Wildsnow.com previews Garmont's upcoming 2012 Freeride Collection

Wild Snow.com has released an exclusive sneak peak of Garmont's upcoing 2011/2012 freeride collection.

Today’s ditty from trade show, more coming: WildSnow supporter Garmont tells me they have a few important things in the works. They sent a fairly detailed flyer to me today, and I’m allowed to say some of their models will be getting lighter, and they’re working on a cool new boots, of course, that we might get to see this winter. Whisper whisper…

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Fit Bottomed Girls says the Amica Hike " mean business"

Fit Bottomed Girls has reviewed Garmont's Amica Hike GTX and praised its support and lighness.

Once out and into the wilderness weeks later, I tested these on a 5-mile hike to Cub Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail was pretty easy, but had enough flat spots and inclines to test out the soles and get a feel for the boots. The first thing that struck me was the lightness of the boots. Despite the fact that these have more ankle support than my usual hiking kicks, they were sooo much lighter (just 1 pound, 1 ounce!).

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Garmont North America names David Fee President

A 15-year veteran of sales, marketing, product and strategic planning with strong global brands, Fee comes to Garmont from his role as senior director of North American sales at Yakima Products, Inc. Fee also worked for Yakima as the senior director of market & product development.

“David’s skills are the perfect match for our future goals,” said Achille Morlin, Owner and President of Garmont SRL. “Not only will he continue Garmont’s focus on superior product, but he will also grow our strategic marketing and brand building strengths.”

Prior to Yakima, Fee worked for Ford Motor Company where he held a variety of marketing, sales and product management positions, including Mustang marketing manager and F-Series Trucks product marketing manager. He also worked for Harley-Davidson as a business development consultant; and at NIKE, Inc., where he served as the director of sports marketing and media for the NIKE World Masters Games.

“Garmont is a vibrant and healthy company, with an unmatched historical reputation for both performance and innovation,” said Fee. “This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a true innovator in the outdoor world.”

Fee is a true outdoor enthusiast, with a background in cycling, triathlons, hiking and climbing. He is a former competitive triathlete, a four-time Ironman finisher, and an avid cyclocross competitor. Fee is also a year-round bike commuter logging 25 miles round trip to the office each day.

Fee is a board member of Achon Uganda Children’s Fund, a non-profit organization that has established an orphanage and health clinic in Northern Uganda.

Fee holds a BA degree from Boston College and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

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Garmont North America to relocate in outdoor and footwear capitol of Portland

Garmont North America today announced the relocation of its North American headquarters to the outdoor and footwear capitol of Portland, Oregon.

Garmont is a global market leader in outdoor and snowsports footwear, known worldwide for pushing the limits of performance and design. Their exceptional product line includes award-winning alpine, alpine touring and telemark ski boots; and outdoor footwear for mountaineering, backpacking, hiking and trail sports.

The goal of the relocation is to elevate the brand’s profile in the North American outdoor market, and to tap into the strategic benefits of proximity to other brands and retailers in the region.

“Garmont is a vibrant and healthy company, with an unmatched historical reputation for both performance and innovation,” said David Fee, president of Garmont. “This move will reposition the brand in the North American market, elevating both the company and the product to a new level of success.”

The move will begin immediately and will be completed prior to the end of 2011.

All Garmont N.A. operations will be relocated, including their distributed brands of Bridgedale socks and Life-Link backcountry equipment.

Garmont is also announcing the promotion of Joshua Gibbs to Vice President of Sales and Patrick O’Neil to Chief Operating Officer. Both Gibbs and O’Neil will relocate with Garmont to Portland, Oregon.

Garmont will also retain its sales rep force, as it has one of the most experienced and effective sales teams in the outdoor industry.

“This is an exciting new chapter for the Garmont brand, as the move will bring Garmont in closer contact with the outdoor market in ways that can best satisfy North American needs,” said Achille Morlin, Owner and President of Garmont SRL

Based in northern Italy, in the picturesque foothills of Volpago del Montello, Garmont’s roots date back to 1867. For five generations, the Morlin family has designed and built technical boots inspired by the rocky terrain of the Dolomites.

The historic Garmont brand was relaunched in 1991 by Calzaturificio Morlin as a four-season technical footwear and ski boot brand. Garmont North America was founded in 1996.

Garmont’s decision to relocate was an extensive, deliberate process, and included evaluation of several possible regions with similar character to the brand’s northern Italian base.

Portland’s progressive business climate, proximity to footwear industry giants and innovators, and year-round access to world-class hiking, climbing and skiing destinations made it an ideal match.

Garmont is working with the Portland Development Commission to identify and implement the resources required for a successful transition.

In hiking, Garmont’s rising prominence was recently highlighted as the Zenith Mid GTX was named to the 2011 Gear of the Year list by Outside, America’s leading active lifestyle magazine. Winning the “Light Hiking” category, the Garmont Zenith Mid GTX will appear in the magazine’s Spring/Summer Buyers Guide, with a circulation of more than 1.3 million readers.

In skiing, Garmont’s recent accomplishments include the introduction of the PowerFrame Freeride AT collection for fall 2011 -- an unparalleled package of fit, features, and touring function. The collection established an entirely new class of boots, blending superior alpine performance with full uphill capability, and reinforcing Garmont’s leadership position in the rapidly growing world of alpine touring – the fastest growing category of boots in the alpine ski world.

Active Junky declares the Zenith Lite the "Diplomat"

Active Junky tested out the Zenith Lite and Zenith Trail through southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. Active junky named the Zenith Lite the Diplomat because it was "Built to capture mileage through mixed conditions including trails, fire roads and even pavement, this model is an easy choice for all-around runners."

The Zenith Trail GTX and Amica Trail GTX were both lauded as well. Garmont’s ZENITH TRAIL GTX ) steps in when wetter or more challenging situations beckon. Prepared with a Gore-Tex upper, this beefier model waves goodbye to tamer settings in favor of MMA-style scrambling. Load-bearing capacity means more and tougher miles are possible, recognizing Garmont’s available mid-height models amp up the ankle protection.

Garmont’s ZENITH TRAIL GTX (MSRP $134.95) steps in when wetter or more challenging situations beckon. Prepared with a Gore-Tex upper, this beefier model waves goodbye to tamer settings in favor of MMA-style scrambling. Load-bearing capacity means more and tougher miles are possible, recognizing Garmont’s available mid-height models amp up the ankle protection.

The women’s side gets taken seriously as well. Parallel models fall under the Amica line, and the Trail GTX (MSRP $134.95) was a favorite that worked for A.J.’s hard-to-fit tester. Like the other Garmont models under the microscope, this one carried easy entry, secure fit and all-conditions traction from one testing scenario to another.

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The Seattle Times calls the Zenith HIKE GTX and Amica Hike GTX "the best lightweight hiking boots suitable for exploring Washington's spring-ready trails"

Dan A. Nelson reviewed lightweight boots for mud-slickened spring trails: in his article Getting in Gear: lightweight boots for muddy spring hikes
After reviewing Kayland's Zenith, Nelson wrote that:

Remarkably, the other boot that drew praise from testers was also named Zenith. The Zenith Hike GTX (men's) and Amica Hike GTX (women's) from Garmont provide similar performance as the Kayland boots, but the Garmonts fit a wider foot, especially in the heel.

The Garmont boots feature a slightly stiffer midsole than the Kaylands. This earned them higher marks from testers during use in the soft mud and snow found on the Pilchuck Trail. In those conditions, the stiffer midsole provided needed stability underfoot while kicking steps in the soft surfaces. A Gore-Tex liner provides waterproofness, while a full rand — a band of rubberized material circling the foot just above the sole — protects against scuffing and wear that can lead to leaks.

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Zenith Mid GTX Voted Outside Magazine's Gear of the Year Best Light Hiker

Winning the "Light Hiking" category in the Gear of the Year awards, the Garmont Zenith Mid GTX was praised for its durability and breathability.

"We tried to beat up and overwhelm this light-hiking boot," says Buyer's Guide Editor Sam Moulton. "But we failed. It's light and flexible enough for quick, mellower hikes, yet still sturdy enough for more serious adventures in more technical terrain."

During extensive testing throughout late fall, Outside's testing staff raved about the Zenith Mid GTX's ability to perform in a broad variety of conditions.

"It was the most breathable mid in our test, thanks to well-placed mesh panels," said the testing team. "The fit? Love at first step. Testers raved about the shapely heel cups, which kept feet in place, and smooth liners, which prevented hot spots." Products honored in Outside's Buyers Guide include many of the best designed and best performing gear available on the market today

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Masterlite awarded RED DOT award for Product Design

The Masterlite was awarded the prestigious RED DOT AWARD: for product design in 2011 designed by MM Design is one of the lightest in existence, the unique Pebax webFrame shell is reduced to its critical elements for a solid structure with ultra light weight.

Commented Paul Parker Garmont product Manager: "We are very proud of this international accolade which is testimony to our passion for clean, innovative product design and recognition of our commitment to offering our customers best-in-class products designed to enhance outdoor performance."

Bridgedale's X-Hale Light Hiker proclaimed "Friction-Free" in Backpacker Magazine's March 2011 Gear Guide.

Bridgedale's X-Hale Light Hiker was featured in Backpacker Magazine's March Gear Guide.

"Blister-prone testers loved the Bridgedale X-Hale Light Hiker with NanoGLIDE which uses a slick, synthetic fiber to reduce fricition over the instep and toes. "It feels silky," one wearer reports. "And the mesh panels keep my feet drier than other socks." At key impact zones around the heel and under the ball of f the foot, dense double looped fibers of wool provide extra padding . "

Click here to read the full article.

Zenith Hike GTX names "Men's Killer Deal in Backpacker Magazine"

The Zenith Hike was featured in Backpacker Magazine's March 2011 issue and was hailed as a great buy with excellent traction and fit.

"Get this all-purpose midweight and save enough money to buy some sweet merino socks-maybe several pairs," said one tester after wearing this Gore-Tex-lined, fabric-and-leather midcut for five days in Denali National Park. The Zenith doesn't sacrifice technical ingredients to achieve head-turning, and it's even lightweight for the support. The Trick? First, the asymmetrical cuff that mirrors the offset positioning of your ankle bones: It's higher on the medial (inner), side than the lateral (outer) side, which creates the feeling - and performance - of a higher cut boot. Second, a full-length plastic shank is nestled into the midsole. Not only does it provide excellent underfoot protection, it's articulated under the toes to facilitate easy striding, and it wraps around the sides of boot for bomber stability. G

Garmont shaved weight by threading to-the-toe lacing alternately through webbing loops and the leather upper, using heavier metal hardware on the upper cuff. And when our tester jumped into Glacier Creek to chase down his partner's dropped gear, water poured over his boot tops, but the Zenith dried in a couple of hours. Multiple testers applauded the roomy toe box combined with a snug-fitting midfoot. "When I cinched the lacing tight, this boot was secure even while sidehilling," reports a California tester. Wide-spaced low-profile lugs on the Vibram sole gave the Zenith "excellent traction on rain slicked, ankle-twisting gravel bars and crumbly moraine when I was carrying an unwieldy 40-pound load through Wrangell-St Elias," says one tester. Best for wide, higher-volume feet.

Click here to see a scan of the article.

Outside Magazine gives the Masterlite a close-up in their Holiday Gift Guide

The Masterlite was featured on the Table of Contents of this December's Outside Magazine.

"We've been looking longingly at Garmont's Masterlites all fall. Impatiently waiting for it to snow. At 2.4 pounds a piece, they are among the lightest touring boots on the slopes. But thanks in part to the spiderweb design, they're suprisingly rigid, with just enough guts to confidently drive moderately fat boards."

Outside Magazine's Buyer's Guide lauds Priestess and NTN Bindings in addition to their #1 Tele-choice, the Prophet

In Outside Magazine's Winter 2011 Buyers Guide, the Prophet is listed as #1 in boots. In addition tothe Prophet, Rottefella's NTN Binding is mentioned twice and the Priestess is tagged as powerful. Click below for the articles.

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Rottefella offers $100 Rebate to NTN consumers

Step up to the control and confidence of a new NTN boot-and-binding package this winter, and step away with a $100 rebate.Encouraging free-heel skiers to reward themselves with the award-winning control and confidence of NTN (a.k.a. New Telemark Norm) boot-and-binding systems, the first-time offer will launch on Oct. 1, 2010, and run through January 31, 2011.The rebate applies to the Garmont Prophet men's boot (winner, 2010 Backcountry Magazine Editor's Choice Award), the Garmont Priestess women's boot (winner, 2011 Backcountry Magazine Editor's Choice Award), and the Rottefella NTN binding (winner, 2011 Backcountry Magazine Editor's Choice Award).

This is an exceptional opportunity for every telemark skier to step up to the exceptional power, control and comfort of NTN boot-and-binding systems," said Gord Bailey, president of Garmont USA.For those eager to try it before they buy it, Garmont/NTN demos will be available on the Backcountry Magazine demo tour at multiple locations throughout the country. A complete list of demo locations will be on www.garmontusa.com/rore.htmlas they become available.

Powder Magazine Picks Radium in 2011 Skier's Choice Draft

Powder Magazine has chosen Garmont's Ski Mountaneering Boot, the Radium, as a draft pick in their Annual Fantasy Draft.

"The Radium is the stiffest, most comfortable "lightweight" AT boot I've skied yet (1790 grams in size 27.5). There are burlier boots on the market, but if you are skiign a few thousand feet a day, nothing compares to the Radium. Garmont's "wrap overlap design" is a fancy term for providing even pressure- ie comfort- from shin to toe, without sacrificing performance. Downhill, the adjustable spoiler gives wicked support for those of us who find ourselves in the backseat every now and then. I took these on the Teton traverse as well, and found the walk-ski lever easy to use (except when it was packed with ice) and walk mode comfortable around camp. The soles did great climbing rock and hard snow, and with Garmont's new propierty tech inserts, they'll stay in Dynafit bindings even better. "

Powder Magazine's September issue is on store shelves now.

Outside Magazine awards Bolt DL Editor's Choice

Outside Magazine has named Garmont's Bolt DL one of the years best new running shoes and awarded it an editors choice in it's August 2010 issue. Outside magazine wrote: "

"The Bolt DL stuck to everything we touched-rocks, mud, and gravel-and with a low-to-the-ground design, it had a good feel for the trail on really tricky sections. Though the bumper is slimmer than most, with only a slight bit of cushioning, a dense pad of EVA Foam under the forefoot and a burly toe bumper give enough protection for most trail hazards."

Outside Magazine's August issue is currently on store shelves.

Running Times Magazine calls Bolt a "Huge Hit"

Running Times Magazine calls the Bolt "a huge hit as a technical speedster" in it's June 2010 issue. Brian Metzler of the Running Times wrote: "

"The latest in Garmont's 9.81 racing line, the Bolt was a huge hit among testers as a technical speedster. It's light (but not featherweight) and sufficiently protective with a responsively semi-firm feeling in the midfoot and forefoot. (There's a wedge of softer foam in the heel to dampen hard impacts, but it's not so soft that it compromises stability.) With an easy flex and a snug race fit throughout (and a uniquely shaped long and narrow toe box), plus a low-to-the-trail design, the Bolt inspired testers to run fast on all types of terrain, but several reported that they especially liked it on rocky sections that required precise foot placements and a high degree of nimbleness..."

Running Times Magazine June issue is available in stores; their review is also available online.

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WildSnow.com review's the Radium

Louie Dawson from wildsnow.com posted this review of the Garmont Radium after he brought them to New Zealand for the summer as his only boot for both resort skiing and touring. Louie says:

"In all, Radiums are a fantastic choice if you are looking for an AT backcountry boot that skis almost as good as an alpine boot, but tours well and is still fairly light. What is more, from the buckles, to the lean lock, to the liner – note quality and craftsmanship that no other boot maker I know of has surpassed – and that only a few others equal. Honestly – I'm impressed."

Prophet & Voodoo awarded Backcountry Magazine Editor's Choice

New Garmont Telemark Boots awarded Editor's Choice by Backcountry Magazine. One tester said about the new NTN- compatible Prophet, "Its nice and supple allowing you to feel your pinky toe more than any other NTN boot." Another said, "More unrestricted touring than any other NTN boot.

Voodoo was described as having a "Smooooooth flex, like a heavily buttered egg-salad sandwich"

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Skiing Magazine names 9 Garmont Boots Official Ski Test Selection

Nine Garmont ski boots have been named Official Ski Test Selection by Skiing Magazine. The September issue reviews the Garmont alpine collection. October issue will review Backcountry gear. Skiing says about the Shaman," Garmont epitomizes the freeride boot concept: powerful and precise, yet comfortable and forgiving."

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Powder Magazine Awards Skier's Choice to Shaman, Prophet, & Voodoo

Powder Magazine Awards Skier's Choice Awards to Garmont Shaman Alpine Boot, Voodoo Alpine Boot and Prophet NTN Telemark Boot.

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Women's Adventure Magazine awards Women's Trekker Editor's Choice

Bridgedale Women's Trekker Receives Editors Choice Award from by Women's Adventure Magazine

Vetta Lite named Top Gear for 2009 by Explore Magazine

"Think of the Vetta Lite as a bunch of different hikers in one. This three-quarter-cut, lightweight boot can do almost everything—summer mountaineering, off-trail backpacking, scrambling and even heavy-duty approach. It doesn't have a luxe feel but the fit is excellent thanks to a design that lines up with the 's natural asymmetry—one cuff is lower than the other, ankle pad-ding is offset, and laces are angled to tighten more evenly around the foot."
– Backcountry

Explore Magazine reviews the 9.81 Escape

"As we were wheezing up a Wet Coast mountain, the gripping ability of the Escapes surprised us. We've seen deeper lugs on racing flats, but the low-profile bump-outs of Gar's logo (9.81 is a Garmont brand) and the stickier rubber surrounding them managed to hold on in all but the muddiest spots. The lining dried quickly and kept our feet comfortable in a variety of temperatures. "
– Explore

Runner's World reviews Bridgedale's Bamboo Lo

"The blend of renewable bamboo and sweat-siphoning CoolMax in Bridgedale's Bamboo Lo felt luxurious to several testers. The quarter-cut height and thick band pleased trail runners, keeping out debris and protecting against ankle clipping. And CoolMax wicks well, helping one te's feet stay "completely dry on a 11-mile trail run."
– Runner's World

Women's Health review Bridgedale's Speed Diva

"These made for speed socks have soft, cloud-like layers underneath your balls and heels (to ease the impact on your joints) and around your ankles (to prevent hot spots on the heels"
– Women's Health

Backcountry Magazine calls Radium "giant leap forward in boot design"

"Garmont's new Radium is a giant leap forward in boot design from the already popular Mega Ride. Made with a progressive bi-injection Pebax upper cuff, four buckles, and a new overlap shell construction, the Radium hugs the instep for a more responsive boot overall. A new G-fit Rapid liner features the "T-bar" plastic tongue reinforcement, which augments leverage and shin protection. "Good ratio between flex/weight and lateral stiffness," mentioned one tester. "The soles are super nimble too," said our token Jacksonite. "Just walking around in them, they make you want to scramble over rocks."
– Backcountry

Life-Link Guide Trekking Pole Names Best Buy by Backpacker Magazine

"Our testers logged 450 miles with these ultra-light, ultra-durable poles in the last two years. The strength comes from their two-section hybrid construction. The lower shaft is made of a thicker-than-average hollow carbon fiber, which makes them more durable in scree fields, where we've seen other carbon fiber poles snap like toothpicks. The upper half is aluminum - a better material for long-lasting lateral strength - topped with a foam-rubber grip. The halves twist-lock into place, and stayed lock mile after mile. These poles convert into an avalanche probe and come with 3.4 inch baskets for better snow floatation. Off trail hikers should switch to a lower-profile basket, like Life-'s Snag Proof Trekking baskets."
– Backpacker

Bridgedale Ventum Light Hiker Review by Backpacker Magazine

"If you've downsized to lightweight boots and want the perfect pair of socks to match, try the Ventum. It's light and breathable, yet cushioned like a classic midweight sock. During months and miles of pounding Southwest trails, our tester appreciated the thick, strategically placed paddding in the places she needed it - under the ball and heel, around the toes, and over the Achilles. Mesh panels on top keep air circulating and overall volume down. The merino/nylon/lycra blend is soft and wicks well."
– Backpacker