Let’s Go To The Moon!

Seit 1920 verfolgt Viking die Mission, eine Welt zu schaffen, in der jede*r zur Entdeckerin und zum Entdecker werden kann – 2025 geht die Marke einen Schritt weiter und macht mit „Let’s Go To The Moon“ sogar andere Welten denkbar. Ausgestattet mit Solarcore®, einer Isolationsinnovation inspiriert von NASA-Technologie, bringt die Kollektion eine bisher unerreichte Kombination aus Wärme, Komfort und Performance mit. Im Zentrum steht der neu gedachte ISPO-Award Gewinner 2024 Constrictor Warm, ein ikonisches Modell für Kinder, Jugendliche und Erwachsene – gemacht für extreme Bedingungen und große Abenteuer.

Ludvig Fauske-Palmér, Produktmanager bei Viking, im Interview:

What is the main vision behind this new collection?

Viking has always been in the forefront of pushing boundaries in search of new products, where technology meets footwear in all types of conditions.

Solarcore, with its groundbreaking new technology within insulation became a great partner in pursuing our new solution for cold conditions.

In what ways does “Let’s Go To The Moon” differ from Viking’s previous seasonal collections? How did this project come about?

Solarcore is linked to technology derived from space technology, so this became a great saying for our younger segment – telling a unique technology story for smaller consumers.

The project came about by Solarcore themselves reaching out to us, asking us to become one of their strategical partners, with their unique technology. We were happy to do this and found great assets to implement it into our products and the rest is history.

What is Solarcore® and why is it considered such a breakthrough in insulation technology?

Solarcore is a breakthrough in insulation because it unlocks the potential of aerogel, an exceptional insulator, in a flexible, durable, and usable form for industries ranging from apparel to aerospace. It bridges the gap between laboratory performance and real-world application.

Can you explain how Solarcore® works – especially how it generates warmth when compressed?

Solarcore preserves warmth during compression by using aerogel’s unique nanostructure, which blocks conductive and radiative heat loss far more effectively than air-trapping insulations. It doesn’t make heat, it keeps your heat from escaping, even under pressure.

How does Solarcore® compare to more traditional insulation materials used in footwear?

Solarcore delivers unmatched warmth in thinner, more durable layers, outperforming traditional insulations like Thinsulate, foam, and down – especially in cold, wet, and high-pressure environments like footwear.

What challenges did the team face during the design process?

Not many, reusing our older Constrictor series in terms of design language and revamping it into something new in close correspondence with our other technology partners; Gore-Tex and Vibram – we concluded quite quickly to our design.

What sustainability aspects were taken into account during the development of this collection?

We aimed to make this boot as recycled as possible, without compromising the quality and durability. The synthetics on upper are 40% recycled, laces and webbings are 100% recycled and midsole + outsole are 10% recycled – all elements to reach new goals of sustainable making of boots.

Are there future plans to expand Solarcore® into other Viking product lines?

Oh yes, this news will be shared once finalized. We see great benefits from this technology and how it fits our Viking demographic in terms of products.

Why was it important for Viking to develop this collection for kids, juniors and adults alike?

Viking is a brand covering all ages in life and the core element of keeping warm is very much relevant across all ages.

Besides sizing, what differentiates the kids and junior models from the adult versions?

Vibram tooling is only evident in the adult version, but other than that, the quality and technology are aimed to be the same, no compromises.

How does Viking view the role of technology in the future of outdoor footwear and can we expect more “space-inspired” innovations from Viking in the future?

We see great benefits in our partnership with Solarcore and how their technology very much fits the Viking consumer demographic. We will definitely go to space again.

What trends are you currently observing in outdoor gear for both – children and adults?

We are still seeing the outdoor segment being strong in the general trend picture of fashion, but we are seeing increasingly more “hybrid“ products being produced – where the typical pedigree hiking boot meets the city scape with more urban silhouettes. Technology and talking about it via products in this demographic is also very relevant.