Vibram announced a partnership with The Timberland Company to produce four new outsoles for the Timberland Outdoor Performance line. The collection includes shoes for a variety of athletic endeavors including trailrunning, hiking, off road biking, and water sports.
“We are excited to roll out this extensive program with such a well-established brand that shares our commitment to outstanding quality and performance,” explains Tony Post, president of Vibram USA. “We had great success working with Timberland to develop these soles for their outdoor performance category and look forward to future collaborations.”
Vibram has developed soles for three shoes in the versatile new Transitions Series — Summitscape, Hydroscape and Trailscape — as well as a new trail running shoe called the Endurion. All four soles share an omni-directional cross-shaped lug that provides traction, stability, and abrasion resistance. The size, height, orientation, and spacing of the cross-lugs are specific to each sole to optimize performance for each end use and each type of terrain encountered. Compound selection also ensures optimal performance for each shoe.
The Endurion trail running sole and Summitscape hiking boot sole use Vibram Supertrek; the Hydroscape amphibious shoe uses Vibram TC1Plus, a soft, grippy nautical compound ideal for coastal paddling or onshore exploration with exceptional traction on the smooth surface of a boat or while walking on uneven terrain; and the Trailscape shoe, designed for both off-road biking and trail running, uses versatile Vibram Trek.
In addition, Vibrams earth-friendly Ecostep soles will be featured in select footwear in Timberlands men's casual line in Spring/Summer 2006 and will extend to the outdoor performance line in Fall/Winter 2006. Ecostep is a new rubber compound formulated by using 30% recycled material from the outsole manufacturing process. It has been tested and approved for dress and casual footwear applications, as well as for use in high-performance outdoor footwear.
Look for a new Vibram exclusive multisport outsole on several new models from The North Face including the Pinyon XCR Mid, Terrainius XCR, Hedgehog XCR and
Cedar Mesa. The Vibram Multisport sole uses a combination of small, aggressive, toothy lugs and bar-shaped lugs to excel on loose and challenging terrain. Lug angles in the forefoot are optimized for uphill traction, while lug angles in the heel are fine-tuned for secure downhill braking. Rubber is removed from the sole where not necessary, to minimize weight. A lightweight TPU plate protects the foot from penetrating rocks.
A new series of sandals from The North Face also wears a new exclusive sole including the Water Canyon, Swetch, Kayenta Convertible, Senita and Octillo. The Vibram sole was designed for mixed use on rock, light trails, and boat decks. Forefoot and heel central zones feature lug shapes that combine and increase contact area for greater traction on smooth surfaces with open channels for drainage, while the peripheral lugs in the forefoot and heel use sharper lug angles for traction on trail. Lug spacing emphasizes both water evacuation and mud release. Vibram TC1 compound provides excellent slip-resistance for water environments, and good abrasion resistance for the trail.
For Dunhams Waffle Stomper Premier, a hiking and backpacking boot, Vibram introduces a new exclusive sole featuring the “Dragon lug,” providing omni-directional traction, stability and abrasion resistance. The Premier boot sole has distinctive forefoot flex grooves for increased comfort and efficiency, and cutouts in the arch area for reduced weight. Vibram Trek rubber compound provides the ideal balance of grip and abrasion-resistance necessary for extreme use.
In addition, Dunhams Waffle Stomper Nimble, a multi-sport shoe, features a new exclusive Vibram sole, which uses a lighter version of the new “Dragon lug.” The Nimble shoe sole has smaller lug shapes in the central forefoot and heel, for thrust and braking traction, while the larger peripheral lugs add stability and abrasion-resistance. Cutouts to the midsole reduce weight to a minimum. Vibram Supertrek compound provides increased grip for scrambling and bouldering. Above the sole, a rock stop plate protects the forefoot, while a stability web integrated in the mid foot and an asymmetrical Comfort Cuff with a contoured heel cup provide for a secure fit.
For two of Tevas multisport sandals the Gabon and the Sampago, Vibram developed the Vibram Utility sole. The medial forefoot and lateral heel utilize multidirectional lug shapes for thrust and braking traction, while the lugs in the lateral forefoot and medial heel emphasize stability and durability.
Vibram designed new exclusive outsoles for Hi-Tecs V-Lite speed hiking boots, and Trail Jet trail running shoes. The V-Lite hiking sole incorporates mid-depth lugs, providing all the traction needed for fast-packing and speedhiking, while keeping weight to a minimum. A moderate heel brake gives security in downhill braking, while the rounded heel pad is offset to the lateral side, to promote natural and comfortable touchdown. The Trail Jet exclusive sole is thin and flexible, emphasizing speed and agility. Vibram Supertrek compound provides increased grip for scrambling and bouldering.
Open Sole Collection
For Spring/Summer 2006, Vibram launches two new outdoor soles to its open collection available to all customers: Vibram Skeleton Trek is a versatile sole for speedhiking shoes and lightweight backpacking boots, utilizing a Phylon midsole for shock absorption at minimal weight. Vibram Ananasi is optimized for mid-duty backpacking and trekking with a more aggressive heel brake, and a longer-lasting PU midsole for stability and shock-absorption.
