SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Altra Running introduces the Lone Peak Neoshell -- the “better than waterproof” version of its award-winning Lone Peak trail shoe -- at the 2015 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. The new shoe has better dryness, breathability, flexibility, comfort and toe room than traditional waterproof trail shoes on the market. Like all Altra shoes, the Lone Peak Neoshell features the brand's signature FootShape™ toe box and Zero Drop™ platform.
See the shoe and the whole Altra line at booth #38178 at the 2015 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market.
“Runners justifiably complain that certified waterproof trail shoes make their feet feel crowded, hot and wet,” said Altra’s VP of Sales and co-founder Brian Beckstead. “That’s because most waterproof shoes use a built-in booty, which creates two problems. First, the booty reduces foot volume in the shoe, so your feet are cramped. Second, that booty literally creates a ‘sweat sock’ inside the shoes due to lack of breathability. Altra took a different approach to creating a trail shoe for wet, damp or snowy conditions.”
Altra founder Golden Harper envisioned a trail shoe with a waterproof exoskeleton, versus an interior booty, to keep the foot dry.
“A traditional waterproof trail shoe has it backward to our way of thinking,” Harper said. “The exterior of the shoe isn’t waterproof, so the shoe can gain significant water weight and you run with ‘heavy feet.’ Then, because the inner booty is waterproof, it gets hot, wet and sweaty in there, which are perfect conditions for a long list of foot problems.”
The new Lone Peak Neoshell trail shoe is revolutionary because Altra’s design using Polartec’s Neoshell performance fabric eliminates the traditional booty construction for waterproof shoes. Neoshell is waterproof, so the water resistance starts from the outside. The Neoshell fabric also lets shoe be air permeable, to give best-in-class breathable protection from the elements. The Altra Lone Peak Neoshell shoe marks the first time Neoshell fabric has been used in a shoe.
Harper and Beckstead -– both ultra-marathoners -- agreed they designed this shoe to address a void in their own shoe arsenal.
“We’re psyched about this addition to our Lone Peak shoe line. We added the important wet conditions feature, yet stayed true to our Altra DNA, which includes a roomy, foot-shaped toe box,” Beckstead said. "Our mission is to offer shoes to help runners go further, faster and healthier – no matter the weather -- which was definitely limited by current technologies in the market.
“Once again, the Altra team challenged industry standards -– this time for waterproof footwear -- creating a shoe to benefit runners who run in all conditions, like us.”
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