German Army Trainer (GAT) Leather Sneakers

Designer footwear manufacturers and male fashion advisor-nistas hate us. Ivan reveals how you can become fashionable with this one weird item.

That one weird item is Sportschuhe Bw Hallenschuhe weiß, AKA the German Army Trainers or GATs for short. These are the German Army Trainers produced for the Bundeswehr in the 80s and 90s. No Reproductions here. These are the real deal.

They were designed by either Puma or Adidas, depending on who you ask. Due to the animosity, treachery, and deceit sowed by the deep, bubbling, fraternal hatred between Adi Dassler’s Adidas and brother Rudolf Dassler’s Puma, we’ll probably never know for sure.

Either way, these German-engineered shoes are among the Bundeswehr’s darkest surplus secrets. Although sometimes snubbed by the men and women of the Bundeswehr, the trainers follow a long German tradition of surprisingly chic military attire.

The GAT features a preformed removable and washable insole, lightweight adjustable tongue, secure flat laces, and double-stitched abrasion-resistant suede toe cap. The sole is designed to prevent ankle roll and is non-marking. The exterior is constructed of a smooth, sturdy, probably-cowhide material with a padded reinforced heel cap. Inside you’ll find soft, cozy padding.

It’s basically the Air Jordan (Luft Jerry?) of the Federal German Army. Fashionably militant, and militantly fashionable. What’s not to like?

Specs

• Genuine Bundeswehr Issue
• Puma/Adidas design
• Washable insole
• Anti-marking sole 
• White cowhide construction with adjustable tongue & padded heel cap
• Suede double stitched suede toe cap for abrasion resistance

Sizing

For your convenience, we’ve translated the original mondopoint sizing to the closest US size equivalents. Our translated sizing will be your “sneaker” fit in brands like Nike, or (obviously) Adidas. This means they’ll fit tighter than your equivalent boot size, and it’s not a bad idea to go one size up just to be sure. If you have questions about fit, don’t hesitate to reach out to customer service via the live chat function or by emailing [email protected]

Condition

Excellent:

• Sneakers have seen little to no use. Sneakers may have minor scuffs from storage which can be brushed or cleaned off.
• The suede can be white or grey, even in new condition.
• The rear of the shoe may have small machine-punched holes on the top of the heel.
• No wear to the tread.
  

Good:

• Sneakers have seen moderate use, and generally have scuffs / slight discolorations in the leather. Some cleaning with a magic eraser should be able to remove most scuffs.
• Sneakers may have creases in the leather.
• Insoles may show signs of use / be in need of replacement.
• The rear of the shoe may have small machine-punched holes on the top of the heel.
• Plenty of tread should remain for normal use.