-
The Kboix, a trail shoe from NNormal, offers unique modularity with replaceable upper, midsole and outsole, increasing overall durability.
-
“Kboix,” derived from “boig” (fool) and “boix” (boxwood in Catalan), symbolizes endurance. The shoe aims to be sustainable and adaptable.
-
Under pre-launch and testing until 2024, NNormal invites everyone to participate in testing the shoe for a universal and sustainable vision.
It‘s spelled Kboix but pronounced “kabosh,” and perhaps the name is the trickiest thing about this super-innovative shoe previewed yesterday by one of NNormal’s co-founders, Kilian Jornet. It is more correct perhaps to speak of pre-launch because these new shoes will not only be available only in 2024 but are still in the testing phase. Why talk about it today then? Because experimentation, in this case, is open to all.
Everything new, but everything
The name comes from the Catalan“boig,” meaning “crazy,” and “boix,” meaning “boxwood,” a plant chosen for its particular hardiness.
Kboix is a new trail shoe very ambitious that NNormal is also testing by seeking external testers and the invitation is open to all. The stated goal is to create A shoe that lasts and evolves with you. Kboix is in fact 3 shoes in one, or rather, the shoe is unique but because of its modularity it can have three different setups.
Kilian himself explains it very clearly in the launch video: Kboix is composed of the components of a traditional shoe, namely the upper, midsole, and outsole. The difference is that, while normally these are welded to each other- thus implying that, apart from the sole, wear on one decrees the end of the whole shoe-in this case each part can be replaced, thus extending its life.
The most easily interchangeable component is the midsole, which, unlike what is normally done, is not “imprisoned” between the upper and outsole but is removable. In this case, the advantage is twofold: if it wears out or runs out, it can be changed, and, as mentioned above, it allows the same shoe to be given three different settings: soft, responsive, and cushioned.
There are not many other details about it: the intentions are to create a shoe that is as universal and adaptable as possible, and most importantly to do so with sustainability in mind.
The mission
NNormal’s ambition has always been to create low-impact, high-sustainability products. Those who saw the birth of this new brand wondered early on when they would arrive, and now there seems to be an answer, and it is: step by step, like an ultratrail, built meter by meter.
It was difficult to think that a company starting with the very important name of Kilian Jornet could be immediately economically sustainable while having to bear the costs of developing new products and marketing them. And, as if that were not enough, doing so also in a key from the outset inspired by the highest sustainability.
Certainly Camper’s investment gave the founders oxygen and peace of mind, but clearly their vision was compelling. And also quite unique: instead of approaching the problem of sustainability solely from the point of view of materials and production, they decided to try to get there from a different route, and that is that of durability. The longer a product lasts, the less waste it will produce and the more profitable it will also be for the buyer, who will have to replace it less often.
All the way down to the Kboix, which seem to aim to have a life span that is certainly longer than average, and tending toward infinity or at least a very very long period.
Of the technical details, not much is known yet: how will the upper be repaired/replaced? And how is it welded to the sole? As we said, many details are still being tested, and you too could be part of it.