At the end of 2011, Adidas purchased Five Ten and although the company has continued to operate as a separate brand, this has not stopped Adidas from taking advantage of the technical innovations that Five Ten has to offer. With the original high-friction rubber compound created in 1985, the Stealth Rubber family now includes more than half a dozen compounds providing friction to athletes across various sports. Adidas will release their first Stealth Rubber shoe this coming Fall 2013.
Adidas took their lightweight Terrex Solo approach shoe and upgraded it by adding a Stealth Rubber sole, working in conjunction with Five Ten founder Charles Cole. Geared towards climbers, alpinist, and boulderers, the Terrex Solo Stealth will now offer unbeatable grip for approaches, scrambling, belaying, or hanging from the side of a wall for hours.
Other features of the Terrex Solo Stealth include a EVA foam midsole that has been reinforced using a TPU film for comfort and mid-foot stability. In the heel section, special Adiprene foam absorbs impacts to enable comfortable yet dynamic movement, even on longer approaches. Rubber toe and heel guards provide added protection.
Asymmetrical heel loops enable these lightweight approach shoes to be easily clipped with a carabiner to your backpack or climbing harness, hanging parallel to each other. A highly adhesive climbing specific toe area is useful for edging on more technical approaches or when bouldering.
The Adidas Terrex Solo Stealth approach shoes come in both a men's and women's version and retail for $120.
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