flat out question???

If Michelin (the tire company) made a rock climbing shoe using their in-house research and development team to create the rubber compound, WOULD YOU BUY IT?

If the rubber designed gives me a measurable superior friction advantage to other rubber products when climbing, the shoe is comfortable, and the rubber doesn't leave a trace on the environment; sure, I'd buy it.

But my opinion is, you'd be using resources toward developing a marketable shoe instead of focusing on designing & selling rubber. It'd be a loser for the company and off-course of their mission statement.

What is their Mission Statement:

"Since the company was first founded, Michelin’s stated mission has been to contribute to progress in the area of personal and goods mobility and, beyond this, social progress. The company’s goal is to satisfy the fundamental human need to socialize, exchange and discover."

I see the keyword being "mobility" - defined: "Mobility is the possibility of transporting people and goods from one place to another."

You can stretch this mission statement to develop a climbing shoe as within transporting people, but I think it'd be a big stretch & expense. I don't see this happening, but that's just my opinion.

Ditto what Tea said - can't we just have one post thread to talk about this topic instead of a mass mailing bombardment? (General Climbing or Climbing Gear would be suitable, I think)

No, as I'd prefer to support (spent my $) the smaller enterprises that currently make outstanding products anyway.

Hey I have an idea. Just post one thread for a given question. This is a community climbing website not a billboard for your companies motives. I'm sure everyone would answer your question about your shoes if they felt so inclined, however I feel you are doing you and your company a disservice by flooding the forums.

Enough with the shoes. Either sign up with Michellin or give it up.

I've removed most of the the regional threads on this topic.

Let's try to keep it to one thread in the gear section! Its crazy have mutiple threads goiing on about this subject. And no I wouldn't buy a climbing shoe from Michelin!

I'm going to go with "If the rubber designed gives me a measurable superior friction advantage to other rubber products when climbing, the shoe is comfortable, and the rubber doesn't leave a trace on the environment; sure, I'd buy it."

Perhaps it would be smarter for Michelin to make purely a new rubber sole compound, and not try to attack the climbing market outright. If you're going to do something that is already your strength - RUBBER, why try and dive into a whole new image with something you need to market to individual consumers, when you can (ideally) build a superior product for the shoemakers themselves and convince a much smaller group of people, and hopefully cost you less in advertising and marketing dollars?

No. As a buyer in a shop I would look at it, and if you gave me a pair I would try them out. Then if I like how they worked I'd bring 'em into my store if they met a need in the market (Better price, quality, new style...)

Vibram is by no means a "small" company. a LOT of shoes and boots out there in the world sport vibram soles.

If Five.Ten (the climbing shoe company) made a tire using their in-house research and development team to create the rubber compound, WOULD YOU BUY IT?

Just wondering, did anyone else grab the irony within the title relating to the subject of this post?

Mark Nelson wrote:Just wondering, did anyone else grab the irony within the title relating to the subject of this post?