Footwear Insight

18 • Footwear Insight ~ September/October 2018 footwearinsight.com KRISTIN HERRMANN-RATZ, W.L. GORE & ASSOCIATES. "Knit construction isn't something we'd recommend to take to Mount Everest, but it's a terrific option for consumers looking for a versatility in their every- day lives. Consumers are looking for options they can wear to work and then out and about and even into the gym and trails. Light and fast is a common request among consumers and our brand partners are developing with them in mind." Gore-Tex's new 3D fit footwear technology, designed to work with knit and woven uppers, is a waterproof, breathable technology that contours to the shape of the foot (like a sock) and is part of the brand's Guaranteed to Keep You Dry product brand. BLANE CONRAD, OLUKAI. "Textiles are in general a very durable materialization to work with. Consider all of their different applica- tions in equipment that is designed for safety — harnesses, vests, etc. The great think about a knit upper in footwear is it allows us to cater the type of material used, knit density, stretch characteristics and breathability to the end use of the shoe. Take the Makia Ulana Kai, for example. That shoe is designed to be worn barefoot as a water shoe in hot weather, so the construction of the knit supports that use — sock-like fit with a collar for easy-on-off and comfortable fit, breathable and we used a hydrophobic yarn so water just beads off the exterior of the shoe." CHRISTOPH HÜHNERBEIN, MAMMUT. "Mammut uses knitting technology to integrate multiple different structures as well as processing methods and their properties seamlessly into a single elastic fabric to meet the requirements of specific zones of the foot. Additional durable 3D abrasion resistant structures or breathable zones can be added to a shoes construction exactly where needed. Fewer seams guarantee an optimized construction and functionality, reduced friction and maximized freedom of movement increase comfort. In addition, the knit upper offers the same level of color fastness and longevity as for example woven fabrics." SAM BARSTOW, FORSAKE. "Durability is actually one of the main pain points in using knit textiles in footwear. Outdoor footwear in particular has to be able to withstand a beating and if a thread does fail, a knit upper will unravel. We address this issue in our knit shoes by utilizing durable nylon thread and a thick weave. We also apply no-sew TPU overlays to reinforce the high wear areas around the toe and full grain leather on the heel." MARK MATTHEWS, SCARPA. "There is nearly always a tradeoff in sacrificing some durability when going from leather to knit, or woven fabric uppers. Improvements are seen in weight reductions, increased breathability and simplification of con- struction, but this comes along with the sacrifice of some durability and support." MATTHEW ROSS, BODY GLOVE FOOTWEAR (SURF9). "The very nature of Body Glove's line of 3T Barefoot shoes is for robust, active use, in and out of the water. Our hydro knit Requiem shoe can stand up to extensive walking on the shore, paddling, fishing, even an adventure in the woods." GREG THOMSEN, ADIDAS OUTDOOR. "The Adidas Primeknit is a form-fitting technology that assures the best fit with the least amount of excess material. The Primeknit material wears like iron and product test have shown it to outlast traditional materials." GABRIEL PHILLIPS, DANNER. "Danner has a long history of durability and we try to continue this commitment to longevity with the introduction of new products and new manufacturing techniques. In the case of the Caprine knit collection, we've worked together with our factory and supplier to utilize a particularly high-grade thread in combination with functional textures in the knit pattern itself. This mix provides a very durable upper. When we tested the abrasion capacity of these panels the results were extremely impressive. This makes the end product both easy to wear as an everyday shoe, yet much more functional than a typical athletic piece when taken out for a day hike. It's a piece that can be trusted, from top to bottom." OluKai Makia Ulana Kai, MSRP $130. Custom designed, unlined engineered mesh upper with full-grain leather accents. Body Glove 3T Barefoot Requiem, MSRP $60. The first hydro knit three-toed water shoe from Body Glove, the Spring 2019 Requiem has an ultra- grip outsole, drainage system and zero heel lift. Scarpa Gecko Air, MSRP $130. For Spring 2019, Scarpa blends an approach-capa- ble outsole with a stretchy, knit sock-like upper. Intended as a lifestyle shoe. Forsake Men's Maddox, MSRP $114.95. Hits retail February, 2019. Nylon knit upper and moisture-wicking lining keep feet breezy and cool. Peak-to-Pavement outsole provides steady all-terrain support. What type of durability does a knit upper offer in outdoor footwear? Q OUTDOOR

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