EXPERIENCE REPORT FROM THE MOUNTAINS

In winter, nature is an incomparable adventure. The weather can be harsh or even icy, but those who embrace it will be rewarded with fantastic panoramas and unique sporting experiences. There are many ways to enjoy nature. Today, Manuel Reindl takes us on his tours and tells us about the firm footing in his boots.

Pure passion for nature and adventure

Manuel is 35 years old and lives with his family in Mieming, Tyrol in Austria. He has completed his training as a state-certified mountain and ski guide and has been out and about with guests in a wide variety of mountain sports ever since.

His passion for nature and adventure eventually drove him to the canyons, where he completed his training as a canyoning guide. Since then, Manuel has regularly been out and about with guests and colleagues and enjoys every nature adventure. Manuel is the deputy head of a local mountain rescue team in Tyrol. He works as an alpine policeman, so his job means he is out and about in alpine environments all year round.

Due to all these activities, Manuel naturally spends a lot of time on his feet and in a wide variety of shoes (mountain boots, hiking boots, ski boots, ski touring boots, canyoning boots, etc.), which has also led to minor problems from time to time.

"I started looking around for matching insoles, socks, etc. after a while and quickly realised that it makes a huge difference for me in performance, but also in a health sense."

Ascent and descent with CURREX insoles

Manuel currently wears the HIKEPRO or the EDGEPRO, depending on the shoe model, and shares his experience with us:

"I have already been out and about several times over longer distances with the HIKEPROinsoles in my mountaineering boot. This is a mountain boot with limited crampon resistance. I have been out and about both in the "dry" and in the snow. So far, I haven't used any special insoles in the mountaineering boot. Only the one that was supplied. This is a completely normal, non-customized sole that is installed in every shoe. If you buy a shoe like this, you should already know roughly what shape your foot is, as all manufacturers cut differently. However, as I said, the sole is flat, without any customized shape for the user.

With the mountaineering boots, I noticed time and again during special activities - climbing, ice climbing - that even when the boot is fully laced up, the heel can lift out of the boot, which means that controlled use is sometimes restricted. Especially when standing on small footholds or on the front points of the crampons. With the CURREX, I immediately noticed that I had a completely different grip and a different foot position in the shoe. I also noticed straight away that my left foot didn't feel the same as my right foot. Just like you describe on your insert, so I knew straight away that this was okay and normal. We are just not symmetrical. I could feel the change immediately. Especially when I go up on my toes and I notice that the heel stays where it should and I have better control and perception."

Manuel's favourites:

Perfect control in the swing and during the descent

Manuel explains: "These positive experiences from the hiking boots were then transferred directly to the ski touring boot - here I use the EDGEPRO. I've already been out and about with this boot several times this year. The touring boot is normally completely open and "unlocked" on the ascent. Otherwise you would rub yourself off in the boot, as there is a lot of movement and a hard ski boot shell involved. So the feeling tends to fall by the wayside on the ascent. However, as with the mountain boot, you notice that your foot is in a good position in the boot and I was also able to eliminate the annoying pulling in the sole and toe area that I normally experienced on every tour. On the descent, the boot is then locked in place and, especially when skiing, it becomes apparent that the heel is "stuck" in the boot, which was not the case for me without the EDGEPROinsole. At the start of the turn and when pressure is applied to the toes, you notice how the heel moves upwards in some shoe models, which means you lose control of a correct turn. So here too, a recommendation for the product!"

The HIKEPRO explained in detail

We have explained the CURREX HIKEPRO for you in a short video.