Most 'enlightened' hikers these days use trail shoes, so if you've an avid boot user who repeats the mantra 'ankle support' without ever questioning it, this podcast is not for you :)
Like all outdoor manufacturing things have moved on in leaps and bounds in the trail shoe market as elsewhere. With the current need to change the manufacturing process to take in account sustainability, recycling and environmental damage I have lost track of what brands are doing with the current range and where design is taking us over the next few years.
However I know a person who knows much more about the current state of play and who has her finger on the pulse.
Wild Ginger Running is the UK’s best YouTube channel providing trail and ultra running advice, inspiration and gear reviews, created by Claire Maxted, co-founder and former editor of Trail Running magazine. She also has a very successful podcast on the same topic.
She created Wild Ginger Running YouTube channel in 2017 to help trail and ultra runners get advice and inspiration via weekly films and podcasts. She recently released her first book “The Ultimate Trail Running Handbook” and offers training camp events in the Peak District.
I wanted to discuss what the marketplace was currently offering and if she had found the perfect trail shoe yet. We touch on shoe design, sustainability and how the manufacturing base needs to make drastic changes from now on to meet targets.
The environmental damage created by this massive industry is certainly food for thought.
1) The global sports footwear industry is predicted to be worth $95 Billion by 2025. Double what it was in 2016
2) Every year 20 billion sports shoes are manufactured representing 1.4% of Green House Gasses. Comparable to ALL air travel calculated at 2.5%
3) The manufacturing process for a pair of sports shoes generate 13.6kg of CO2 emissions which would keep a 100W lightbulb on for a week
4) Synthetic products within a shoe take up to 1000 years to decompose
However some positive news is
1) Vibram are offering a resoling service. (Not sure if that is on all their shoes)
2) Nike has a recycling program to turn shoes into gym floors and tennis courts
3) Keen have a Field To Foot program where 51% of the outsole is made from agricultural waste
4) Adidas are making shoes from recycled ocean fishing nets
5) Gucci with a new range made with bioplastics
6) Salomon have announced the 'Play Minded Program' to recycle a concept running shoe into Snow Ski Boots
No 506 - Christmas Day Walk on the Hills
No 505 - The Next Challenge
No 504 - Alice Bowers
No 503 - Atom Packs made in the UK
No 502 - Abbie Barnes
No 501 - The Thomas Theyer Foundation
No 500 - 14 Years In The Making
No 499 - Nearly Wild Camping
No 498 - The Cairngorms Strikes Back Pt2
No 497 - The Cairngorms Strikes Back Pt1
No 496 - Recommended Listening - Pt 3
No 495 - ISPO Outdoor Fair Highlights 2019
No 494 - Adventure Queens
No 493 - One Hour Outside
No 492 - Tough Soles - Ireland Waymarked Trails Completed
No 491 - Katie-Jane Endurance - 600km Iceland Traverse
No 490 - Jenny Davis Pt2 - Endurance Women In Sport
No 489 - Jenny Davis Pt1 - Antarctic Record Attempt
No 488 - The 82 Island Challenge
No 487 - Beth Foot Forward
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