Outdoor Store - Mountain Khakis

Footwear
The Trail Evolves
Minimalism pushes outdoor and
running brand’s footwear design
Trail running has earned its place in outdoor recreation.
Creation of the Endurance Zone section on the Outdoor
Retailer Summer Market show floor offers an example of the
category’s importance to outdoor specialty retailers.
Following lifecycles of many product categories, trail
running has splintered into multiple product segments
targeting specific kinds of trail running enthusiasts. “The trail market has
evolved a lot in the last five years. Previously known as multi-function,
if you look at the typology of the shoes that
dominated the market at the start they tended to
be great versatile, multi-function outdoor shoes
but with pretty mediocre runnability,” notes
Tom Berry, VP of global sales, marketing and
merchandising for the Tecnica Group. “Today
there are at least three categories. You still have
the multi-function category, then shoes with
better runnability, and third, the trend toward
minimalism. The Holy Grail is to be able to have
the versatility of multi-function but with the
more runnability.”
Adopted early by outdoor enthusiasts,
trail running is attracting more traditional
roadrunners. “The trail market is emerging as
running grows. Running is becoming a lot of
people’s primary fitness activity. When that
Everyone
is trying to
get off of
manmade
surfaces
and onto
natural
surfaces.
Kirk Richardson
Montrail
happens they are looking for ways to break up the monotony of running
around the block,” says Carson Caprara, Brooks Sports running footwear
product line manager.
“Runners are exploring different kinds of running shoes, workouts, and
ultimately different running routes and terrain. The moderate trails are
s
SAuCONy
the saucony Pro Grid Peregrine 2
is designed for the trail runner
looking for lighter weight footwear.
more accessible to runners and they are exploring them.”
The definition of trail running has also broadened to include more
than just Rocky Mountain locations. Packed dirt paths in urban parks
and crushed limestone rails to trails conversions are becoming popular
venues.
“The one thing you have to say about the trail market and running in
general is that everyone is trying to get off of manmade surfaces and onto
natural surfaces,’ says Kirk Richardson, business director of Montrail.
“There’s a much stronger understanding that getting off road has myriad
benefits for people who are running as a principle form of fitness and
reaction. Trail running has become a much more sought after aspect of
the whole running experience.”
As more users enter the market, footwear brands are designing trail
shoes for different kinds of terrain and running preferences.
“The product has evolved into lighter more flexible product by
lowering midsole heights, adding more flex grooves and using less upper
materials combined with a more simple construction,” reports Brice
Newton, footwear product marketing manager at ASICS. “Our footwear
team is constantly striving to reduce overall weight through alternate
constructions and materials, but at the same time ensuring protection for
the runner.”
The Minimalism Influence
After exploding on the road running environment, minimalism design
influences are being seen in trail running footwear. “The idea of how
do you make runners more efficient is something that adidas and other
companies have been working on for a long time,” reports Greg Thomsen,
managing director at Adidas Outdoor USA. “It’s not something new.
We’ve all known that lighter weight, more stability, more traction and
durability come into the equation. What I like about the minimalist side
18 • outdoor insight • July 2011 outdoorinsightmag.com