Annecy, laboratory of trail: three days with The North Face and All Triangles

I was lucky enough to spend three days in Annecy with The North Face and All Triangles to discover the behind-the-scenes of their trail shoes: field tests, a visit to the workshop, discussions with the teams, a workshop, and a meeting with the athlete Pau Capell.

Invited by The North Face, I spent three days in Annecy to discover the behind-the-scenes of the development of their trail and running shoes, and to meet the team from All Triangles, a true workshop of innovation and prototyping. As soon as I arrived, on Tuesday the 25th, I started with a trail run in the forest with the Altamesa 500, to test it in real conditions before even learning more about its design. In the evening, The North Face had gathered all the guests from across Europe: media, content creators, retailers, for a warm dinner.

The next morning, let's get to the heart of the matter: the visit to the All Triangles facilities. Guided by Julien, the founder, we discovered a profoundly artisanal operation that is nevertheless integrated into a logic of continuous innovation. He describes his team's approach as "brand centric," explaining that "it's the brand's perspective that matters most, and the use above all." Unlike a process guided by what competitors are doing, All Triangles starts from the real needs of the field and the sensations sought by runners. Julien emphasizes this point a lot: "You can bring anything to the market. If the comfort isn't good, if the materials don't hold up, it won't work. What matters is the perception you have when you put on the shoe."

In the workshop, this philosophy takes concrete form. It all starts with the last, the shape of the foot around which the shoe is constructed. The teams design, cut, sew, test, modify, until they achieve a perfect upper, before passing it on to Félix who assembles everything with the sole. This process can be extremely quick for athletes: “We are capable of making a specific shoe in two weeks, sometimes in three days, or even in 24 hours,” we are told, depending on the urgent needs related to a race or a project. The main current challenge remains the pursuit of lightness, highly sought after by athletes, without compromising durability: a complex balance to achieve.

In the afternoon, we participated in a workshop led by Bastien, focused on customization. He explained to us that the small gaiter we were going to dye is originally an accessory requested by several athletes for technical or sandy races. “Last year, we made a gaiter directly sewn onto John Alban's shoe for the Transgrancanaria.” This version intended for the general public is removable, so it can be taken off or used on other models. While we were handling fabrics and dyes, Bastien was telling us about the most extreme projects the team has contributed to, such as these fully custom shoes designed for the climber Benjamin Védrines, adapted for K2, and then for his subsequent ascents. Every detail is designed to meet a very specific situation: lightweight sole, absence of outsole, reinforced areas, integrated spikes… This is a bespoke work that will never see the market, but it inspires the entire performance range of the brand.

At the end of the day, The North Face presented its upcoming models, including the Altamesa V2 set for release next March. We then had the chance to attend an inspiring talk by Pau Capell, the winner of the 2019 UTMB, who came to share his vision of ultra-trail, his goals, and the emotions that drive him to run.

On Thursday, for our last morning, we joined Gary Ozeray for a group run to enjoy the Annecy setting one last time. Right after, we participated in a hydration test conducted by the brand Precision. The protocol, based on a slight electrical stimulation, allows for precise measurement of the amount of sodium lost per liter of sweat. As the specialist on-site explained to us: “The goal is to know how much sodium to replace during the effort, to compensate not only for the loss of water but also for the loss of electrolytes.” Thanks to this test, I now know the electrolyte formula to adopt for my race in March.

This stay in Annecy proved extremely informative, both in terms of technical aspects and understanding the link between brand, athletes, and the field. I leave with a clearer vision of the process that leads from idea to final product, but also with a renewed admiration for the impressive work done by the teams at All Triangles and The North Face. A huge thank you to them, as well as to Precision, for their hospitality, availability, and the passion they convey.

And of course, thank you to Marie for the invitation that made this immersion possible.