With walking becoming part of a new trend to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, competition in the walking shoes market is heating up. (Image : K2)
SEOUL, March 16 (Korea Bizwire) – With walking becoming part of a new trend to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, competition in the walking shoes market is heating up.
According to analysts from the outdoor apparel industry, the walking shoes market is estimated to have grown 20 to 30 percent each year since 2010.
To meet consumer demand, the industry is churning out new products equipped with cutting-edge materials and new technology.
K2 had sold over 800,000 pairs of walking shoes from its ‘Fly Walk’ line as of 2015, due to their unique design. A new product that will be launched this year offers waterproof and ventilating features with improvements in heel stability and sole resistance. The new shoes feature a simple design so that they can be worn around town as well as in a work environment.
The North Face launched the ‘Walking 1H Boa’ through its ‘Dynamic Hiking’ line. Officials from The North Face explain that they used new durable materials that block water and dirt effectively.
Kolon Sports launched new walking shoes called ‘socks’, which promote comfort of the feet, and Millet launched new shoes called ‘Arch Step Z’ that have an arched sole to boost walking stability.
To make the competition even more fierce, sports brands are also wading into the fray with walking shoes equipped with various features.
With walking becoming part of a new trend to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, competition in the walking shoes market is heating up. (Image : K2)
Prospecs’ ‘Chevron’ distribute foot pressure through an air tube in the sole, and New Balance launched the ‘880 Han River Pack’, which is a limited edition designed using the Han River as a motif.
“As the price of walking shoes varies, and improvements in design and features are made, consumers now have a wider variety of products to choose from,” outdoor apparel officials say. “We expect that the popularity of walking shoes will continue this year, as the demand for multitask walking shoes that can be worn in various situations is rising.”
By Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
