Matryx Explained
In brief: Matryx is a high-performance woven fabric developed by Chamatex Group in France, featuring individually coated polyamide and Kevlar yarns. It combines exceptional abrasion resistance with lightweight breathability, with moisture vapour transmission up to 200 g/m2. Chamatex makes the material and brands such as Salomon use it in their shoes, including the Genesis, S/Lab Genesis and X Ultra 5 trail models.
What is Matryx?
Matryx is a high-performance woven fabric developed by the Chamatex Group in France, used as an upper material in premium footwear. It is important to be clear about who makes it: Matryx is a Chamatex material, and brands such as Salomon use it in their shoes rather than owning the technology themselves. What sets Matryx apart is its construction from individually coated polyamide and Kevlar yarns, woven together to create an upper that is exceptionally tough yet remarkably light. The result is a fabric that resists abrasion from rocks, roots and trail debris while still breathing well, making it a favourite for serious trail and mountain footwear.
How Matryx is built
The strength of Matryx comes from its yarns. Polyamide provides a light, flexible base, while strands of Kevlar, the same aramid fibre used in protective gear, are woven in to add abrasion resistance and structure. Each yarn is individually coated, typically with polyurethane, which protects the fibres and helps the fabric hold its shape and shrug off dirt and moisture. Weaving rather than knitting these coated yarns produces a dense, stable upper that does not stretch out or tear easily underfoot. This engineering lets a Matryx upper be both thin and durable at once, supporting the foot precisely without the weight penalty of heavier reinforcements.
Breathability and performance
Despite its toughness, Matryx is designed to keep the foot comfortable over long efforts. The woven structure allows air and moisture to move through the fabric, with moisture vapour transmission rated up to 200 g/m2, helping sweat escape on hot climbs and long days out. That balance of protection and breathability is exactly what trail runners and hikers need, where an upper must defend against sharp terrain yet not turn the shoe into a sauna. By combining abrasion resistance with breathability and a low weight, Matryx delivers the kind of all-round performance that premium off-road footwear demands, which is why it appears in flagship trail models.
Sustainable manufacturing
Chamatex also builds sustainability into how Matryx is made. The yarns are dope dyed, a process that adds colour during fibre production rather than dyeing the finished fabric, which cuts water use significantly, reported at between 50 and 95 per cent compared with conventional dyeing. Production is kept local too, with the relevant facilities sited within an 80 kilometre radius in France's Ardeche region, shortening supply chains and reducing transport impact. For a performance material, this combination of water savings and concentrated local manufacturing is notable, and it adds an environmental dimension to the technical case for Matryx beyond its strength and breathability.
Which shoes use Matryx
You will most often see Matryx in premium trail and mountain footwear, where its durability earns its keep. Among the best-known examples are Salomon's Genesis and S/Lab Genesis, along with the X Ultra 5, all of which use Matryx uppers to combine Kevlar-reinforced toughness with a light, breathable feel. Because Chamatex supplies the material to multiple brands, Matryx is not exclusive to any one label, but its presence is a reliable signal of a serious, performance-focused upper. If you tackle rocky trails or rough ground, a Matryx upper is built to withstand the punishment that would shred a softer mesh.
Matryx at OD's Designer Clothing
Matryx uppers feature in Salomon's premium trail footwear, which forms part of the range we stock at OD's Designer Clothing. We carry Salomon alongside other leading outdoor and running brands, and our team can explain how the Kevlar-reinforced Matryx upper stands up to rocks, roots and trail debris while staying light and breathable. Order online with next-day delivery and free click and collect, or visit our St Helens store to try Salomon's trail models on and feel the durability for yourself. If you are heading off road, ask us which Matryx-equipped shoe best suits your terrain.