Salomon + Better Gift Shop XA Pro 3D Mid GORE-TEX 'Safari'
Toronto-based retailer and brand Better™ Gift Shop and Salomon Sportstyle team up once again to announce the launch of the Better™ Gift Shop x Salomon XA Pro 3D Mid GORE-TEX, releasing 16 December 2022. The third project between the two brands, the Salomon XA Pro 3D Mid GORE-TEX features tan and brown hues as a homage to the functionality of tactical footwear, this time newly updated with accents of yellow.
The boot was inspired by the constant exploration, be that city or nature, and global travel of the Better™ Gift Shop team. The boot is light enough to travel in and durable enough to thrive in any situation or environment. It has the versatility needed for a lifestyle that demands one be on location in an industrial area of Brooklyn, to the markets of Osaka or the mountains of Seoul. The Better™ Gift Shop x Salomon XA Pro 3D Mid GORE-TEX can be the sole piece of footwear one travels with, providing exceptional toughness and comfort. 
“The more you wear this boot, the more you realize that you need fewer footwear options, adding to our sustainability efforts by encouraging less consumption,” said Oliver Catahan, Better™ Gift Shop’s Co-Owner and General Manager, who has overseen the past two collaborations as well as this most recent one. “This is our third collaboration with Salomon, and we’ve developed a consistent design language thanks to our close friend and collaborator Jordan Thomas, who once again added his colour perspective to the shoe.”
In developing the colours for the shoe, Thomas paid close attention to the creative process of artist Stanley Whitney. “Whitney’s work developed over time, and evolved with this environment and mood each day,” Thomas said. “For me, this process is reflected in nature: rock formations form at their own pace, and over time. That direct correlation inspired me to take cues from the natural world and integrate them into the shoe.”
The Better™ Gift Shop + Salomon XA Pro 3D Mid GORE-TEX is a hybrid of a top-tier hiker and tactical boot. Energy Cell midsole contains a high-performance EVA that provides shock attenuation, a robust, cushioned pad across the medial side of the instep for protection and increased wear alongside a debossed BETTER™ branding. A layer of puncture-resistant material added to the outsole prevents sharp objects from penetrating the bottom of the shoe, and a Gore-Tex membrane keeps the foot dry inside and out while maintaining breathability.
