autumn 2012 - 4-Seasons.de

70 State of the Art State of the Art 71
Salomon
XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 GTX
Is there the perfect equipment? Absolutely. In State of
the Art, 4-Seasons introduces equipment that sets the
standards in its class.
Product category Waterproof flat multifunctional shoe with trail running genes. Also
available as medium cut as well as low cut version without Gore-Tex
(without GTX in the name). For men and women.
Useage For walks and runs off the asphalt. Trail runners use it especially
for demanding terrain and longer runs.
Status From special shoe to bestseller: Originally developed for alpine
conditions, the XA Pro overtook the field of outdoor shoes and became
a trendsetter due to its lightness.
Manufacturer Salomon SA, Annecy, France.
Concept and Idea Frédéric Crétinon (48), Salomon developer since 1986, today Global
Footwear R&D Director for the parent company Amer Sports.
Technical details Weight per pair: 700 grammes in size 5.5. Price: 144.95 €.
History In 1947, François and Georges Salomon, father and son, founded
their company in Annecy. Salomon first only focused on alpine
sport. It was not until 1992 that they introduced their first hiking
boot to the market aiming at the trail run. »Sponsoring great outdoor
competitions showed us what people who run outdoors need«,
remembers developer Frédéric Crétinon. In 2001, when nobody
was talking about »trail running«, Salomon put the XA Pro 1 on the
market. A year later, 30 trail runners help with the development.
Their most important criterion: stability. Salomon's reply: an advanced
chassis design protecting the midsole foam material. The
XA Pro 2 was born. In 2005, the shoe is optimised with a 3D advanced
chassis and is now called XA Pro 3D. In 2008 »Ultra« came into
the name following enhanced cushioning. Finally, the 2 (after
another improvement) and the GTX (Gore-Tex) were added to the
name.
Purchase advice on video: 4-Seasons.tv/film/kaufberatung-leichte-schuhe-mit-funktion.
STATe
OF The ART
Reference
Product
You could say that
the XA Pro has left its
running-shoe birthplace. It convinced
many hikers that they can also walk
with a low cut shoe. There is stability,
comfort, traction and protection with
little weight leading to a more pleasurable
end to the day and less fatigue.
Frédéric Crétinon (48),
Salomon shoe developer
The XA Pro 3D Ultra
2 GTX convinces in
many ways such as the clever lacing
system and the non-slip sole. It is more
stable than a common trail-running
shoe and therefore an all-rounder. Not
to forget the design – the XA Pro has
become a trendy lifestyle product.
Andreas Petz (49),
Globetrotter Expert
upper MATeriAL
Breathable, quick-drying
mesh and synthetic leather for
stability.
WATerproof proTecTion
Gore-Tex membrane »Extended
Comfort Footwear«.
Waterproof protection and
breathability to keep you
dry and comfortable.
proTecTive Toe cAp
Made of shock proof
rubber (TPU).
»SenSifiT« SySTeM
Crisscross stripes made of
synthetic leather connected to
the lacing system. Cradles the
foot from both sides. Perfect
stability with little weight.
»QuickLAce«
Fast on, fast off with only one pull. Distributes
the pressure on the whole foot and
enables a customised fit. No step-by-step
lacing. Plastic eyelets provide smoother
lacing and fit. Asymmetrical lacing for
a better fit. Solid one-pull tightening, no
need to readjust. Rest of lace and lock
can be easily stored in a pocket. Covered
Kevlar laces – tear resistant!
»conTAgrip« ouTSoLe
Forefoot flex grooves provide stability on
all sides (see figure below). Self cleaning,
combination of different kinds of rubber
hardness for perfect mix of grip and
durability. Less abrasion on asphalt than
trail running race shoes.
Tongue
Tongue is connected to the
upper so no stones or water
can penetrate.
MidSoLe
Sole is low cut which allows
movement yet minimises the
danger of twisting. More stable
and harder than a pure trail
runner. Moderate drop of 10
mm. Control of pronation (stabilising
element to prevent the
foot from twisting inwards) to
absorb the lateral movements,
in particular when descending
in order to prevent knee
damage.
»orThoLiTe« SockLiner
Cushioned and breathable
foam under the foot. Heel cup
made of Ethylenvinylacetat
foam (EVA) secures stability.
MidSoLe (A)
»energy ceLL 2«
Great cushioning due to
EVA foam with recycled tire
content. Perfect compromise
of shock absorption and
resilience (ability of material
to recover).
MidSoLe (b)
»AdvAnced 3d chASSiS«
3D advanced chassis between
the outsole and midsole
maximises stability, energy
management and push-through
protection.
A
heeL Loop
For easy on-off. Possible
to carry on harness.
B A