When you take this approach you have the ability to use the best of the best materials and cost is analyzed at the end of the process rather than the beginning.” Simply put, it’s the best of the best, and the $375 price-point is a reflection of its choice nature. Just why is all this tech stuffed into one shoe? Dombrow says “The SL:PDX was built with a no compromise approach. Finally, the Michelin rubber outsole will keep you gripped onto the terrain.

The interior midsole is made of Pebax, which offers the rigidity and flex needed in trail runners, while the removable CarbiteX plate provides that springy feel that is now a standard in running shoes. Two BOA-cable systems offer lockdown that can be micro-adjusted, while the upper blend of Dyneema (durability) and knit tongue (elasticity/comfort) provide right right blend of protection. Their flagship launch shoe is the SL:PDX, which on paper reads like one of the most technically advanced athletic sneakers on the market. With decades of corporate exposure and know-how, the two decided to join forces inspired by mutual love of outdoor running. In comes Speedland, a hyper-performance outdoor/trail sportswear company started by sneaker industry vets Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon. While it’s a sport popular in select regions of the world, the art of outdoor running on shaky terrain is still a large market that only expanded once citizens of the world looked to the wilderness during the deepest stages of the pandemic. However, trail-running doesn’t quite have the broad smorgasbord of dishes. Whether you’re a medal-chaser, globetrotting for marathon finishes, or hit the occasional 5K, the options are simply over-flowing. The competitive running shoe biz has been an all-out arms race of innovation where the industry’s biggest brands are outfitting their speediest models with carbon fiber plates, state of the art foams, ultra-light synthetic meshes, and other seemingly over-the-top yet practical upgrades.

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