В какой-то степени мы все становимся заложниками всё более некачественных товаров и всё более одноразовых по сроку службы. Это имеет множество минусов, начиная с того, что в итоге мы существенно переплачиваем в итоге и заканчивая тем, что неоправданно истощаем ресурсы планеты и загрязняем ее отходами. Здесь есть еще и духовный и энергетический аспект. Качественная, добротно сделанная вещь радует в отличие от безликой одноразовой. Каждый раз когда ею пользуешься, она незаметно, по чуть-чуть добавляет хорошего настроения и энергии.

Поэтому история с Вибрамом получила продолжение в виде предложения к компаниям-производителям одуматься и исправить ситуацию.

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Dear Sirs,

I've purchased recently "Mammut Mountain Trail GTX Graphite Womens
Walking Boot Tracking" from "The Outdoor Attitude" UK. This is a model
with a "Vibram" sole.

This boots were purchased for light mountain tracking in wet weather
conditions. It is reasonable to expect according to ad materials and
"Mammut"-"Vibram" companies reputation that this boots best suit for
this purpose.

Unfortunately they are absolutely not suitable for mountain tracking
in wet weather conditions. Moreover an attempt to do this can cause
serious injury or death. A sliding traction coefficient of the sole dramatically
depends on wetness of stones. Even after small rain or dew on stones.

For example Friction coefficient (temperature 8C, smooth stone):

Dry___________Wet___________Dry___________Wet
static__________static__________sliding_________sliding

1.19___________0.7___________0.84__________0.27 (!!!)

That is a very dangerous situation in mountains. Very good traction
coefficient (dry or wet static) can SUDDENLY change for wet sliding that
can not be stopped even at 15 degrees slope. That is the same
situation as to have excellent brakes on a car that do not function
from time to time. The "ordinary" non-Vibram rubber sole has less dry and wet static
coefficients but has much better wet sliding coefficient, so it is much
more predictable.

At the same time it is not possible for a customer to get any reliable information about
real traction coefficient of "Vibram" sole. The company philosophy,
image created by advertisement give an idea of prefect grip and traction in
any weather conditions. In my case that was a real dishonesty and
cheating of a customer. THIS BOOTS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR MOUNTAIN TRACKING
BECAUSE OF RISK OF SEROUS INJURY OR DEATH.

According to statistics the second place among the reasons of death
cases in mountains belongs to slipping. Are you sure your companies
have nothing to do with this?

According to my understanding you have to:

- notify customers and withdraw all the sold boots for replacing of this type of
soles;
- publish real traction coefficients (static and sliding) for dry, wet surfaces, ice and
snow conditions;
- in case of using this type of soles indicate that "NOT SUITABLE FOR
TRACKING IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS".


In case of your disregard of this demands I am going to do the
following:

- claim to appropriate UK, USA and EU regulation authorities;
- claim to prosecutor's office to investigate correlation between
death and injury cases in mountains and the quality of soles;
- initiate discussions on related Internet sites on the topic;
- notify the Vibram partner companies of possible reputation risks.

Best regards!
[700x463]