A RESPONSIBLE PURCHASE
THE RIGHT SHOES ZILL NEVER GROZ TIRED OF BEING ZITH YOU. We like to think of our clients as being intelligent, demanding, and capable of recognizing our quality and value; someone who makes conscious choices. It is for this reason that we have prepared this small manual that you have in your hands. It does not pretend to be an essay on purchasing behavior or sports footwear. We just want to tell you how to give a longer and more comfortable life to your next companion of outdoor adventures. For your own interests, pause for a moment and take a look.
HOZ TO CHOOSE PAG 5
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TAKING CARE OF PAG 14
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HOZ TO CHOOSE AKU ADVICE
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1.1 THE SPECIALIWED STORE. A POINT OF REFERENCE Sports footwear is a product with a significant technical content. Despite all the information provided by manufacturers through the web and different media, the store, particularly the specialized one, remains an important point of reference. It offers knowledgeable staff that can guide you through a wide range of possibilities to the right choice.
1.2 THE RIGHT CHOICE REQUIRES THE RIGHT TIME
To purchase a product with such high added value, like sports shoes, it is very important to devote the necessary time and attention, focusing on the details that will make a big difference. The real advantage is understanding the proper relationship between the price and the real value of product quality: to discover this correspondence you should not act on impulse.
1.3 TO KNOZ HOZ TO CHOOSE
MEANS TO KNOZ HOZ TO COMPARE
The value of the product and thus your satisfaction are absolutely linked to its specific function: always compare different brands of shoes, making sure that the models are designed for the same type of use. While today a mixture of lifestyles greatly influences the ways we use different products, it would be wrong to compare a true hiking shoe with a Multi-terrain or a casual one that are specifically reserved for light sport or city use. Choose according to the actual activity that you wish to practice. 5
1.4 THE RIGHT SIWE In most cases this is based on the “regular size”. But the truth is that there are different needs in relation to different shoe types. The modern sports shoes of good quality are made of materials able to ensure adequate thermal insulation, providing protection from the cold and yet allowing for correct breathability. It is therefore not necessary to use socks with excessive thickness, which alter the characteristics of this thermal insulation, slowing blood circulation and appreciably modifying the size of the foot inside the shoe, distorting the parameters of a good fit. Using specific socks for the outdoors, you get the feel of the right fit with the right size. Remember, however, that for a trekking or mountaineering shoe there has to be a bit of empty space between the toes and the tip of the boot. On the aku.it website you can find information on choosing the correct size.
1.5 FOUR STEPS ARE ALzAYS GOOD zHEN CHOOSING
1.7 DETAILS THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
Walking around with the well-fitted shoes helps you to understand the comfort, weight, and ground support stability of the product and will remove all doubts about the choice of size. If you have the chance, in the shop do a few steps uphill and downhill.
All of us can do something for a better future. AKU is always engaged in the search for design and production solutions with reduced environmental impact, while maintaining the value of quality and technical functionality of the product. In particular, attention is now focused on the certainty of the origins of the raw materials, together with the practice of refurbishing and reuse of certain components of the products. The use of full grain DANI Sustainable Leather, certified free from chromium (chrome free), is now one of the most important achievements within AKU safety standards regarding raw materials; it is a guarantee of health for humans and the environment. 85% of production takes place in our factories in Italy and in Romania, thus limiting the environmental impact caused by the transport of goods, along with the advantage of having direct control of the goods and product quality. To ensure transparency to users, 100% of the components of our products are traceable, and without compromising the quality, some of them use recycled materials. In order to reduce the levels of energy consumption and emissions, we are constantly striving for greater plant efficiency and streamlining production processes. We also decided to support projects aimed at promoting a commitment to recapturing a harmonious relationship between man and the natural environment.
1.6 MATERIALS Waterproofing, breathability and stability are fundamental objectives for a company engaged in the manufacture of outdoor footwear. In the last thirty years, utilizing increasingly sophisticated materials, we have come to achieve a complete satisfaction of usage, in all conditions. Our leather is of European origin, treated to be absolutely waterproof and breathable, with procedures based on years of research in collaboration with the most qualified international laboratories, in compliance with European standards 6
for environmental protection. For cold protection we use PrimaLoft®, a lightweight insulation, warm as feathers, breathable and water repellent with its patented design of ultra-thin microfiber, to help the body retain heat. Nearly 30 years of partnership with GORE-TEX® allow us to offer the ultimate in climate comfort in over 95% of our models. Furthermore, AKU uses on 90% of its own footwear, soles exclusively developed in collaboration with Vibram®, with regards to tread design and composition of the rubber compound, designed according to the specific needs of use.
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CATEGORY
OUTDOOR Nature loving, healthy living, outdoor sports shoes. The outdoor footwear covers your passion at 360째: from walking paths, both rocky and screes, from daily to challenging treks, up to climbing and mountaineering. The choice of the most suitable shoe is essential to address all sorts of activities, at the same time providing maximum wearing comfort and the right foot protection even after hours of use.
LIFESTYLE These shoes are inspired by the mountains, born as traveling companions for everyday life. Enhanced by technical elements of the highest quality that guarantee security and stability, for example in case of rain or slightly uneven paths.
MOUNTANEERING Sturdy and comfortable shoes for professional mountaineering and high altitude trekking. Very good grip on all types of terrain and high resistance to impact and thermal variations. Vibram soles on all models, crampons compatible.
BACKPACKING
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Comfortable and strong shoes with a high degree of traction on any surface. Designed to support weights and also to stand considerable hikes of long and medium duration.
TREKKING Light and safe shoes, perfect for trekking at medium altitudes. Extremely comfortable and practical, this product is suitable for use on rocky and mixed, wet or dry, terrain.
APPROACH / MULTITERRAIN
MOUNTAIN INSPIRED
The approach models are a mixture of walking and climbing shoes, suitable to reach the cliffs and climbing easy rock routes. With a Multi-terrain shoe, instead, you walk comfortably on slightly uneven paths and go easily from a path to a city street; they are also appropriate for active leisure and urban trekking.
Mountain Inspired is an AKU dedicated line for those who love the mountain environment as a lifestyle. Perfect combination of design and technical functionality, the models of this line, inspired by authentic outdoor footwear, represent the best expression of the style and culture of our manufacturing industry.
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photo: Marco Mehl
VITALPINA GTX
TAKING CARE OF AKU ADVICE
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In the choice of using cream or spray follow these simple guidelines: nabuk pelle pieno fiore scamosciato scamosciato e tessuto crema spray NOTE: The leather used in AKU footwear is top quality; any differences in hue, variations of tone and shading and any loss of color are the typical results of the particular and deliberate dye that makes them unique.
PRESERVATION A GOOD SHOE DESERVES GOOD CARE! REGULAR MAINTENANCE HAS A SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON FIT QUALITY AND ABOVE ALL ON THE LIFE SPAN OF THE SHOES.
CARE
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• After use, always remove the traces of dust, mud and dirt with a soft brush when the shoe is dry. For stubborn dirt use a cloth dampened with cold water. • Never use solvents, harsh chemicals or hard brushes as you could irreparably damage the leather and plastic parts. • Do not machine wash or use high-pressure washers, high temperatures and very high pressures may cause damage to some parts of the shoe. • The boots should be left to dry naturally in a dry, well-ventilated place, away from direct heat sources such as radiators, stoves or direct sunlight. • Apply regularly to the leather uppers a nutritive brightening cream specific for footwear in order to keep them always soft. • Use a specific protective spray periodically to ensure the water repellency of leathers and fabrics.
• Do not store your boots, in active use, sealed in plastic bags or airtight containers. • Place boots carefully in a cardboard box, in places with good ventilation, without changes in temperature and away from heat sources, in order to preserve the original shape and softness of the leather and fabrics. Places with high humidity may alter the functional characteristics of leather, soles and accessory components. • It is recommended to remove any internal parts (shoes and orthotics) in the event of prolonged storage. • When storing the shoes away for a while you should fill them with a newspaper stuffing in order to preserve their original form, and fasten the upper hooks.
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REPAIR
If there are problems in the small parts of your shoe, the seams on the upper part or on the edges of the rubber, it does not mean that you should get rid of them. AKU, for example, in many cases provides the repair parts of its models.
SOLING
Check the condition of the upperpart of the shoe, if that is still in good condition and functional, however the tread no longer provides stability and strength due to ware, it is probably not necessary to throw away your boots. For many models in its collection, AKU offers the service of soling at its plant in Montebelluna.
RE-USE
Before you finally throw away your boots you should consider using them for activities like gardening, small walks in the woods or in all situations where you can use a shoe to its “life’s end”. Otherwise, you can invent a way to reuse ... Send us a photo of your “re-use” and the best will be published on our social network. You can send them to the email info@aku.it
IMPORTANT! DISPOSAL
Usually boots are considered to be a part of the dry section of municipal solid waste. They must be disposed of in the space and in the manner required by local regulations. 16
AKU, an Italian company, founded by Galliano Bordin, which has grown from a small workshop into an industry, has more than thirty years’ experience in the design and production of high quality trekking and outdoor footwear. The AKU collection ranges from mountaineering boots to active free time footwear and behind each model lies a genuine love for manufacturing, built on the age-old prestigious tradition of Italian workmanship.
zalking is healthy
Walking with a regular pace fifteen minutes a day represents a light commitment, a healthy practise, that helps to keep in shape and reduces the cardiovascular risks.
AKU Italia s.r.l. 31044 Montebelluna (TV) Italy EOG Via Schiavonesca Priula, 65 Tel +39 0423 2939 Association Fax +39 0423 303232for Conservation Member info@aku.it
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