Unparallel shoes / Five Ten

Hi all,

Anyone know much about these guys: https://www.unparallelsports.com/ ?  DIdn't see another thread on this yet but point the way if I missed it. 

There's a pretty terrible vlog sort of mentioning them on EpicTV - terrible in the sense that it has little-to-no information although there is a promise of a later review of the shoes.
https://www.epictv.com/media/podcast/unparallel---the-new-climbing-shoes-creators/607165
(jump to 2:40 or so to see the shoes on somewhere other than the store site above but that is about all the useful info you get out of this)

I heard this company may be related to some old 5.10 folks who didn't make the move to Adidas. There was also some talk about the shoe rubber being related to/the same as the type used on old 5.10s but I don't want to speculate based on secondhand (or more) information so I leave it to you all to fill in the blanks where you can. 

Matt

I've heard all the same rumors. The whole thing sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen. Also, their branding is so bad it's almost offensive. 

A friend of mine tried them and really likes them, she's been raving about them.

She normally wears Testarossas in 36 or 36.5, and Sirius LV fits her in 39, but the size discrepancy seemed to be only with this specific shoe model, other shoes seem to fit more closely to your street shoe size

I always wondered about those secret recipes for rubber (or, say Coke). If they are secret rather than patented how is anyone going to know if they are using the same stuff or only slightly tweaked? I guess they'd sign a bunch of legal paperwork to say the handed it off, but if they are using a new secret formula that they won't let anyone see who's to say?

Oh well, not a huge concern for me, five ten shoes don't really fit my feet except for guide tennies but I've got a friend who is all about the blankos and pinks who would surely want to know if these new folks pull off the same things under a new brand. 

At least when Evolv ripped off the Five Ten Moccasym they came up with an original name - Addict. The best Unparalleled could think up was the "UP Mocc"?

Matt Westlake wrote: I always wondered about those secret recipes for rubber (or, say Coke). If they are secret rather than patented how is anyone going to know if they are using the same stuff or only slightly tweaked? I guess they'd sign a bunch of legal paperwork to say the handed it off, but if they are using a new secret formula that they won't let anyone see who's to say?

Welcome to the exciting world of Marketing!

Are they carried by any retailers, or is this a Climb-X kind of situation?

Maybe they will bring back a guide tennie mid clone!

Matt Westlake wrotesome old 5.10 folks who didn't make the move to Adidas. There was also some talk about the shoe rubber being related to/the same as the type used on old 5.10s

Yes, and yes.

As far as adidas owning the exclusive chemistry of Stealth. They don't, the name is definitely what they have exclusivity on. Let's just say Unparallel isn't the only brand to use "old stealth/ 5.10" rubber.

I am not in any way involved with Unparallel, but I'm also not speculating

I emailed them with some questions and they were very responsive, though the English was a bit broken.  

"Thanks for your interests toward UP (UnParallel) and UP was not split but UP was ex-team for 5.10 all most for 2 decades. After Adidas decided to leave out of USA to China for production and to Germany for operation, all ex-colleagues have launched UP  with all same stuffs, such as factory and original rubber compounds, so on."

They answered some questions I had about shoes and rubber and made some suggestions for me. The marketing materials and shoe names are bad, but the shoes themselves look pretty good.  The Up Lace looks quite nice to me.

It looks like they are bringing back some of the old classics like the Jet 7 (Vega?) and the recently discontinued Dragon (Sirius)

I'm definitely very interested, and have been seeing the shoes pop up around me (Seattle), but I'll wait for a local demo before I splurge.

I'm really hoping for a new Galileo.  That is my shoe.  I've got 5 pair... 3 old and decrepit waiting for a resole, one I use for long routes outdoor, and one new in the box, one still new in the box.

All they have to do is make an Anasazi Blanco and they will sell more shoes than 5.10!

I think Joe Kinder had a pair at Rifle today. They actually look pretty solid. He had something that looked really similar to Teams. Would be sick if it's similar and more durable.

NorCalNomad wrote:

Yes, and yes.

As far as adidas owning the exclusive chemistry of Stealth. They don't, the name is definitely what they have exclusivity on. Let's just say Unparallel isn't the only brand to use "old stealth/ 5.10" rubber.

I am not in any way involved with Unparallel, but I'm also not speculating

if i read between the lines-- the "5.10 stealth rubber" is a product made by a third party, and the third party can sell the stuff to other manufacturers ? 

please let there be an UnParallel "Issac" someday (5.10 newton clone)

I asked about their rubber, in particular Onyxx, Their messages said their bringing an  equivalent back next season.  

John Wilder wrote:

Stealth rubber isn’t made by five ten and the company that makes it also makes shoe rubber for all of the other US brands, I believe. 

I had no idea. The power of good marketing, I guess. What's the name of the manufacturer?

John Wilder wrote:

Stealth rubber isn’t made by five ten and the company that makes it also makes shoe rubber for all of the other US brands, I believe. 

Some info (circa 2017) via one of the more useful articles they've done in a while: 

They have a PDF about their rubber that says it's compounded in California, that calendar rolled forms (i'm assuming they mean sheets) are made in the USA, and that pressed (molded i assume) outsoles are made in Asia.

https://www.unparallelsports.com/wp-content/uploads/unpallarell-rubber-physical-properties.pdf

For what its worth, as far as shoe quality goes. I've got a pair of the Regulus and they are essentially a slightly tighter version of the hiangles (see my poor pinkie toe..). The toe rubber is broken (cut) up a bit more so that it folds a little easier, and so far I am finding the break in time to be a little longer, but I love them just like I loved my hiangles and support the company a lot more than Adidas right now.. I think the heel might be a little better, but sits lower on the ankle.