On the heels of the Fall 2010 Five Fingers Sport Trek announced at Outdoor Retailer a few weeks back, and last week’s news regarding the Five Fingers Sprint and the Smartwool Classic Five Fingers, comes news straight from the mothership — that is, Vibram.com, by way of a PDF press release published in conjunction with the 2010 Winter ISPO in Munich.
The release (It is multilingual; see page 51 for English) talks about proposed new 2010 and 2011 (winter) models of Vibram Five Fingers. I’ll save you the suspense — below are thumbnails from the document of the new models. Take a gander while I tell you a bit more on what you’re looking at:
A revamped Sprint FiveFingers design using Coconut Fiber Fabric for the Upper also has a new sole that isn’t pictured.
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A Vibram Sprint FiveFingers version in Kangaroo Leather; like the new Coconut Fiber, will also feature a revamped sole. |
A proposed Vibram Five Fingers KSO Trek that features a coconut fiber fabric upper. |
Smartwool Classic FiveFingers in green proposed for 2010 2011 Winter from Vibram
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So what do we have here? First off, let me note what isn’t mentioned: the Five Fingers Sport Trek. We know the Sport Trek is coming out (The Sport Trek was seen at IPSO), so I don’t know why it wasn’t mentioned on this page.
What is mentioned is a proposed Vibram Five Fingers KSO Trek that uses coconut fiber. I’ll save you the trouble — here’s a Google Search for coconut fabric. If you’re familiar with the properties of coconut, you’d not be surprised to learn that fabric or cloth made from coconuts is anti-microbial. A bit more searching and I learned about Cocona Fabrics, a manufacturer of coconut-based cloth. I don’t know if this is the exact brand of material Vibram will be using, but my hunch is that brand aside, the properties probably transpose. And those properties include natural moisture-wicking behavior, odor-resistance, and the material is natural, using no harsh chemicals in its manufacturing. Exciting, right? This proposed coconut fabric KSO Trek will be available in blue, green, red, and black*.
Well, to add to the excitement of using coconut fabric, the release talks about two new iterations of the Sprint Vibram Five Fingers! These new versions both use a revamped sole that has grooves to “enhance the skiproof grip of the sole.” One version will use the coconut fabric upper (in blue or black) and the other will use a well-ventilated kangaroo leather upper (blue detailing, greyish upper). Unfortunately, the Vibram release doesn’t include a photo of the refined FiveFingers Sprint, extra grooved sole, so we’ll just have to sit on that one for now.
Finally, we get one more look at Smartwool Classic Five Fingers — this time in a nice grassy green. Interestingly, we get a note about the insole of the Smartwool Classic — it’s felt. This Classic reload a la Smartwool is apparently intended for activities such as weight lifting/training, yoga, pilates, martial arts, and casual wear (what I’d personally be interested in them for).
All in all, it looks like Vibram is stepping up their game. I say this because one of the biggest complaints among Five Fingers fans is that Five Fingers stink after long periods of wear. There are a number of ways to deal with this, but it’d be awesome if VFFs naturally resisted odor build-up. For that matter, KSO Trek wearers are already noticing that their kangaroo leather foot gloves seem more odor resistant than the nylon Vibram KSOs. Add to it all that these reloaded models are all using natural materials — well, I think this could be good.
I’ll end with one note about a word used in the press release: “proposed”. Though all these winter 2010/2011 models seem a step in the right direction for Vibram, next is a long ways off, so if you’re like me, you’ll relegate this announcement to far off lands for the next six months or so. We’ve got much more exciting stuff in the near future: like the Five Fingers Bikila!
What do you think about coconut fiber KSO Treks and Sprints? How about leather Sprints with new, more skidproof soles? Join the discussion by leaving your thoughts below with a comment!
(H/T to Hinogi on the forums for finding this PDF)
* I have to wonder if the Five Fingers Sport Treks and VFF Sprints photoed at ISPO aren’t using the coconut fabric. On a closer inspection of those photos, the fabric does look a bit different from the nylon synthetic we’re used to!
14 replies on “More 2010 and 2011 updates from Vibram: New versions of the FiveFingers Sprint and KSO Trek Proposed use different materials for the upper”
I wonder if the woolen classics will shrink if you wash them?
Is coconut fiber stroger than the synthetic material they use now?
Vibram…. you’re killing me! Too many cool shoes coming out!
If they’re made from SmartWool, they shouldn’t shrink; it’s merino that’s been treated so that you can machine wash it without shrinkage.
(I’d be a bit more concerned about pilling.)
These look really great, and I’m glad that there are more monochromatic color schemes.
How “grassy” is the green wool Classic? On my screen it looks like late-autumn grass – mostly yellowish with a slight olive tint.
Any word on the release of the women’s Treks?
Ah, those blue and gray ‘roo Sprints look awesome. I wish they would change the tightening system to that of the KSO’s though, with a single velcro strap rather than 3.
Love these! Especially the blue and grey sprints!
I have a pair of 6 month old KSO’s and a pair of Treks.
The KSO’s will start to stink UNLESS you wear socks. Wear socks and the issue goes almost completely away. 🙂
I bought the Treks, mostly for cold weather myself, and also wear them w socks so haven’t had an opportunity to see if they stink sans socks.
In general Vibrams are MORE FUN without socks, but cold feet is no fun for anyone
~she put the lime in the coconut . . .
I am immediately drawn to the texture of the Green Smartwool Classics. My first thought is that wool has a tendency to be itchy. I’m wondering if irritation may become a problem. But if you’re wearing a pair of injinjis underneath this may be a non issue.
ive never heard of this coconut fabric. they are really trying hard to make Vibrams guilt free?
I just really want to touch the fabric overall.
smartwool isn’t itchy in my experience. i have a smartwool shirt that feels great on my skin. i also have a patagonia wool shirt that is meant to be next to skin. it’s also very comfortable and not itchy.
The very thing that makes Smartwool “smart” is also what makes it un-itchy. Basically, natural, untreated wool, being sheep hair, has little scales on it. So when you wash a regular wool sweater in hot and cold water with agitation, the scales grab each other and hold tight, making the sweater “shrink.” Those same scales are what makes wool itchy.
Smartwool is a trademarked version of wool (usually very fine grade merino) that has been chemically treated to remove the scales. It’s therefore safe to machine wash (though I tend to line-dry all my woolies because dry heat can damage it in the long run) and shouldn’t itch (unless you’re genuinely allergic, which most people aren’t).
I have a growing collection of fine merino shirts and underwear, and I practically live in them – soft, breathable, unstinky…. total love.
Wow! Absolutely love these new designs, and the trend toward more natural fabrics. The designs are getting sleeker and more attractive too, and FINALLY we’ll have some more color combinations available that are a little more understated. (I would buy any of the models pictured here in a hot minute.)
I’ve never been crazy about the more open sandal-type shoes like the Sprints and Classics, but those first two look great. And wool VFFs sound like just the thing for indoor use. I guess I’d better start saving my money now… ;D
Oooh, give me the green classics! These look really warm and the texture is very nice looking. I’d buy them in a second if they come in grey, heather, or a yellow hue. Can’t wait, when do the winter shoes release?
The Smartwool Classics look great. Ultrafine merino is a wonderful material next to the skin – it’s non-itching, warm in the cold, cool in heat, wicks sweat and doesn’t smell with prolonged wear. I’ve tramped in Icebreaker merino underwear and used the same stuff for a few days on the trot and it still feels and smells fresh. So a great choice of material for Vibram.
Actually, ‘roo skin Sprints look pretty cool too. If they come in more neutral colours I may end up with 2 more pairs to add to my black KSOs…
I am soooo happy about the new smartwool classics – classics are my favorite model, and I have lots of merino wool clothing that I run, climb and travel in. Sounds like a good combination!
I am also really glad to see that there seem to be more monochromatic colors schemes – black is a bit too serious, but i’m not a fan of highlighting the toes too much either – i like to be able to wear them all the time, everywhere, without drawing everyone’s eyes to my feet.
I hope that those green smartwool ones will come in women’s sizes – they are just what i’ve been waiting for!
Can anyone tell me when the pink and black womens trek sport will be released? I have been thinking about the black, but not fond of black shoes.