The hooq team is working on climbing shoes that can be customised to the shape of the wearer's foot. Image: zVg/hooq
Winterthur ZH – The start-up hooq uses digital design to create special shoes for climbing. The company wants to revolutionise the sport of climbing with its customised shoes.
The Winterthur-based start-up hooq wants to revolutionise the production of climbing shoes with new digital methods. According to a press release, the shoes are customised to the individual shape of the athlete’s foot. The climbing shoe is a technical sports shoe that is specially optimised for climbing and is worn very close-fitting. The most important feature of such a shoe is that it fits perfectly. In order to be able to transfer power to small steps as well as possible, the climbing shoe must offer optimum support. This is why it is so important that the climbing shoe fits the shape of the foot.
“We are developing a digital process that makes it possible to automatically generate unique climbing shoes based on a digital foot analysis and individual requirements in terms of shoe characteristics,” Livia Zumofen, co-founder and CEO of hooq, is quoted as saying in the press release. After digital foot analysis, automated design algorithms and 3D printing are used to create models of a customised shoe, which are then manufactured by hand in an experienced shoe factory. The automated design process makes production efficient.
hooq is currently aiming for crowdfunding. The start-up wants to use the campaign to raise its profile and reach a stable customer base in the climbing sector. ce/ww
