END Footwear Wins 2009 ‘Best Trail Running Shoe Debut!’

Creating high-performance running shoes with less waste

PORTLAND, Ore., April 10 /PRNewswire/ — END Footwear, a performance footwear company focused on sustainability, wins “Best Trail Running Shoe Debut” from Runner’s World magazine, the worldwide authority on running information. The much-anticipated Spring Trail Running Shoe Guide reviewed nine of the best shoes for off-road running.

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Every shoe reviewed by Runner’s World is first tested at the Runner’s World Shoe Lab — an independent testing facility. The Stumptown 12 oz. shoe was flexed, pounded and prodded to see how well it performed before being wear-tested. According to Runner’s World, “The new END Stumptown 12 oz. is an environmentally friendly shoe with a nimble ride…and testers liked the lightweight trainer’s soft heel and an exceptionally flexible forefoot…Recommended for fast-paced training or racing across level terrain.”

END delivered what runners want in a lighter trail shoe – flexibility, responsive cushioning, pliable uppers, stability and protection – while avoiding most of the unnecessary and often toxic materials that runners don’t want. The award winning shoe is named after Portland’s original nickname, coined during a period of phenomenal growth and tree removal after 1847. In addition, END beat its own pre-production weight goals by leading with a “less is more” design philosophy. The men’s size 9 weighs a sleek 10.4 ounces and the women’s size 7 weighs a petite 8.8 ounces.

Andrew Estey, CEO and Creative Engine for END, responds, “We’re psyched to receive such high praise from our first season of product! Our original goal was simple and continues today: design high-performance running shoes using less toxic materials, more recycled parts, and a return to craftsmanship. This award represents the authentic passion you’ll find inside every END shoe box.”

END (environmentally neutral design). Founded in 2007 by award-winning shoe designer Andrew Estey, END questions every component of design to minimize the environmental footprint of its products. END is an outside footwear company that has built a culture around forward motion and doing more with less. As a catalyst for change in running footwear, END was profiled in the Runner’s World November 2008 “Green Issue” as an industry leader for changing the way footwear is designed and manufactured. For more information about END Footwear, visit the web site at http://www.endfootwear.com.

    Media Contact:
    Paul Curran
    503.686.8928
    paul@endfootwear.com

    Sales Contact:
    Jay Peery
    503-866-6162
    jay@endfootwear.com

SOURCE END Footwear