New scientific researches on VIBRAM® FiveFingers and innovative compounds on show at Salt Lake City OR Summer Market.

. FIVEFINGERS

Since its first launch in the summer of 2006, sales of VIBRAM® FiveFingers, the unique glove-styled footwear, have risen nearly 700%.
In an effort to assess their advantages, Vibram is sponsoring a comprehensive study on VIBRAM® FiveFingers to be conducted by Daniel Lieberman, a widely expert in human evolution and distance running, Chair of the Biological Anthropology wing in the Anthropology department at Harvard University. The research is scheduled to conclude in the summer of 2009.

. TRAIL RUNNING SOLES

Vibram continues to expand on its successful mission of reaching a younger, broader audience by partnering with innovators in the trail running field. For spring 2009, Vibram designed outsoles for Ahnu, Hi-Tec, Merrell, Patagonia and Saucony trail running shoes.

.GRIP ON ICE

Thanks to Vibram’s advances in rubber compounding, it is now possible to manoeuvre in alpine ski boots which meet the binding release standards and erase the constant fear of serious injury at the same time.
Many alpine ski boot manufacturers including Head, Garmont, Lange, Rossignol, Scarpa and Tecnica have seen the light, replacing some of their slippery plastic soles, traditionally used thanks to their easily meeting DIN standards, with a grippy Vibram rubber product.

Rubber main advantages are:
• Greater slip resistance
• Resistance at low temperatures
• Ability to be easily replaced, greatly extending the potential life of a ski boot.

. IDROGRIP

One of the most versatile compounds to date and designed for use in treads with large contact surfaces, IdroGrip provides the ultimate control in both extreme high and low temperatures, over terrain burning under the sun or covered with snow.
In field testing IdroGrip was perceiveably stickier than the competition on wet and dry rock and matted grass.
It can be used in a wide variety of sports, including hiking, canyoneering, rafting, cycling, fishing, snowboarding, and all the ones where grip is key to performance and safety.