Salomon XT PU.RE ADVANCED: Revisiting Salomon’s Racing Heritage through a Sustainable Lens

WHAT IS SALOMON ADVANCED?

Salomon ADVANCED houses the most progressive product offering, combining the newest advancements in technology with a critical eye for beauty and design. It takes inspiration from Salomon’s past, distilling a rich brand history made of decades of trial, discovery, and innovation, while experiencing something entirely new, reinterpreted through a radical, contemporary lens.

Salomon has been making outdoor footwear for more than 30 years, bringing groundbreaking innovations such as the sensiFIT construction (1992) and the quickLACE lacing system (1993), used in cross-country ski boots before being adapted for hiking and trail running footwear. This rich history, full of new technologies, innovations, and bold choices, is what fuels the ADVANCED range.

THE IMPACT OF THE “XT” SILHOUETTE

The XT silhouette has been a massive source of inspiration for the Salomon Sportstyle team. “XT” stands for “X-trail”, which refers to those long, rapid hikes over technical terrains that grew in popularity in the late 90s and early 2000s. Iconic models such as the XT-Wings (2008) and XT-6 (2013) which were originally designed to run 100-milers (160km) ultra trail running races, are now being sought after by every Salomon afficionado, and are being worn in every major city, from Paris to San Fransisco.More niche models, like the XT-Slate or XT-Quest, revisit this iconic silhouette with a modern approach, always inspired by the outdoors.What makes the XT silhouette so unique and recognizable is the combination of two key technologies: the ADV chassis and sensiFIT technology. Both are first and foremost meant to create the technical benefits of stability and foothold. But this combination also creates a bold design that can be recognized from afar, with both technologies being proudly featured on every pair of “XT” shoes.The history of these technologies connects the XT range with Salomon’s history of alpine hardgoods, making cross-country ski boots with great foothold and stability, improving the experience of cross-country skiers for over 70 years.

A NEW XT SILHOUETTE: THE XT PU.RE ADVANCED

The XT PU.RE ADVANCED, which stands for “XT PolyUrethane REcycled”, is looking to reinvent this XT silhouette with a focus on material research and sustainability.

“The XT PU.RE ADVANCED features everything that makes the XT silhouette: the chassis in the bottom unit, that brings lateral stability and torsional rigidity to the shoe; the sensiFIT that wraps the foot to create a comfortable and snug foothold; and the Quicklace to hold this all together and further improve the foothold," explains Axelle Portailler, Designer for Salomon Sportstyle. "The main challenge in developing the XT PU.RE ADVANCED was looking for new materials to explore the end-of-life recyclability of the shoe”.

The XT PU.RE ADVANCED uses Salomon’s Infinifoam technology in a bottom unit that is entirely made of polyurethane, which can then be grounded and reused at the end of its life. This PU piece has been extended to include the sensiFIT and chassis, creating a crafty look and feel while reducing the environmental impact of the shoe. The upper of the shoe also uses recycled materials. To recycle the shoe, users will need to scan the QR code on the tongue of the shoe, print a shipping label, and bring the pair to their local post office to be sent back to Salomon, all free of charge.

The chassis on the XT PU.RE ADVANCED is inspired by the crimping process, exploring how one element can be inserted into another, like a diamond on a ring.

With the XT PU.RE ADVANCED, not only does the chassis have functional benefits for the user, but it also holds the upper and bottom parts of the shoe together, creating a glue that connects both parts.

“It’s always a challenge to reinterpret and modernize an icon!" Portailler admits. "You are walking on a fine line between heritage and modernity, between staying true to a recognizable silhouette and bringing some newness to it. But we always go back to the technologies to highlight them, and the rest comes with it. The work we do is always connected to the functionality of the shoe, which we aim to embellish.”