But how exactly did our product managers manage to develop the lightest ELTEN safety shoe series of all time? “It was quite a challenge,” Hentrey recalls, “because safety shoes must comply with standards. Simply leaving out components, like the rather heavy toe cap, is of course impossible.” Instead, ELTEN’s experts searched for the lightest possible alternative for every single component. The Wellmaxx Feel series now features carbon toe caps and textile penetration protection instead of steel toe caps and steel penetration protection.
Seamless design
When it came to the upper material, the team chose mesh, which is significantly lighter than leather or microfiber. In addition, the shaft is made from a single piece. “We deliberately worked without seams. Every seam adds extra material – not only the thread used for stitching, but also overlapping upper material at the seam,” Hentrey explains. That is why you won’t find decorative stitching on the Wellmaxx Feel models. To ensure that the shoes still look as stylish as modern sneakers, the product managers have die-cut a distinctive pattern into the mesh material.
Choosing mesh also made it clear that these new safety shoes would not be suitable for the toughest environments. Despite all the weight savings, leather remains the most robust material for safety footwear. But since there are plenty of workplaces that only require protection class S1 or S1P, our product developers continued refining the concept.
It’s like walking on clouds
“We had been thinking about creating a complete midsole from eTPU, or Infinergy®, for some time, and naturally hoped that doing so would make the entire sole particularly light. But how light it would actually be only became clear once it was finished,” says Hentrey. Until now, eTPU in our shoes was only used as a cushioning element in the heel area. As a full-length midsole, the material gives wearers the feeling of walking on air. Infinergy® is a true high-tech material: this particle foam from BASF has extremely resilient properties and returns more than half of the energy expended while walking. This relieves the joints and reduces fatigue in the feet. And compared to PU, which we typically use for its cushioning properties, Infinergy® is significantly lighter.
Such cloud-like cushioning is not ideal for every working environment. Those who mostly walk on sand, grass or soil, such as on construction sites or in landscaping, may find a heavily cushioned sole uncomfortable. But on surfaces like tiles, concrete or steel – which have no cushioning properties of their own – the new Wellmaxx Feel sole is exactly the right choice. The outsole is made of TPU with numerous cutouts that reveal the Infinergy® material. This not only saves weight but also creates a striking design highlight.
From plain to colourful
The new models also stand out visually thanks to their color options: from vibrant blue and lime green to softer pastel tones and classic black and white. Depending on the model, multi-colored soles add further stylish accents.
So how much does the Tavixx actually weigh? “It comes in at well under 400 grams,” Hentrey reports proudly. And that is indeed a new ELTEN record! And because it is not only light but also exceptionally stylish, we have also launched it as an O1 occupational shoe. The protective S1 and S1PS models are available in sizes 36 to 47 and the O1 occupational shoes in sizes 37 to 48.
