Saucony ProGrid Kinvara

LEXINGTON, MA ( October 4, 2010 ) – Continuing its leadership in product innovation, Saucony, Inc. today announced that the ProGrid™ Kinvara has won the prestigious Outside Magazine “Gear of the Year” award. The ProGrid Kinvara is Saucony’s minimally constructed, lightweight performance training shoe that allows the foot to move more naturally through its gait cycle. The award was announced in the Fall/Winter 2010 Outside Buyer’s Guide which hit newsstands October 2nd.
 
“In a year that many running shoes are embracing minimalist design, our test team found that the Saucony ProGrid Kinvara had the best balance of ultra-low weight while maintaining a remarkably smooth and enjoyable ride,” said Justin Nyberg, executive editor of the Outside Buyer’s Guide. “The Kinvara is really an incredible shoe: our test team absolutely loved it. It’s a shoe that really encourages a neutral midfoot running gait, inspiring our testers to report that they felt faster than they really are when running in the Kinvara,” added Nyberg.
 
The Buyer’s Guide, published by Outside, America ‘s leading active lifestyle magazine, highlights the very best collection of some of the most thoroughly tested gear in the outdoor industry. Lisa Jhung, lead tester for the Buyer’s Guide, oversaw a designated test group of 25 dedicated runners with a variety of foot types. The team tested 23 new models of road and trail shoes, cumulatively logging 100 miles in each shoe. Testing was conducted on roads and trails in Boulder , Colorado over a period of four months.
 
“The whole Saucony team is honored to be recognized by Outside for our commitment to innovation and our drive to create the products and experiences that resonate with runners,” said Patrick O’Malley, senior vice president of global product for Saucony.
“By allowing the foot to run uninhibited, the Kinvara minimizes to maximize —performance, efficiency and response. This award has inspired us to further push the boundaries of innovation as we continue to shape the next generation of performance footwear for runners everywhere.”
The “Gear of the Year” award marks the latest in a series of notable accolades for the Kinvara. Runner’s World magazine, the world’s leading authority on running information, awarded the Kinvara “Best Debut” in the publication’s 2010 Summer Shoe Buyer’s Guide. The Kinvara was also named “Best Shoe in the Performance Category” in the Running Network’s 2010 Fall Shoe Review and “Best Debut” in Endurance Sports Media Group’s Fall 2010 Shoe Guide.
 
The ProGrid Kinvara, weighing only 7.7 ounces (based on a men’s size 9), debuts Saucony’s lightest cushioning technology, ProGrid™ LITE with Respon-Tek™. The springy trainer offers a plush feel and efficient transition from heel to toe-off, thanks to a lowered heel to forefoot ratio.  Saucony’s EVA+ exposed foam midsole allows for lightweight protection underfoot while maximizing rebound and flexibility. Triangular lugs in the XT-900™ carbon rubber outsole act as independent pistons, providing cushioning at multiple points of contact while reducing abrasion. The upper’s booty construction, midfoot indo-skeleton and heel memory foam deliver a secure, foot-hugging ride. A breathable mesh upper and EVA sockliner add to the lightweight comfort of the ProGrid Kinvara.
 
The ProGrid Kinvara, available at select specialty run retailers, comes in men’s sizes 7-13, 14 and15, and women’s sizes 5-12. The suggested retail price of the ProGrid Kinvara is $90.00. To find a retailer near you, call 800-365-4933 or visit www.saucony.com.
 
For interviews, please contact Sharon Barbano at Saucony (617-824-6126), sharon.barbano@saucony.com or Jeff Lawrence at Mullen (617-226-9945), jeff.lawrence@mullen.com.
 
About Saucony, Inc.: Saucony, Inc., a subsidiary of Collective Brands, Inc., is a leading global running lifestyle brand that fuses performance, innovation and style to create compelling footwear and apparel with its widely recognized brands Saucony and Saucony Originals.  Founded in 1898, Saucony continues to inspire runners everywhere with its award winning innovations, including Flexion Plate™, ProGrid™, Arch-Lock®, and ViZiPRO™ apparel. For more information, go to www.saucony.com.
 
About Collective Brands, Inc.: Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS ) is a leader in bringing compelling lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related accessories to consumers worldwide. The company operates three strategic units covering a powerful brand portfolio, as well as multiple price points and selling channels including retail, wholesale, ecommerce and licensing. Collective Brands, Inc. includes Payless ShoeSource, focused on democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories through its nearly 4,500-store retail chain, with its brands Airwalk®, Dexter®, Champion®, Zoe & Zac™, the first-ever affordable green footwear brand, and designer collections Lela Rose for Payless, Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose, Isabel Toledo for Payless, Christian Siriano for Payless and STLP x Airwalk, among others; Collective Brands Performance + Lifestyle Group, focused on lifestyle and performance branded footwear and high-quality children’s footwear sold primarily through wholesaling, with its brands  including Stride Rite®, Keds®, Sperry Top-Sider®, Robeez®, and Saucony®, among others; and Collective Licensing International, the brand development, management and global licensing unit, with such youth lifestyle brands as Airwalk®, Vision Street Wear®, Sims®, Lamar® and LTD ®.  Information about, and links for shopping on, each of the Collective Brand’s units can be found at www.collectivebrands.com.