Italian footwear specialist Garmont has won a 2023 Design & Innovation (D&I) Award for its 9.81 HI-RIDE shoe, which targets cycling and hiking.
The shoe was designed for a new form of mobility – where cycling meets hiking. According to Garmont, these users need a structured shoe that is rigid enough to avoid the dispersion of energy while pedalling, but that is also comfortable for hiking when they want to jump off their bikes and go sightseeing around town or hike up a short trail.
“We are particularly pleased to receive this recognition because the Design & Innovation Award judging panel fully understood the innovative spirit of this new shoe, which doesn’t belong to any existing segment and can thus create a new market,” said Garmont COO Davide Calcagnotto.
“In this sense it’s not an achievement for us, it’s a starting point. Our company’s innovative spirit is reflected in the 9.81 HI RIDE today, but new projects will come tomorrow, destined to take the world of sports footwear by storm.”
In the 9.81 HI RIDE shoe, Garmont made use of GTF Hyve, an innovative two-part outsole. One part is made from a softer blend that, together with high-density honeycomb caps, offers increased pedal grip. The other part features a recycled rubber blend and an open cap design offering grip, traction and duration of use.
