We know you’re eager to hear what’s coming in 2018 from Ultimate Direction so we sat down with our icicle-haired designer Ally Juhasz (…don’t worry, it has fully melted) to find out what’s coming in the new year and what inspires UD product. Ally is a super talented designer with experience at sportswear brands Under Armour and Obermeyer. She’s motivated to design the finest products for self-propelled athletes. Let’s meet Ally…
how do you define your position at Ultimate Direction?
I am a designer/developer at UD. I work mainly on our wearable gear category which we are significantly expanding for spring 2019.
What drew you to ud?
A lot of what drew me to Ultimate Direction was that I felt it was a brand that would truly allow me to design exceptional product. We have a small but passionate team with great energy.
We have a never-ending flow of ideas and enough resources to implement them. At the same time we’re small enough to not wind up a “design by committee” when it comes to product decision-making.
What can customers expect from the brand in 2018?
In 2018, we will be expanding our Adventure category and have added a very innovative trekking pole and gaiter.
We will be offering the lightest trekking pole on the market as well as a super-fitted, stretch Cordura gaiter with a replaceable strap.
What challenges do your designs solve?
Two factors that I always keep in mind when working on product for UD are comfort and weight. The biggest challenge we face here is maximizing the comfort-to-weight ratio.
Many of our customers will be wearing UD products over long distances and for extended periods of time so everything we make needs to have a customizable, chafe-free fit, done in as minimal a package as possible.
What is your goal for our product in 2018?
My goal for 2018 is to see the brand become more approachable for people who are involved in other “self propelled” activities outside of, or in addition to ultrarunning. In 2018 we have broadened our range of products to help athletes with a wide variety of outdoor pursuits and have also started to offer more multi-use product.
Ultrarunning will always be at the core of UD product but we want to give our customers even more reasons to interact with the brand.
Comments (2)
At the moment the lightest trekking poles on the market are 106 grams.
You have stated, “We will be offering the lightest trekking pole on the market”.
So can you share the weight of what these new “lightest trekking pole on the market” is?
Hi John – which manufacturer are you referring to re: 106 grams and what is the pole size/length?
Ours are 115 grams with a foam handle and abrasion resistance aramid-wrapped base.