enough to wear outside. Comfortable enough for everyday movement. Packable enough to take anywhere.

The social mission came with it from day one. Colombia has over 3 million stray dogs and cats on its streets. 5% of every BERT sale funds spay and neuter programs in the underserved communities where the problem is worst. Since 2020, we've helped over 300 animals.

The Moment Everything Changed

The brand found its true purpose through cycling. Santiago, our founder's husband and owner of Scarab Cycles, started bringing BERTs on rides. He'd slip them on at the trailhead, pack them flat during the ride, then wear them to the coffee shop after. Lightweight, zero laces, fits in any bag.

That was it. BERT wasn't just a comfortable shoe. It was the transition shoe for bikepackers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts who needed something reliable between the trail and the café. A true gap-filler for every moment in the journey.

We redesigned the product around that insight. Zero-drop sole, wide toe box, nylon mesh and neoprene construction, recycled rubber sole — all under 300g. The result is a packable slip-on shoe built for every moment that surrounds the adventure, not just the adventure itself.

The Pre and Post Activity Shoe Built for Every Adventure

Whether you need a camp shoe hiking trips demand, a lightweight shoe after hiking long trails, or simply something easy to pull on at the trailhead, BERT was designed with you in mind. It functions as a barefoot shoe Colombia is proud to produce — zero-drop, wide, and free-feeling underfoot. It works just as well at the campsite as it does at the coffee shop.

The nylon mesh upper keeps things breathable. The neoprene lining keeps things comfortable. And the recycled rubber sole keeps things grounded — literally. All under 300g, it packs flat into any bag without a second thought.

BERT is the shoe for the rider, the hiker, the bikepacker, and the summit-chaser. It's what you reach for when the hard part is done and the good part begins. Versatile, minimal, and ready for whatever comes next on the trail or in town.

Born in Medellín. Worn Everywhere.

BERT is made in Colombia, worn by adventurers worldwide. It's the pre and post activity shoe for the trailhead, the campsite, the coffee stop after the ride, and the walk home after the summit.

Every pair carries a purpose beyond comfort. 5% of sales go directly to spay and neuter programs for street animals across Colombia. When you wear BERT, you're part of that mission.

Berta passed away in August 2024. This shoe carries her name, and the belief she inspired: that the small moments around movement matter just as much as the movement itself.

BERT is the pre and post activity shoe, built for the moments right around your adventure, not just the adventure itself.

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