The British sportswear brand inov-8 has partnered with the University of Manchester to become the first company ever to incorporate graphene into running and fitness shoes.
The rubber outsole of these shoes was launched in 2018. Laboratory tests show that this outsole is stronger, more elastic, and more durable.
inov-8 Product and Marketing Director Michael Price said: “Trail runners and fitness athletes live at the extremes of sport and need maximum grip to optimize their footwear’s performance—whether they’re running on wet trails or sweating it out in the gym. For too long, they’ve had to compromise with rubber that wears out quickly.
“Now, by harnessing the breakthrough properties of graphene, there’s no compromise. The new rubber we’ve developed with the National Graphene Institute at The University of Manchester allows us to push the limits of grip. Our lightweight G-Series footwear delivers traction, stretch and durability never before seen in sports shoes.”
inov-8 CEO Ian Bailey commented on the partnership and the patent-pending technology: “Product innovation is our number one priority. It’s the only way we can compete with the major sportswear brands. This groundbreaking collaboration between inov-8 and the University of Manchester puts us and the UK at the forefront of the graphene sports footwear revolution. This is just the beginning, as the potential of graphene is limitless. We’re excited to see where this journey will take us next.”
Scientists at the University of Manchester were the first to isolate graphene in 2010 and were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. Building on their revolutionary work, the team has pioneered the use of graphene in enhancing materials for supercars, medical devices, and aircraft. Now they have added the world’s first application of graphene to athletic footwear.
Aravind Vijayaraghavan, a PhD researcher in nanomaterials at the University of Manchester, said: “When added to the rubber used in inov-8’s G-Series shoes, graphene imparts all its properties—including strength. Compared to the corresponding industry-standard rubber without graphene, our unique formulation gives these outsoles 50% more strength, 50% more elasticity, and 50% more abrasion resistance. The graphene-enhanced rubber bends and grips all surfaces more effectively without wearing out quickly, providing reliable, strong, and long-lasting grip. This is a revolutionary consumer product that will have a huge impact on the athletic footwear market.”