These Made-In-Malaysia Shoes Are Said To Be Better Than Most Branded Footwear
They're locally known as 'adidas kampung'.
By Tang Ruxyn
Many Malaysians have been raving about a cheap, multipurpose shoe known as 'adidas kampung', of late
Do not be mistaken. Despite what the name of the shoes suggest, they're not actually made by popular global brand, adidas, and instead, these are made-in-Malaysia footwear. 'Adidas kampung' is just a popular term used to refer to this type of locally made black rubber shoes.
The moniker came about because of the shoes' resemblance to the classic football boots by the famous sportswear manufacturer, as they usually come with studs and the signature look of having diagonal stripes on the side.
In fact, many people have used these shoes as their own soccer boots, hence the name.
And guess what — these adidas kampung shoes only cost between RM5 to RM10 for a pair!
These adidas kampung shoes have gained reputation for being a good footwear for trekking in tropical weather and mountain climbing, as many local hikers swear by them
Being made totally from rubber, they are waterproof, light, and easy to dry, so many people have opted to use it when going through muddy trails or crossing a stream or river.
Although adidas kampung shoes have been around for some time now, they only gained mainstream popularity when a rubber tapper who wore a pair of these amazing shoes successfully completed and won the summit race at Mount Kinabalu about six years ago.
Danny Kuilin Gongot made headlines for winning the women's title at the 25th Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon back in 2011 and her achievement has amazed many, especially since she did it while wearing a pair of shoes that cost only RM8.
Prior to this, the shoes, which are also known as 'adidas payak' and 'kasut motong' to some, are commonly worn by rubber tappers, estate workers, or farmers in Malaysia, in the last few decades.
These popular adidas kampung shoes are typically made by several different brands, but some of them come heavily recommended by fans and enthusiasts
Some of the more popular local brands include Goco, Cap Gajah, Bowling, Ostrich, and Osaki.
Traditionally, adidas kampung shoes are only available in black colour and with no lace. However, there are different versions to it nowadays as manufacturers produce different models that come in white or black, laces or no laces, and with studs or no studs.
One thing to bear in mind, is to find a model that fits the wearer, and it is recommended to wear suitable socks for comfort and protection.
Quite a number of people who are proud owners of these shoes have testified that the cheap adidas kampung shoes could be way better than those branded ones that cost a few hundred ringgit
Where can you buy them?
Adidas kampung shoes can be easily found in sundry stores, hardware shops, or the local pasar malam (night market). Some of the popular retailers include Mr. DIY and Tesco stores.
For those who are staying in the Klang Valley area, these are the go-to stores recommended by hikers and trekkers:
1. Chiong Keng Trading
Address: 3, Jalan Sawi, Taman Goodwood, Jalan Kuchai Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: +603-7982 6422/+6016-2486 486
2. Kedai Kasut Sri Sentosa
Address: 89, Jalan 1/12, Old Town, Petaling Jaya, 46000, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Contact: 03-7784 9155