Footwear

[weazlepopper]

HI There,

I'm a footwear designer. I specialise in outdoor products. A couple of years ago I went to Voss, Norway ExtremSportVek and sat on a cliff and watched guys jumping off it. Frankly just to sit and watch was enough for me but I guess you build up to it....

I'm currently designing some footwear for BASE Jumping. I have a basic idea of the requirements but if any of you have time I would appreciate some feedback and opinions:

Are most of the technical aspects of the grip for the approach?

Is ankle support and protection important?

Is weight an issue?

Does cushioning have an effect on landing?

Anything that is HAS to do?

What do you currently wear and why?

Do you select different shoes for different jumps?

Practical or look cool?

Any advice or direction you have would be apprecatied

Thanks

[Para_Frog]

Sealed eyelets.

Basically - if you design a Hanwag that breathes more, is useful for LONG (5 hr) approaches and costs ~100 US - you'll sell em to this demographic. A lot of BASE jumpers are also PG pilots.

I jump Asolos I got on sale at Sierra Trading Post on close out. 90 US. Work great.

If I could have all the love of a Hanwag though, in a more practical package, I'd jump on it.

My .02 US

[iamchriskolegasbitch]

Just send me a pair and i'll test them out for you.

[treehousemike]

pad up the heels.I don't want to shatter another one.

[Chuck Lowenpull]

If you get your flare timing dialed in and your accuracy on, you can wear sneakers. This is my choice. I can hike in em and with flat bottoms like my Five Ten Freerider, I can swoop and slide in nice landings. The rubber on these Five Ten shoes is super grippy for climbing anything. They are my monkey shoes. Check some out for ultra gription at FiveTen (http://www.fiveten.com/) I'd also like to thank Penzoil and the Home Depot.

Seriously this company makes high tops with sweet heel cushion if you are into it and the rubber on the bottom is the best out there. Stealth technology. Worth looking into. I'll be stomping em on the accuracy target all day tomorrow under the Perrine bridge. Yeah buddy.

[treehousemike]

Sneakers are great at the Perrine, but not so great in the Backcountry of British Colombia.....and wouldn't do so well for protecting your feet in a cliff strike.I used to jump in a pair of Salomon Revo's.They were super light and stuck to everything as well.Really sweet to climb in, but they didn't have much cushioning in the soles.I found that out the hard way.Now I have a pair of Merrell's.They have super soft soles and are really comfortable.

[weazlepopper]

Thanks for the replies, keep 'em coming...

[hamsandwich]

Are most of the technical aspects of the grip for the approach?

and the egress.



Is ankle support and protection important?

Yes. The Cirspi Airborne GTX has removable hard insert that other jumpers and paragliders say they like. I haven't tried them but I like the idea. Support in for jump, less support for hiking to and away from jump.



Is weight an issue?

Less of one, but yes. No one likes hiking with heavy boots of iron.



Does cushioning have an effect on landing?

If you didn't land correctly or had to sink it in hard after off headings or misjudgement. happens sometimes



Anything that is HAS to do?

Hold my ankle, cushion a hard landing, keep me from slipping, preferably have no hooks.



What do you currently wear and why?

Asolo's. Because they're already in my closest and cheap to resole.



Do you select different shoes for different jumps?

I prefer to wear boots but have jumped in boots, sandals, and sneakers. If there's a long approach or way out then boots or approach sneakers make the most sense.



Practical or look cool?

Practical



Any advice or direction you have would be apprecatied

Look at paragliding boots they have very similar if not identical requirements. Crispi, Hanwag, Sol, Salomon (Trekking line) are used by paragliders and some base jumpers.

I'm currently in the market for a good set of boots as I base jump and now am paragliding as well. My #! issue in the decision will be quality of build and how long they last. I'm fine with spending $$$ on boots if they last and can be resoled.


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[IHazySky]

The Crispi's are flexible enough with the stiffener in... yet they have kept me from rolling ankle(laterally). Perhaps more support in the other direction for landing, but this would suck for hiking.