The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
1192.2014.1
Klets Sole
10/12/2014
Hermione Cooper
10/12/2014
A Klets Sole stuck on a boot
rubber
29.5(l) x10(w) x1.5(d) cms
1
black
Vibram
Italy
KLETS stands for Ken Ledwards Equipment Testing Service and the item we are looking at here in the collection is the sole of this boot rather than the boot itself.
Ken Ledward is a mountaineer, skier, fell runner, equipment tester annd outdoor gear designer. For many years he had thought the traditional mountaineering boots worn in Britain were too big and chunky, and having run thousands of miles over the mountains in much lighter fell running shoes, he was determined to create a new lightweight sole and find a boot manufacturer to produce a boot to go with it. Though there were a few teething troubles along the way, by 1980, in conjunction with Karrimor and Italian bootmaker, Asolo, the lightweight KSB boot was complete with KLETS sole.
The early versions of the boot were not problem free but were very popular and when ex Olympic runner, Chris Brasher, entered the market with a lightweight boot with KLETS sole they were a huge success in the 1980's and 90's.
KSB and Brasher boots are still available in 2014 though neither seem to be sporting a KLETS sole and the all round quality seems to be somewhat diminished too.
Ken Ledward himself kindly sent us this original KLETS sole which he'd stuck on the boot for display purposes.
Donated by Ken Ledward
10/12/2014
10/12/2014
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
10/12/2014