Australian footwear icon Blundstone recently undertook a significant research project over several years to identify the real needs of safety footwear users – what they wanted in their boots and the problems they were experiencing with their current safety-boot choices.
The research led to a collaboration with the University of Tasmania’s School of Health Science’s Biomechanics experts. This body of work looked at the movement of the foot within a boot and resulted in the creation of RotoFlex – a range of boots where stability meets the freedom to move, allowing the wearer’s foot to rotate and the ankle to flex to avoid injury. These truly new ‘whole-of-boot’ designs were built from the ground up and created to address the concerns of wearers highlighted in the research.
The RotoFlex range of boots features a biomechanically conforming sole design, GripTek®, which utilises a unique TPU tread pattern and super cushioned midsole, with zoned support carefully designed for all- day stability, comfort and optimum grip.
“The sole has been designed with extra width in the heel and toe area to help stop ankle rolls, which is one of the key contributors to time lost. This new design also means users exert less energy when walking, which in turn reduces fatigue – another contributor to workplace injuries,” explained Adrian Blandford, Blundstone’s Global Work & Safety Range Manager.
All six styles feature a water-resistant upper, lightweight, compression-resistant composite toe cap, and an all-new zoned airflow footbed, AirCell®. The AirCell footbed is uniquely constructed with specialised zoning, designed to activate ventilation, allowing air to be pumped through channels to the heel, arch of the foot and between toes, offering moisture control and cushioning comfort as the wearer walks and moves, with the end result of no more sweaty feet.
The overarching comfort system, SoftCell®, utilises a combination of specialist materials and a unique biomechanical foot-cradling design to increase stability, balance, comfort, and manoeuvrability, while reducing ankle-slip risk and fatigue.
An Australian first, the RotoFlex range also features Infinergy®. This E-TPU material is a super-elastic energy foam from BASF which is soft but resilient – providing enhanced cushioning and reducing the impact of every step taken.
Available now, RotoFlex delivers a strong foundation from the ground up, providing unbeatable fit and unrivalled comfort, perfect from day one. Put the innovation to work at www.blundstone.com.au