By The RW Takeaway: The Index.01 concept shoe comes to life as an everyday trainer with a full recycling program attached for when it’s run its course.
Price: $200
Type: Road, everyday
Weight: 10.6 oz. (men’s size 9)
Drop: 9 mm
Runners are constantly trying to squeeze more life out of our shoes. Besides the fact that it feels kind of sad to put our favorite trainers in the trash, many of the materials that make up running shoes simply aren’t recyclable. Salomon aims to change that with the Index.01.
The Index.01 first made a splash as a concept shoe in 2019, and the concept is simple—you buy the shoes, register them on Salomon’s website and, when you’re finished with them, get a shipping label to send the shoes off to be recycled. Ultimately, Salomon envisions the materials could be broken down to produce other sports equipment, like ski boot shells. To double down on the green thumb approach to the shoe, Salomon is working with regional recycling facilities to cut down on the shipping involved in the recycling process.
Coming Full-Circle
Other brands have made shoes from recycled materials before, like Adidas’ Parley collaboration, and On Running has announced the Cyclon, a subscription-based recyclable shoe for later in 2021 (though it will only ship when regional demand has been met), but the Index.01 is the first full-circle shoe to hit the market.
How it Performs
The Index.01 is a comfortable everyday trainer that blurs the line between performance and lifestyle. The clean, off-white aesthetic features Salomon’s new nitrogen-infused TPU Infiniride midsole, and a polyester upper. I found that Infiniride feels softer underfoot than most of Salomon’s other models. The polka-dot outsole provides decent traction on most days, though the middle of the shoe doesn’t have as much grip on wet surfaces as the stickier patches on the heel and toe. The polyester upper is very soft and comfortable, and it’s a roomier fit than Salomon is known for.
At 10.6 ounces, it’s too heavy for speed work and racing, but there’s plenty of foam to make it durable for daily training. And, while sure, it performs, will runners be willing to pay a premium for the eco-story? At $200, it’s admittedly pricey, but that includes the costs of shipping and recycling. It's the first product available as part of Salomon's Play Minded Program, which aims to reduce their carbon emissions, and transparency.
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