The Pataugas shoe is derived from the brodequin [fr], a traditional short boot worn in the Basque country, with the addition of a crêpe rubber outsole vulcanised using a gas flame.

[1][2] The name pataugas is a phonetic spelling of the French pâte au gaz, meaning '[rubber] paste with gas'.

The Pataugas shoe was invented by René Elissabid [fr], an industrialist from the village of Mauleon in the province of Soule, who founded the company in 1950.

Three hikers named Etcheberry, Etchegoyen and Etchebarne (dubbed "the 3 Etch") wore them on their 1955 walk through France promoting Basque culture and products, which started in Mauléon and ended in Lille.

As of February 2018[update], Pataugas offered 35 men's footwear options, 110 of women's, and about 15 for children, in addition to its first leather bag.