Death Cab for Cutie Frontman Completes Western States Ultra, Debuts Speedland Trail Shoe Collab

Outdoor athletes will often scoff at the rising number of legacy brands collaborating with celebrities. From The North Face selling an apparel line with Kim Kardashian to On Running releasing a collection inspired by FKA twigs — these releases seem to rely on name recognition rather than a sincere partnership with artists passionate for the outdoors.

But for Ben Gibbard — the 48-year-old frontman for classic indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie — collaborating with outdoor brands makes a lot of sense.

Gibbard, a longtime runner and lover of the outdoors, proved himself “the real deal” this week by finishing all 100 miles of the infamously difficult Western States ultramarathon. And it took its toll.

He began suffering from heat exhaustion about halfway through the race. Having already climbed to a high point of nearly 9,000 feet, the vocalist and guitarist told Runner’s World that he couldn’t even see straight.

Nauseous and seeing double, he lay down and started shivering, even as volunteers put blankets on him. He eventually felt better after the aid station volunteers gave him some warm soup broth. So he returned to the trail, eventually making his way to the finish line of the 100.2-mile race.

“I can’t believe I made it, and that was a very rough patch,” he told Runner’s World. “If it wasn’t for the volunteers at the aid station, I never would have made it.”

Gibbard, who wore GS:CCD shoes from Speedland, will now debut a collaboration with the brand, the GS:TMT.

And it’s both beautiful and technical.

Speedland x Ben Gibbard

Gibbard is clearly far less interested in the social media influencing that defines online life for many of his musical peers. In fact, Gibbard’s Instagram account — where he has over 90,000 followers — has just one post from 2023: a handwritten text block that simply states, “go outside.”

That makes sense. When he’s not performing, Gibbard is likely running or getting outside. The Seattle resident has finished over 20 trail races since 2012, including several ultramarathons.

That passion for the outdoors, and trail running specifically, led to his shoe collaboration with Portland-based Speedland. The brand’s founders are longtime fans of Gibbard’s music, but it’s the musician’s outdoor credentials that inspired the shoe’s design.

“Far from a typical celebrity endorsement, this partnership stems from Gibbard’s serious credentials as an ultramarathoner and his deep connection to the region’s trail running culture,” Speedland said in a press release.

GS:TMT Details

The GS:TMT is a technical ultramarathon shoe named for Washington’s Tiger Mountain Trail, where Gibbard often trains for events like the grueling Cascade Crest 100-mile race.

The shoe also introduces several firsts for Speedland’s GS line, which are tailor-made for long-distance trail running. It has the brand’s longest lugs yet: 6.5mm on a new Michelin FiberLite outsole.

That’s crucial for the technical, root-heavy terrain of the Pacific Northwest, according to Speedland.

The upper also gets a minimalist upgrade with a single layer of ripstop mesh, while retaining Speedland’s PerformFit Wrap system and dual BOA Li2 dials.

At 10.5 ounces for a men’s size 9, the shoe lands in a sweet spot between ultralight racing flats and burlier mountain runners. A 37mm heel stack provides cushion for ultra distances. Moreover, it’s possible to customize the shoe by adding an optional Carbitex GearFlex carbon plate ($35).

GS:TMT: Pricing & Availability

Speedland’s collaboration also includes direct support for the Tiger Mountain Trail Association. The brand will host a trail work day and donate proceeds to maintain the same trails that inspired the shoe — a practice the brand has maintained across all its artist collaborations, Speedland said.

The GS:TMT sells for $275, with delivery starting in August. You can place your preorder on the Speedland website.