Michelin with Speedland: a new trail sole
Innovate trail running starting with a unique and revolutionary shoe that combines all the most advanced technological solutions on the market.
This is the goal of Speedland, the brand created by Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon who, after two decades of experience in product design and in the roles of team leader of the most important footwear brands in the world, have decided to create a trail running shoe absolutely unique and innovative: the SL:PDX.
It is a completely customizable shoe, starting from its sole and continuing with the presence of an easily removable carbon fiber plate.
To realize such an ambitious project, the Speedland founders wanted Michelin, the brand that with its experience in the world of motorcycling, biking and the most technical soles has taken part in the project in the role of co-design. Because the belief is that in a trail shoe the sole is not only the key element to give traction and stability to the shoe, but it can also represent the function of structural frame, connecting the different parts of the product, to offer the runner a unique and unparalleled running experience.
Thus was born an unprecedented sole, developed exclusively by Michelin and using for the first time Michelin’s cuttable blocks technology, the technology that allows the runner to customize the sole at the time of first use in order to get the most out of it in terms of performance, safety and comfort.
The sole has been designed with a special multidirectional tread pattern that can be customized through a very simple operation of “cutting” the individual blocks to adapt them to the real needs of the individual runner.
It is possible to act in a highly personalized way on each area of the sole to have a variety of combinations, giving trail runners the first opportunity to customize the traction of their footwear.
SL:PDX also stands out for its low weight, thanks to the use of Michelin‘s fiberlite technology. The sole is made through the fusion of fibers and rubber in a hot compression process that gives the sole strength and stability, while providing maximum flexibility and enhancing lightness.
The innovative design with seam assembly of the sole drastically reduces the use of glues. In addition, at the end of its life, the shoe can be easily disassembled into its components which can then be disposed of at the respective recycling facilities. Finally, some components of the shoe can be replaced to further extend its life.
Everything has been designed and created with the unique goal of giving the wearer a unique fitting experience, thanks to the customizable and superlight sole, the presence of a removable carbon fiber Carbite plate, the Dyneema upper and finally the Boa Fit closure system, for a more secure and precise fit.
