Sports specialist firm, Salomon, has chosen high performance bio-based EcoPaXX polyamide, by Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Material Sciences Company, for making the chassis of its innovative mountaineering shoes.

The Edging Chassis provides stability for the foot in the transverse direction, to provide good grip on narrow ledges, and also allows enough flexibility in longitudinal direction to accommodate the natural flexing of the foot. This requires a material with the right combination of appropriate mechanical properties and toughness, which can also be processed easily.

EcoPaXX has enabled Salomon to produce a chassis with an intricate design that is light, has the necessary mix of flexibility and rigidity, retains its properties at very low temperatures typical of mountain environments, and has reduced moisture uptake, despite being a polyamide, DSM informs in a statement.

The material is very suitable for injection moulding and is certified as carbon neutral from cradle to gate. DSM EcoPaXX has excellent flow characteristics, together with outstanding mechanical properties and also processes very well.

Light mountaineering shoes fit with one of the latest trends in outdoor sports as they provide users with very comfortable lightweight equipment that lets them be quick, agile, and safe.

Aude Derrier, project manager in materials footwear department of global footwear at Amer Sports said, “X Alp shoe expresses the cutting edge of light mountaineering. It is the result of over two years of intensive development and field tests, with professional guides, rescue teams, and athletes. Models with the patented EcoPaXX Edging Chassis can be used from lower flanks of the mountain as well as for approach.” (GK)