Vibram launches three soles for snowboarding
21/10/2009
Specialist sole manufacturer Vibram has developed three new soles with what it has called “exceptional features” for snowboarding. The new products are the Snow-vibe sole, the Driver-X and the SuperLight.
The first of these has an outsole design that combines big contact surface with small, sharp lugs to allow maximum traction on hard snow, and optimum force transmission with the board. It also has a high side profile, which protects the boot in and out of the bindings on the board. Set in the midsole, the Snow-vibe has cushioning made from a material called Gumlite3D for extra comfort.
The Driver X sole has designed exclusively for boot brand Burton and is made from the sole manufacturer’s Trek compound for what it calls the “optimum balance between grip and durability”. The toe features a snow-cat inspired tread for uphill traction in backcountry hard pack. In the heel, the lugs’ sharp leading edges provide excellent downhill braking. Along the binding, lugs are flat and wide for maximum stability. Broad spacing between lugs improves snow release and reduces weight. It features an EVA midsole with deep internal flex-grooves in the forefoot and midsole that can reduce foot fatigue while hiking or walking.
In a similar way, the Vibram SuperLight sole has been developed for another boot brand, K2. An X-frame sole design in Vibram’s Trek compound delivers “excellent traction, stability, and durability in the heel, toe, underfoot, and sole periphery”, Vibram claims. The Gumlite3D material is also present here for shock absorbency and comfort.
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