Hiking shoes to headline at OutDoor
Hiking is becoming a very popular sporting activity in Germany and, as a reult, hiking footwear will be one of the highlights at this year’s OutDoor show, which will take place in Friedrichshafen from July 17-20. According to the country’s alpine association, 37 million Germans regularly went hiking last year and hiking footwear accounted for 16% of the €1.66 billion spent on outdoor goods in Germany. Hiking fans are paying an average of €250 for a pair of boots.
Light hiking boots are establishing themselves as a strong, independent product category. Examples include the Light Hiker series by Meindl and the new Lighthiking series by Lowa. “They have to be comfortable. Light hiking boots often appeal to novice hikers who are just getting into doing challenging tours,” explains Christian Baumgartner, key account manager at Meindl. “At that point, if the boot isn’t comfortable, there’s a risk that customers will lose interest in hiking altogether.”
Trail
running has also recently come to light as a further trend. According
to a Media Control study, one in six pairs of running shoes sold is a
pair of trail runners. These shoes are lighter than multifunctional
shoes and have a more flexible sole construction, thereby enabling
athletic running performance. This also makes them suitable for Nordic
walking and other speed-oriented activities. They also offer more
protection against rubble and uneven surfaces than conventional running
shoes and feature weather proof outer materials. Trail running shoes
from Meindl, North Face, Lafuma, Mammut and Raichle, among others, will
be presenting trail running shoes at the fair.
