Skellerup’s new Quatro gumboots have a podiatrist-inspired innersole that accounts for the mechanical workings of the foot, so reducing the risk of repetitive strain injury for wearers.
Skellerup, in Christchurch, worked two years with local podiatrist Barbara Rennie on the design.
“Gumboots were always designed to suit the environment in which someone is working,” says Rennie. “While they do that well, they often don’t provide enough support or stability to the foot, especially for people standing all day.”
Rennie, in her Christchurch practice, is seeing many more over-use injuries – especially heel pain (planter faciitis) and Achilles tendon damage -- caused by lengthy gumboot wearing.
The design brief for the Quatro was to replace the existing thin flat sponge sole and help Skellerup design an innersole to give support while standing, and facilitate the biomechanical principles of walking, referred to in medical circles as the ‘windlass effect’.
At the start of a step, as the heel naturally starts to lift the big toe drops down. This flexing movement lines up the metatarsal joints in the foot, stiffening the arch and creating a lever that accelerates the lifting of the heel. The leg muscles then move into action and off you go.
Kaikoura farmer Tony Blunt has tested the Quatro gumboots for several months.
“These are bloody good hill boots,” he says.
“They’re like work-boots crossed with gumboots and are comfortable enough to wear all day.”
