Valone: Durability and performance, the new standard in trail shoes
In the sports equipment sector, the idea that a highly durable shoe can compete with performance models is often seen as a compromise. The startup Valoneaims to turn this paradigm on its head. By integrating repairability at the heart of its trail shoe design, Valone seeks to prove that technical performance and longevity are complementary. This singular positioning earned the young company recognition in the Startup of the Year category at the Trail Running Awards.
RAVE: Technical design without compromise
The brand's first model, Rave, is not just a durable shoe; it is first and foremost designed to meet the demands of technical terrain. The sleek design is the result of precise technical choices aimed at efficiency:
Stability and protection: The product offers a 27mm stack and a 7mm drop, providing protection and precise ankle support.
Premium materials: The use of Vibram soles and high-performance European textiles ( Dyneema, Cordura, Kevlar yarns) is chosen not only for durability, but also to guarantee optimum support and grip on the run.
Comfort: the wide toe box ensures comfort over long distances.
Valone's commitment is clear: to offer an exceptional shoe capable of competing on technical terrain, which can then be repaired.
Innovation and technical partners for longevity
Valone's major innovation lies in the fact that repair was integrated from the earliest design stages, in close collaboration with technical partners. The aim was to ensure that the materials selected could be easily worked, giving the product a second life without altering its initial qualities.
Industrial collaboration: Valone made the rare choice of manufacturing in Portugal, requiring a major investment to support the partner factory in developing this level of technical expertise. In particular,All Triangles designers provided support for the prototypes. The Portuguese industrial partner emphasized the "positive challenge" of this technical project.
Concrete solutions: The shoe allows complete replacement of the sole block and studs.
Purchasing model: Valone has positioned itself as the first brand to sell the repair cycle (sole block and cleats) directly on its website, at the same time as the shoe.
Thanks to this collaborative approach, field tests validate that a repaired shoe regains its technical potential. Studies confirm that professional repair extends the life of a model by around 1,000 km.
A European foothold and key support
The viability of this ethical and technical model has been validated by the support of several well-known institutional and financial players. The startup benefits from this support, confirming the disruptive potential of this alternative to over-consumption.
The brand is also distributed by leading specialist retailers (such as Le Vieux Campeur and the Run Aventure network).
These validations testify to the recognition of the Valone model on ethical, technical and commercial levels. Thomas, an ultra-trail ambassador, confirms this double quality: not only has he been won over by the ecological approach, but he has also chosen Valone shoes for major objectives such as the Chartreuse Terminorum, proof that the demand for performance is there.
Valone's ambition is to establish sustainability as a new performance standard for the future of trail riding.
