by Jackson Hogen | Sep 1, 2023
I was one of the many midwives who attended at the birth of the Salomon boot in 1979. I translated Salomon’s encyclopedic Boot Bible into English and later condensed parts of it into one of the first bootfitting manuals. I trained the North American field force,...
by Jackson Hogen | Sep 1, 2023
It’s unlikely that Atomic management foresaw just how much its boot brand would come to depend on a modest line of recreational boots it launched some 15 years ago. Called Hawx, its unique feature was vent-like creases on both sides of the forefoot, perceived as a fit...
by Jackson Hogen | Sep 1, 2023
No other leather boot maker profited more from the transition to injected plastic shells than Nordica. During most of the 1970’s and 80’s, Nordica’s unit share of the world market was so dominant the only competition was for second place. It responded to the surge in...
by Jackson Hogen | Aug 26, 2022
2023 Kästle Boot Brand Profile Why would a relatively small ski company decide – seemingly out of the blue – to absorb the absurd expense of becoming a boot supplier? The answer to this question isn’t the usual brand-extension story, although that must be...
by Jackson Hogen | Aug 11, 2022
2023 Rossignol Boot Brand Profile With the arrival four years ago of the Alltrack Elite LT and Pro LT – for Lightweight Touring – Rossi complemented its Speed (standard 2-piece shells) and Track (similar shells, but with a hike mode)...
by Jackson Hogen | Jul 28, 2022
2023 Tecnica Boot Brand Profile Roughly a decade ago, Tecnica was at a point in its evolution where it had to change. The brand still had market mojo, but the line was due for an upgrade. Once a brand decides it needs new molds, all ideas...
