#147 Kenny Suh — Shocking Industry Tell All (The NDA’s Have EXPIRED), Who Actually Makes Your Shoes?, CEO Of Mad Rock, “Finger Condoms”, and Shoes In 2030 Will Be Made Like This from The Testpiece Podcast

#147 Kenny Suh — Shocking Industry Tell All (The NDA’s Have EXPIRED), Who Actually Makes Your Shoes?, CEO Of Mad Rock, “Finger Condoms”, and Shoes In 2030 Will Be Made Like This

1 hour 41 minutes Posted Mar 17, 2025 at 12:00 pm.

Intro

Misconceptions About The Climbing Industry

How Kenny Got Into The Climbing Industry

What It Used To Be Like Building Climbing Gyms

Why Kenny Joined Mad Rock

How Mad Rock Was Founded

Mad Rock’s Connection To Other Shoe Companies

What Is A Shoe ‘Last’?

More About 5.10

About La Sportiva

Why Shoes Cost What They Do

All About Climbing Shoe Rubber

Molding Vs Board Lasts And How Shoes Are Made

The Optimal Temp For Your Shoes On Your Project

How Will Shoes Be Made In The 2030’s?

Cool New Innovations

Why Mad Rock Sponsors Certain Athletes

How Do You Go From Good To Great?

What Is Your Favorite Piece Of Climbing Gear?

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Show notes

Kenny Suh is the CEO of Mad Rock.

Kenny tells us all of the behind the scenes of how climbing shoes are made, WHO actually makes them, the impossible tradeoffs in rubber, how shoes will be made in the future, and some of the innovations of the past and the potential ones in the future.

Really fun one that exposes the behind the scenes of shoe making and sheds a surprising light on what’s actually going on.

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