No stranger to custom fit footwear, Tecnica decided to take all that experience with ski boots and apply it to hiking boots. New for this spring, Tecnica introduces Forge, a collection of trekking boots that combines out-of-the box comfort with full customization capabilities.
The new Forge line of hiking boots takes advantage of Tecnica’s Custom Adaptive Shape or C.A.S. technology. C.A.S. adds thermo-formable material in the key comfort and foot-hold areas of the hiking boot — :the heel, the arch, and the ankles. Tecnica also adds a fully thermo-formable footbed to deliver custom instep and arch support for 360 degrees of customization.
Working with your local retailer, the Forge hiking boots can be custom molded to your feet in only 20 minutes. The process includes heating the boot, then putting your foot inside while external inflatable pressure is applied all around the boot. Much like thermo-formable ski boot liners, the result is a boot that conforms exactly to the unique shape of your foot.
The thermo-formable material also helps to keep your hiking boots from packing out too quickly so they will last through many seasons. Other features include a Vibram outsole with Megagrip for extra traction, Gore-Tex waterproof liner, a tongue-less design that eliminates pressure points, and self-locking laces.
The Nubuck leather/stretch fabric Tecnica Forge retails for $250 and is available now for both men and women. The hiking boots also come in a stretch fabric/TPU lamination version for $270.