Hypsole, a sports footwear company, has launched the first 3D printed athletic cleat guards with Carbon Digital Light Synthesis™ technology. Tidal 3D™ Elite, the brand’s first model release, offers functionality, convenience, protection, and comfort for athletes at all levels of competition. Its sleek design does not sacrifice off-field style.
The guards function as removable outsoles, transforming cleats into functional footwear that athletes can wear anywhere, regardless of distance, whether they’re walking home or running errands after practice.
3D Printed Athletic Cleat Guards
Tidal 3D™ Elite is compatible with various cleat models from major brands for football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, rugby, and ultimate frisbee. Jes Christian, a former Division I track and field athlete, founded the brand after her college and professional experiences in fashion and sports brought 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.”
– Jes Christian, Founder and CEO, Hypsole
Tidal 3D™ Elite combines the look of a sneaker and an athlete’s cleat with innovative features that strike a balance between function and style. The guards were designed to follow the natural curve of common cleat silhouettes while providing a firm grip to keep cleats in place while an athlete is moving. The adjustable button-and-strap design allows athletes to tailor the fit of their guards to different cleat heights and widths, while the heel notch makes it quick and easy to remove their guards while sitting or standing.
Tidal 3D™ Elite boasts a lightweight lattice 3D design, strategic support regions, and tough tread for maximum durability. Hypsole is collaborating with Carbon®, one of the world’s leading 3D printing tech companies, to manufacture its first product using Carbon Digital Light Synthesis™ (Carbon DLS™). Carbon DLS™ is a ground-breaking 3D printing process that uses digital light projection to cure liquid resin, producing products with incredible functional and visual properties that cannot be produced with traditional manufacturing processes.
Over a year, the product’s original design was modified for Carbon DLS™. With input from Carbon’s team, the brand decided to leverage Carbon’s Elastomeric Polyurethane (EPU), a 40% bio-based material that rivals the performance of 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. 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.”
– Phil DeSimone, Co-Founder and Office of the CEO at Carbon
Tidal 3D™ Elite costs $75 and is available in two colours (Calcite Hex and Onyx Hex) and 10 unisex sizes. The guards are now available for football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, rugby, and ultimate frisbee cleats only on the Hypsole website. All Hypsole cleat guards use a custom unisex sizing system that ranges from US child size 1 to US men’s and women’s adult sizes.
