Hypsole Launches with First-Ever, 3D Printed Athletic Cleat Guards
Founded by a former Division I athlete, the new sports footwear startup is tackling off-field footwear in a fresh, innovative way.
WASHINGTON, DC (August 21, 2024) – Today, specialty sports footwear company Hypsole introduced the first-ever, 3D printed cleat guards using Carbon Digital Light Synthesis™ technology.
Designed for athletes across all levels of competition, the brand’s first model release, Tidal 3D™ Elite, delivers on functionality, convenience, protection and comfort with a sleek look and feel that doesn’t sacrifice off-field style. The guards work like removable outsoles, transforming cleats into functional footwear that athletes can walk in anywhere, regardless of distance – whether it’s heading home or running post-practice errands. Tidal 3D™ Elite is compatible with a wide range of cleat models available from major brands for football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, rugby, and ultimate frisbee.
The brand was founded by former Division I track and field athlete, Jes Christian, whose college and professional experiences in fashion and sports, eventually led her back to the cleat guard concept.
“Once the functional requirements of the product were established, the aesthetic - from fit to finish - became a top priority. I didn’t want this product to be just another piece of sports equipment - I wanted fashion and streetwear to be infused into the design visuals. I felt strongly that it needed to look good - and that we needed athletes to want it as much as, if not more than they needed it, because at the end of the day, if it works, but it’s not hitting aesthetically - then we’re going to be fighting an uphill battle with our target demo,” said Founder and CEO Jes Christian.
Tidal 3D™ Elite was thoughtfully developed to resemble a sneaker when coupled with an athlete’s cleat through innovative features that help bring the balance of function and fashion to life. The guards were designed to follow the natural curve of common cleat silhouettes, while maintaining a firm grip to keep cleats in place while an athlete is in motion. The adjustable button-and-strap design allows for athletes to customize the fit of their guards to accommodate varying cleat heights and widths, while the heel notch gives them a quick and easy way to remove their guards while seated or standing.
Tidal 3D™ Elite features a lightweight lattice 3D design with strategic support regions and tough tread for optimal durability. In collaboration with Carbon® – one of the world’s leading 3D printing tech companies – Hypsole is manufacturing its first product using Carbon Digital Light Synthesis™ (Carbon DLS™) – a groundbreaking 3D printing process that uses digital light projection to cure liquid resin, producing products with incredible functional and visual properties which cannot be produced with traditional manufacturing processes. Over the course of a year, the product’s original design was modified for Carbon DLS™ and with input from Carbon’s team, the brand made the decision to leverage Carbon’s Elastomeric Polyurethane (EPU), a 40% bio-based material that rivals the performance of the standard thermoplastic polyurethanes often used in the production of sneaker outsoles, for the entire construction of the athletic cleat guards.
“Carbon’s technology was developed to bring about products that push the boundaries of what’s possible no matter the markets or industry — and Hypsole is no exception,” said Phil DeSimone, Co-Founder and Office of the CEO at Carbon. “We’re proud to partner to bring its revolutionary sports footwear concept to life, with Carbon’s DLS technology, enabling improved performance for athletes at all levels.”
Tidal 3D™ Elite retails for $75, and comes in two colors (Calcite Hex and Onyx Hex) and 10 unisex sizes. The guards are available now for football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, rugby, and ultimate frisbee cleats – exclusively at hypsole.com. All Hypsole cleat guards run on a custom unisex sizing system, covering a US child’s size 1 through men’s and women’s adult sizes.
