DRIFTFORM

Mental Athletic and Salomon venture into the Cameroonian highlands to infuse the trail-running experience with a bold visual code where wild nature, exploration, and trailblazing style converge. From this adrenaline-driven ethos emerges Driftform, their first capsule collection: eight pieces that fuse classic cuts with modern design, inviting a worldwide community of like-minded runners to venture freely and authentically into the unknown. The collection showcases technical avant-gardism while remaining rooted in timeless functionality.

Driftform unfolds as an ecosystem of gear engineered for movement without compromise. At its core, the trail shoes embody endurance itself: powered by Contragrip traction and a breathable mesh upper, they are built to conquer any terrain while keeping every stride light and fresh. Around them, the collection extends into layers of apparel and accessories that channel the same ethos of freedom and resilience. The ADV SKIN 12 vest reimagines storage with featherlight precision—carrying essentials without ever weighing you down—while an ultralight tank and shorts transform sharp ventilation and a natural movement cut into pure fluidity over long distances.

Protection and comfort flow into the details: the Chill Shield Speed Bob cap balances soft fabrics with bold design to shield runners under the sun; compression sleeves channel energy while enhancing visibility with reflective accents; gloves unite warmth, precision, and touchscreen agility for navigating maps on the move. Even the socks—engineered for airflow and agility—complete the kit with a sensation of weightless motion.

Driftform is more than a capsule wardrobe. It creates a language of endurance, style, and exploration—a manifesto written in the volcanic soil of the Cameroonian trails, where in summer 2025 the collection debuted during the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope near the village of Buea. Captured by the lens of Milan-based photographer Riccardo Raspa for a Salomon cover story in Mental Athletic’s fourth issue, the volcano’s paths became both Driftform’s creative matrix and its testing ground, fueling athletes as they pushed toward the summit of Mount Cameroon—the highest peak in West Africa—and its archaic vitalism.

Accompanying the photo essay, Cameroonian journalist Nalova Akua contributes Between Gods and Hunters, a feature tracing the race’s layered history and cultural depth. In her words, the event is “not just a sporting competition but a vibrant cultural gathering that draws over 5,000 visitors from across Cameroon and beyond. For the local Bakweri people, it ranks alongside Christmas in its significance, a moment of feasting, dancing, and communion. Yet beyond the festivities, the race carries deep spiritual weight. The power of the mountain god is always evident.”

As a final chapter of Driftform’s unveiling, exclusive launch events were staged in Milan, London, and Paris. Here, Mental Athletic’s creative team joined forces with experimental DJ and composer Still, bringing African soundscapes to Europe through electrifying performances by trailblazing rapper Echo Bazz—riddim warrior and dark-flow visionary—delivering some of the most club-ready rhythms to date.