minsta

What is Columbia Omni-Max technology? And how did a pine cone inspire the most comfortable hiking shoes I’ve ever worn?

Pabio December 14, 2024

I’ll be honest: for a long time, I never really got along with Columbia hiking shoes. THE Facet 75 Alphas were too sweaty and the 60s facet I didn’t have the grip I needed for the slippery trails of the Scottish Highlands. But this spring all that changed when I went out into the Konos TRS Outdry Shoes.

Suddenly I was skipping Munros and crossing the Alps in Columbia shoes. I’ve done a lot of hikes this summer and fall, and for each of them, these are the shoes I chose over many others. I loved them so much that I gave a pair to my cousin and she is as thrilled with them as I am.

If you haven’t gotten your feet into a pair yet, these shoes definitely don’t look super technical or even that eye-catching. They just look like a pair of sneakers. But they feel more like walking on fluffy clouds and, in my experience, stick to trails that are both crumbly and slippery like glue.

This fall, I took a trip to the Swiss Alps with the brand, where, among other things, I was able to test the mid-cut version of the Konos. It turned out that I loved it as much as the coach on steep alpine trails. The secret? Columbia’s new Omni-Max technology.

The feet of a hiker wearing the Columbia Konos TRS Outdry shoes

Suddenly I was jumping Munros and crossing the Alps in Columbia shoes (Image credit: Future)

What is Columbia Omni-Max technology?

Most of us probably think of a shoe as having two parts: an upper, made up of either leather or synthetic fabricand a sole. However, this sole is actually made up of three main elements:

The outsole, which is the part that comes into contact with the ground and provides traction.
The midsole, which provides the essential cushion.
The insole, which improves the fit, adds comfort and can help with thermoregulation.

Nowadays, each of these components may be produced in a different factory (or even country) by different brands, and then sandwiched together when making your shoe.

With Omni-Max, however, Columbia has built an integrated lower unit that combines midsole and outsole components to improve both cushioning (meaning you can avoid foot fatigue during long hiking) and traction on slippery trails.

“This is the most stable and comfortable footwear system Columbia has ever produced for its intended outdoor environment,” says Haskell Beckham, Columbia vice president of innovation.

The result is a sole that is truly ideal for fast, light hikes, even over long distances.

Columbia Konos TRS Outdry sole

The result is a sole that is truly ideal for fast, light hikes. (Image credit: Future)

What’s so special about Columbia’s Omni-Max technology?

Three elements make Columbia’s Omni-Max technology unique and effective.

First, a bit like its distant Colombian cousin Omni-Heat Arctic insulation, Omni-Max is inspired by nature – but this time, it takes its biomimicry clues coming from a pine cone instead of a polar bear. A pine cone may not seem like the most comfortable natural item to walk on, but don’t be fooled.

If you’ve ever picked up a pine cone from a forest floor, you’ve probably noticed that it can be easily bent without it breaking, and that’s what inspired this sole.

“When you walk, your foot bends, doesn’t it? Beckham explains.

“But when you put your foot in a shoe, you’re now putting it on a platform that may or may not bend as easily.”

Instead of the stiff sole that many of us associate with better protection against a rough, rocky trail, Omni-Max is equipped with what the brand calls flex grooves, so it flexes more naturally with your foot when you walk, like a pine tree. cone only more comfortable.

“Deep flex grooves in the forefoot reduce stiffness, then provide enhanced movement allowing for a more efficient stride,” says Michaela Hirschle, footwear merchandiser at Columbia.

Now, Columbia is certainly not the first brand to make a sole that bends when you walk. All you have to do is go hiking in a pair of barefoot shoes to find out. But from my experience hiking with a pair of Konos versus something more minimalist like the Vivobarefoot trackersit’s the shoes with Omni-Max that feel like they’re massaging my feet, and that very welcome sensation apparently comes down to a technology called Deflection Domes.

As Beckham explains, when you walk, it’s the three points of your heel and the balls under your big and little toes that hit the ground first. With an Omni-Max sole, there are little rubber pads under each of these points.

“They are biomechanically consistent with the main pressure points under the foot for added stability. This allows the padding to adapt to the pressure applied, enhancing what foam alone offers,” says Beckham.

As Hirschle explains, these domes “deflect and reduce load impact at the heel as well as the forefoot, where the wearer experiences the greatest impact when hiking,” reducing stress on your foot and explains why my feet are so happy even after putting it on. 20 km wearing them.

Finally, Omni-Max is a modular system, which means it can be combined with different technologies (Columbia). This means the brand can swap out different outsoles to improve grip and design shoes better suited to specific terrains and activities.

Hiker's feet wearing the Columbia Konos TRS outdry Mid hiking shoe in a stream

If I’m going somewhere where I don’t need technical hiking shoes, I see no reason not to wear my Konos which are lightweight and waterproof. (Image credit: Paul Brechu)

Does Columbia Omni Max technology work?

I think it’s clear that I’ve been impressed with Omni-Max this year, having tested it on alpine hikes, Scottish summits and long, muddy hikes in the countryside. If I’m going somewhere where I don’t need technical hiking shoes, I see no reason not to wear my Konos, which are lightweight and waterproof. Extra cushion often seems to come at the expense of stability, but I haven’t found that to be the case with Omni-Max, not having a single case of a rotated ankle to speak of.

Likewise, flexible soles often come at the expense of protection, but these shoes offer plenty of space between your foot and the ground. And finally, traction doesn’t usually come at the expense of anything, but it’s not always guaranteed in hiking shoes and I found it lacking in Columbia’s previous sneaker-style models. In Omni-Max, however, I was able to move with great confidence without slipping.

If you want to try it for yourself, I can talk about the Konos models being the first to use this technology, but it’s starting to make its way into other models like the Newton Wander Boot, Novo Trail ShoeTHE Bethany for women And Benson for men. You can view the full range of Omni-Max shoes here.

Mondor Festival

Mondor Festival

What is Columbia Omni-Max technology? And how did a pine cone inspire the most comfortable hiking shoes I’ve ever worn?

Pabio

Two people evacuated after North End fire on Flora Avenue

Lucy Wambui’s children pay tribute to their mother with glowing tributes: ‘They filled our house with warmth’

Razorbacks remain in mediocrity as season progresses

Press release: Jean-Paul Kress joins the Sanofi Board of Directors | 19.12.24

What is Columbia Omni-Max technology? And how did a pine cone inspire the most comfortable hiking shoes I’ve ever worn?

Pabio

You Might Also Like

Two people evacuated after North End fire on Flora Avenue

Lucy Wambui’s children pay tribute to their mother with glowing tributes: ‘They filled our house with warmth’

Razorbacks remain in mediocrity as season progresses

Press release: Jean-Paul Kress joins the Sanofi Board of Directors | 19.12.24