Five Ten is a brand of footwear made for rock climbing and mountain biking. (The brand's name refers to the 5.10 rating on the U.S. climbing difficulty scale.) Started in 1985 by Charles Cole, a California chemist who loved climbing, Five Ten became part of the adidas Group in 2011. Five Ten shoes are designed in close collaboration with athletes who provide real-world feedback. The shoes use a particular kind of rubber that Cole developed called Stealth rubber. Its visco-elastic and vibration-absorbing properties make it especially well suited to the specific demands of climbing and mountain biking.