GARMONT: Back To The Future

Published by Mountainblog on 06/20/2016.

The iconic Garmont a.d.d® technology is refreshed and the innovative G-Heel technology debuts in Spring/Summer 2017.

With the launch of the Spring/Summer 2017 season, Garmont International has refreshed its historical a.d.d.® (anatomically directed design) technology, for footwear designed to closely match and function to the natural asymmetric shape of feet. Your foot is an extremely complex anatomical structure made of 26 bones, 33 joints and more than a hundred muscles, ligaments and tendons. Garmont® boots are designed “from the ground up”, starting from the anatomy of the foot and of the movements it makes, to determine what is going to deliver the best performance. This helps enable your foot’s natural ability to stabilize, absorb impacts and propel forward.

The technology is developed on 5 main pillars: asymmetrical cuff height, taller on the inside of the leg for better overall stability and comfort when traversing and scrambling; anatomical tongue, progressively thinner towards the inside, which helps keep the tongue in place resulting in better control, stability and comfort; differential ankle pads for a precise fit around ankle bones that gives better stability and support; precision lacing that helps the shoe flex like your foot for out-of-the-box comfort; and a roomy toe box to accommodate the natural position of the big toe so that your toes can provide better balance and propulsion.

The Spring/Summer 2017 season also sees the debut of Garmont’s proprietary G-Heel technology, a two-part system that works like articulations in a skeleton. The first part consists of a PU ankle brace that provides dynamic heel flex where needed for excellent comfort and safety; the second element, integrated in the outsole, works together with the first for better cushioning during heel strike and greater stability in stance phase.

The advantages of G-Heel are multiple:

Pronation control: It helps reduce over pronation and keep the gait straight during transition.
Premium cushioning: In addition to comfort, the cushioning also softens impact on road or trail, reducing pressure on the leg and foot joints.
Arch Support: Arch support is provided by the ESS insert, and helps keep the foot from rolling inward during the gait cycle.

Look for this technology in the new TOWER HIKE GTX® and TOWER HIKE GTX® WMS boots, designed for the hiker who wants lightweight comfort in a modern design. These boots are ideal for hiking on and off-trail, even under a heavy load. In addition to Garmont G-Heel technology, they also feature a suede leather upper, a GORE-TEX® Extended Comfort lining and a Vibram® Trek Buff outsole. The TOWER HIKE GTX® WMS also features a women’s specific footbed, with an additional 3mm of EVA padding under the arch of the foot and under the heel for increased support and postural stability.

INFO: Garmont

Founded in 1964 and distributed in over 40 countries worldwide, Garmont® is a premier performance footwear brand for mountaineering, hiking and other outdoor pursuits. Garmont® is committed to researching and applying cutting edge materials, technologies and innovations to its product design and development, for outdoor footwear designed to complement the foot's natural anatomy. Integrating the latest technologies with its craftsman heritage, the brand offers a full range of footwear to enjoy the mountains and the outdoors regardless of the weather or the season with the goal of continuously elevating end user experience in terms of comfort, fit and function.