Yay, something brand new is coming. An absolute premium barefoot racing sandal, it's definitely coming this spring. In red/black, blue/black, all/black, and yellow/black. Wow, we're so excited that we want to start our preview right away with that one ;-).
Here are the key facts:
* The name is still unclear (for the first time, we don't know in advance. Do you have any ideas?)
* With a new bi-color HEXAGRIP sole (Made in Germany)
* Extremely durable straps and buckles (Made in Germany)
* Very lightweight metal buckles anodized with aluminum
* With high-quality Poron XRD technology
* Planned in 4 colors, as a leather and vegan version
* For the first time, the system buckle will be pulled outward on the left side
* Completely without heel rubber, for a firmer hold
* With a new, adjustable Onsteam heel cushion
* With a new, significantly more robust toe strap
* We will offer them in slim and wide versions and, for the first time ever, in two different foot shapes (Greek foot shape, i.e., sloping toes, and Roman foot shape, more suitable for round toes).
* In addition, a grounding system in the form of a high-quality copper button is being incorporated for the first time.
I will personally test them extensively in different terrain over the next few days and weeks to see how they feel when running!
What else do we have planned for this year?
Well, we've just completed a major product launch with the major update to the OverShoe 2.0. It's very strenuous, costly, and time-consuming, but if we can make a product even better, then we'll do it! Especially with the brand-new waterproof shell variants, we've created a whole new product category. The rain jacket for your shoes!
The even wider Único shape is definitely coming. This means we'll finally be able to offer the Único in two different widths. We'll have this ready by the beginning of April at the latest. As part of this, we can also use the new last shape for the new Único boot, since it was made a little higher for us. We can also produce the Único as a mid-boot, which will definitely arrive by the end of August, as this requires completely new cuts and some modifications to the ankle-high lacing area. We also need new tools, hence the lead time. The ankle-high Único boot is definitely coming...
At the same time, we're flirting with the idea of a "lifetime boot," a whole new category of shoe. A boot that can and should last a lifetime ;-). Is that possible? We think so! If you rely on old methods, like flat-sole technology, the leather upper is best tri-stitched with a leather base plate. Avoid as much rubber as possible, as it becomes porous and brittle over time. It's best to use very thick leather from the neck area; here we're talking about 3 to 5 mm leather thickness. Simply omit all vegan or leather substitutes, as many materials simply don't offer the durability they need in the long run! A boot for a lifetime, always ready for any adventure, in everyday life, in the garden, in bad weather, wearable all year round. We conceived it with a clever wool inner shoe concept that can be removed and reinserted as desired, depending on the season. The difficulty lies in combining long-lasting durability with barefootness; if you look closely, they're contradictory ;-). Barefoot shoes are designed for minimalism, and a life-boot is designed for long-lasting durability; I think you have to find a good compromise here. Can you roughly imagine what kind of shoe project we have in mind here?
So what exactly are we doing?
1. A brand-new premium sandal (see above), the name is still unknown.
2. A wider Único shape, coming soon, this spring.
3. New Único Mid-Boot, available from October at the latest.
4. New life-boot, made of very thick material. Textured leather and traditional sole construction. We'll be showing a first prototype soon, maybe we'll have it ready this year ;-)
That's it...
One more thing: Order your sandals early this year. This is very important, as delivery times are a bit longer than usual. It's best to order now in March so you can have your barefoot sandals on your feet in time for the start of spring in mid-April. ;-)
Best regards from the factory
