Whether to clear your head, seek inspiration or boost fitness, speed hiking is easy to fit into your daily routine and has so much to offer both for the body and soul. Speed hiking is not only accessible, it’s also simple to practice. The sport requires little in the way of equipment, and is quick and easy to carry out. No matter where we live, nature is all around us. This could be a park, a hill, the coast or the mountains – anywhere that takes you up and allows you to look back down over the land below – whether it’s a valley, the sea, or the city. Under the motto “Six to nine – kick-start your day” Salewa is calling on people to make the most of the day during the working week by getting up early, and starting the day with a speed hiking tour. No matter where they live.
Fast-moving activities in the mountains and out in nature are on trend. Speed hiking is becoming increasingly popular. The appeal is obvious: it’s easy to practice and can be done virtually anywhere, it has positive physical and spiritual benefits and it’s a simple, healthy way to get close to nature. Salewa, the South Tyrolean mountain sports brand recognises the potential in this modern form of mountain sport. For Summer 2023, it’s presenting its freshly interpreted ‘Pedroc’ Speed Hiking collection that combines traditional and innovative functional fabrics with technical solutions and fresh designs.
Mountains are our inspiration. That has been the case ever since 1935. But what has changed, is the way that we approach and move through mountains. Mountain sports have seen many advances over recent decades, and even the way we define mountaineering has fundamentally changed throughout its short history. Salewa has always endeavoured to grow with the sport in order to deliver the best possible technical solutions for every category. As such, we are delighted to present a new speed hiking product line in 2023,
The new Pedroc outfit in the Salewa Speed Hiking collection consists of lightweight, weather-repellent and breathable, fast-drying apparel styles, plus shoes and a backpack – for both men and women. “In the Pedroc line, we’re combining the technical aspects of mountain sports products with more lightweight, athletic fitness-orientated elements – this creates the ideal clothing concept for speed hiking,” says Design Director Thomas Moe.
Premium components, such as Polartec® active insulation, YKK zips and hybrid nylon/tencel fabric blends underline the collection’s technical expression. And the common design language – from head to toe – further reinforces the aesthetic look. The hybrid constructions are based on the bodymapping concept with perforated fabrics and refined details for fast and easy handling on the mountain, and which further demonstrate the progressive direction of the new apparel concept. The collection is available in retail stores from spring 2023.
The launch of the collection is further supported by an accompanying film, shot in the Dolomites (Italy), Nice (France), Singapore and Boulder, Colorado (US). The film will be available for viewing on YouTube from April.
... what is speed hiking?
Speed hiking means moving fast, but in your own time and rhythm. It’s a question of seeing how far you can go in a short amount of time. The focus is on the positive health benefits and building friendships, not just physical fitness. Speed hiking brings people together. Whether they are young or old, whether they are sporty or less sporty. Wherever they live and regardless of culture or skin colour.
...where do I start?
Speed hiking doesn’t have to involve extensive journeys or overnight stays. You don’t need go far to find wild areas, beauty and simplicity. Your next adventure could start straight after work or from your front doorstep. It’s about being creative and keeping it simple. At first, it might be a good idea to pick shorter trails that head out and back – and then build up your distances gradually.
...what’s the best time to go?
The hour before dawn is a magical time to be out. As the sun is rising and the world is waking, this is a quiet and reflective time. There’s less traffic and city noise, we become aware of other sounds, such as birdsong or our own breathing, and notice small details that can inspire us. Early in the mornings, we are fresh, curious and ready to explore.
PEDROC PRO POLARTEC® ALPHA® JACKET M/W
Less weight for lightweight movement in the mountains: With the new Pedroc Pro Polartec® Alpha® Jacket, Salewa’s fabric experts have created a 160-gram lightweight insulation jacket for intensive speed hiking tours in alpine environments or local training routes. The jacket provides protection from wind and rain, is extremely breathable, and thanks to the high stretch properties of the material, offers enormous flexibility and freedom of movement when speed hiking. In particular, in fluctuating temperatures and changing mountain conditions, the Polartec® Alpha® insulation regulates the upper body temperature so that you maintain good core comfort during extended activity. Polartec® Alpha® Direct active insulation is made from recycled PET bottles and regulates climate comfort both during dynamic activity and in static phases. Its lofted fibres offer high breathability, enabling the wearer to avoid having to change layers mid activity, whether on sweat-inducing ascents or during rest periods and downhill sections.
Main features:
Insulation weight: 60 g/m2
Weight: 160 grams (women’s size 42/36), 220 grams (men’s size 50/L)
Outer fabric: Nylon/Tencel woven 15D, 45 g/m2, PFC-free Durable Water Repellent (DWR)
Inserts: Durastretch lightly perforated, bluesign® certified, 96 g/m2
Insulation: Polartec® Alpha® Direct 60 gram, 100% polyester (78% recycled), bluesign® certified
Salewa Committed: All chemicals verified, manufactured under third-party-audited social standards and working conditions, PFC-free
Sizes: Women 38/32 – 48/42, Men 46/S - 54/2X
RRP: 240 euros
PEDROC 2.5L POWERTEX LIGHT JACKET M/W
The new Pedroc 2.5L PTX Light Jacket is designed to allow speed hikers to undertake mountain tours – including more ambitions routes. The jacket was designed for minimal weight (190 grams), lightweight, compact pack size and weather protection with high breathability. To make this possible, Salewa’s development team have used premium fabrics, such as a PFC-free, 2.5-layer Powertex laminate membrane. Thanks to its high-quality specifications, the Pedroc 2.5 L Jacket is waterproof, windproof and yet highly breathable, so that sweat can evaporate quickly to the outside. Its essential and practical features include an elasticated storm hood, one-handed hem adjustment, and stretch cuffs for easy adjustment during activity. Reflective details also add additional visibility and security.
Main features:
Weight: 150 grams (women’s size 42/36) 190 grams (men’s size 50/L),
Main fabric: Powertex 2.5-layer shell, 65 g/m2 (100% polyamide)
Hydrostatic head: 10,000 mm
Breathability: 40,000 g/m2/24h
Salewa Committed: All chemicals verified, manufactured under third-party-audited social standards and working conditions, PFC-free
Sizes: Women 38/32 – 48/42 , Men 46/S – 54/2X
RRP: 200 euros
PEDROC PRO MID POWERTEX SHOE M/W
With the Pedroc Pro Mid PTX, Salewa is offering a versatile, stylish and hardwearing shoe that will cope with a wide range of scenarios from mountain terrain to city streets. Thanks to its Speed Hiker Pro outsole from friction specialists Pomoca and Ankle Protection System, the Pedroc Pro Mid Powertex is an agile, technical shoe engineered to provide safety and surefootedness. The high TPU rand and PFC-free Powertex membrane protect the feet and keep them dry in all situations. Salewa’s proprietary Powertex technology also ensures high breathability for hot, summer days and everyday use. The Pedroc Pro Mid PTX is designed specifically for speed hikers who enjoy fast-moving mountain activities and also want a reliable partner for everyday athletic, urban use. From an aesthetic point of view, this is an attractive, versatile shoe that will not look out of place downtown. The Pedroc Pro Mid Powertex is also available in a low-cut version.
Main features:
Upper fabric: Abrasion-resistant ripstop mesh
Lining: Powertex
Insole: 1.4 mm PPE
Midsole: EVA midsole
Outsole: Pomoca Speed Hiker Pro
Footbed: MFF+
Weight (single shoe): 390 g (men’s UK size 9)
Sizes: UK 3-9 (women) I UK 6-12,13 (men)
RRP: 200 euros (Mid) I 180 euros (Low-cut version)
PEDROC PRO 22L RUCKSACK M/W
The ideal backpack is one you can carry during fast-moving dynamic activity in rough terrain while hardly even noticing it’s there. The Pedroc Pro 22L backpack offers a lightweight, close-contact carry. Its new Duralite fabric has a smooth, double ripstop construction that offers robust abrasion and tear resistance at a low weight. Salewa has specifically built this 570-gram pack with rapid speed hiking tours in mind. Its close-contact carry system allows you to almost forget you’re carrying it. The new one-handed compression system means the load can be compressed for greater stability while on the move – by pulling a single cord and without taking off the pack. The Split Shoulder Straps, which are an integrated part of its carrying system, also promote greater upper body freedom of movement, which is crucial in fast, dynamic activities like speed hiking. The Pedroc Pro is available in a 22-litre version for men and a 20-litre version for women, while the 16-litre model – called the Pedroc 16L – is a lighter and more compact version (weighing 420 grams).
Main features:
Capacity: 22L, 20L (W)
Weight: 550 g (women), 570 g (men)
Carrying system: Dry Back Contact
Main fabric: Duralite Double Ripstop 70D Nylon
Salewa Committed: All chemicals verified, manufactured under third-party-audited social standards and working conditions, PFC-free
RRP: 150 euros
Salewa is passionate about mountain sports – ambitious alpinism and the mountain experience. Founded in Munich in 1935, the management-led, family-owned company is now located in the Dolomites of South Tyrol. Based at its headquarters in Bolzano, the company develops technical products that combine traditional materials with progressive designs. Salewa is committed to upholding high environmental and social standards. Its success is built on a strong sense of regional identity and a belief in quality and values. The brand’s in-depth knowledge of mountain sports is reflected in its pursuit of finding new ways to build better, game-changing equipment. Progressive mountaineering is about more than just performance, it is about gaining inspiration from the mountain environment, personal development and sharing experiences. Salewa is a leading international manufacturer of innovative mountain sports equipment with four product categories: Apparel, Footwear, Equipment and Technical Hardware.