Vibram

Vibram is a trademark of the same Italian company with headquarters in Albizzate ( Varese province ) for abrasion-resistant soles of rubber. Originally, it was mainly used to hiking boots. More recently, it is widely used in sports, hiking and winter footwear of many manufacturers.

In a mountain accident in 1935 on the Punta Rasica ( 3305 m ) died on the Swiss- Italian border, six climbers because of unsuitable footwear. Vitale Bramani (1900-1970), also climbers, this took the opportunity and did research on new shoes with rubber soles, which should be better suited for alpine terrain. On the basis of Vulkanisierungstechnologie by Charles Goodyear developed Bramani and his friend Ettore Castiglione with tire manufacturer Pirelli water-and winter-proof rubber sole, which in 1937 filed a patent and by means Bramani and Castiglione in the same year succeeded in the first ascent of the Northwest Face on Badile. After 1945, he marketed it with the company Vibram, whose name is composed of parts of his own name.

Vibram is an Italian brand product; typical of the Vibram sole is the elongated, yellow logo that is attached between heel and front sole. Meanwhile, there are many different profiles of the Vibram sole. One of the latest products are the soles for motorcyclists, especially for the group of Supermoto racer, which prevent by means of the sliding on the floor foot slipping off the motorcycle.

First time in 2005 came a type of footwear on the market, in which not only the sole, but the whole shoe manufactured by Vibram. The Five Fingers, their markings are separate chambers for the individual toes, are designed as barefoot shoes and is now available in a wide range of products.