Rover Black US 6.5

Compression moulding is revolutionary, allowing an unseen level of control over material usage, leading to less waste and lower costs. Functionally, this means the rubber sole's natural shape is whatever the shape it's moulded into. A downturned or concaved shoe will retain it's shape throughout its entirelife lifetime with this new technology. This is unlike traditional manufacturing techniques, where shoes are made using smooth, flat sheets of rubber. No matter the shape of the last, it will eventually return to it's natural flat form.

Compression moulding also allows for the creation of new shapes, just like we saw with the amazing Drone heel. Changing the shape of rubber in certain places can make a huge difference to climbing performance. Additionally, the rubber can be thicker in high wear areas such as under the toes and on the rand, and thinner elsewhere to reduce weight and increase flexibility or sensitivity as desired. It's because of these  new moulding techniques that the Rover offers 50% more durability than traditionally made climbing shoes. 

The positive and negative texture is another innovation which allows even more ability to grab, smear and catch your way up all sorts of challenges that climbing presents. This is a feature you simply cant get from flat, smooth sheets of rubber. 

In terms of production, this innovative way of manufacturing shoes reduces material waste by 25% as well as a great reduction in energy use, as the there is now only one process that transforms the rubber from material to shoe component.

The Rover uses Mad Rock's super sticky and durable Science Friction 3 rubber compound that is made in the USA. Climbers also benefit from Mad Rock's sticky climbing grade rubber on not just the the toes, but the heels too. 

• Stiffness: Medium
• Upper Material: Syn Flex
• Closure: Hook-and-loop
• Rubber: Science Friction 3.0
• Midsole: 1.8mm polyester midsole
• Footbed: Polyester