Most things are evolutionary, not revolutionary, for example the development of traction footwear — the need for which had been obvious since antiquity.
Let’s begin with hobnailed boots (photo, top left), which Wikipedia says (here) “have been used since antiquity … [e]xamples include the caligae of the Roman military.”
A more specialized version of hobnail, the tricouni, was used by mountain climbers (photo, right). Invented in 1912 by a Swiss climber (see article here), they gripped on snow and wet or lichen-covered rocks; but being metal, sucked heat away from your feet, and weren’t as good on steep snow or ice as crampons, which already existed.
Then came Italian inventor and climber Vitale Bramani, whose idea — “Vibram” boot soles — was revolutionary, not evolutionary. His invention completely displaced hobnailed boots for military use and tricouni-nailed boots for climbing. (Photo, below left; see article here.)
These rubber traction-lug soles provide improved grip on rock (including wet rock) and snow, and insulate the feet from cold, although they do not replace crampons, which are still essential climbing gear. They were quickly adopted, and today, Vibram or similar soles are universal and ubiquitous on hiking and climbing boots. Nobody wears nailed boots anymore.
Now along comes ladies’ fashion. (What took so long?)
A hot holiday item this winter (get ’em before they’re gone!) are women’s lug-soled fashion boots in colors to suit every taste and wardrobe. (See article here.) I wouldn’t climb mountains in these, and they’re not designed or intended for that, but they should work fine on wet pavement and snow-covered sidewalks. However, for really serious weather conditions, I’d get a better of fashion spikes to go with them.
