25 testers were chosen to test the new Sievi AirRacer safety shoes. The shoes corresponded to the work safety requirements of the testers. Testers put on a trial all four different models of the Sievi AirRacer safety shoes during a 2 month test period. In the Sievi AirRacer shoes, sole dissipates the perspiration created by the heat of the feet through special ducts. Due to this special sole system, shoes breath on every step. Test group consisted of testers whose feet normally perspired during working days.


Test Group

25 testers based on the target group of the safety shoes were selected to the test group. Testers did many kinds of different working tasks and safety shoes corresponded to the work safety requirements of the tasks. Both men and women were selected to the test group. Wellness of the feet were important for the test group members and their feet perspired and got tired during a working day.

Most of the testers worked mainly on their feet during their working days and working times were sometimes even 12 hours. This meant that test group set tough requirements for the shoes and for the wellness of the feet. One example was a tester whose weight was 100 kilograms and he walked 10 kilometres during working days. Some of the testers told that normally they had to take the shoes off every now and then during a working day because of the perspiration of the feet. Testers also mentioned that during that time, sweaty foot steps appeared in to the floor from the perspired socks.

Job descriptions of the test group

  • Transport and logistics (inside and outside)
  • Manufacturing plants and building worksites (warm and cold conditions)
  • House building work
  • Metal industry
  • Dairy industry
  • Process industry
  • Electricians
  • Safety company
  • Guard
  • Store work
  • Warehouse work
  • Milk processing plant
  • Foreman (standing work half of a working day, 8000 steps during a working day)
  • Different drivers (for example forest machine and combination vehicle)
  • Manual labour in varying conditions
  • Manual work teacher


The Sievi AirRacer safety shoes

The idea on planning the new Sievi AirRacer product family has been to improve the work experience of safety shoe users. The Sievi AirRacer collection has been planned especially for indoor use, but shoes can be used in all kinds of working tasks if safety requirements are taken into account correctly.

The Sievi AirRacer combines the most advanced shock-absorbing heel in the world with Sievi’s state-of-the-art patented SieviAir® sole. Sievi FlexEnergy is a flexible component integrated in the entire heel part of the shoe. This provides maximum shock absorption. The component absorbs kinetic energy, with over 55% of the energy returned to the wearer. The SieviAir® sole solution dissipates the moisture generated by the feet through exhalation channels in the side of the shoe. These exhalation channels allow feet to breathe with every step.

FlexStep® sole provides excellent grip and flexibility. The upper of the shoe is soft, breathable, hard-wearing and water repellent.


Breathable SieviAir® sole solution dissipates the moisture generated by the feet

The SieviAir® sole solution dissipates the moisture generated by the feet through exhalation channels in the side of the shoe. These exhalation channels allow feet to breathe with every step.


More comfort with revolutionary FlexEnergy shock-absorbing heel

Sievi FlexEnergy is a flexible component integrated in the entire heel part of the shoe. This provides maximum shock absorption. The component absorbs kinetic energy, with over 55% of the energy returned to the wearer.


The Sievi AirRacer collection has models on different needs

The Sievi AirRacer collection has been planned especially for indoor use, but shoes can be used in all kinds of working tasks if safety requirements are taken into account correctly.

The Sievi AirRacer product family includes styles for every need: a sandal with a traditional hook-and-loop fastening, a breathable S1 shoe with the Boa® Fit System, and the first S3 protection class shoe with SieviAir® sole. In addition, the collection includes a breathable ankle boot with memory foam and a guard protecting the achilles tendon.

The whole Sievi AirRacer product family was tested and safety shoes were divided to testers as follows:

  • SieviAir R1 S1 (5 testers)
  • SieviAir R2 Roller S1 (6 testers)
  • SieviAir R3 Roller S3 (7 testers)
  • SieviAir R5H Roller S1P (7 testers)


Results

  • 76 % of the testers were very satisfied (48 %) or satisfied (28 %) to the breathability and moisture dissipation. On the results, it is important to notice that in all testers feet normally perspired much or noticeably much during a working day. This means that tough demands were set for the breathability of the shoes.
  • 80 % of the testers legs fatigued less than normally when using the Sievi AirRacer safety shoes.
  • 84 % of the testers recommend the Sievi AirRacer safety shoes to a friend.


Breathability and moisture dissipation of the shoes

Before the test period, testers were asked how their feet perspired during a working day by using a following scale:

  • Feet do not perspire (0 testers)
  • Feet perspire somewhat (0 testers)
  • Feet perspire (13 testers)
  • Feet perspire noticeably much (12 testers)

After the test period, testers were asked a satisfaction to the breathability and moisture dissipation of the shoes by using a following scale:

  • Unsatisfied (1 tester)
  • Partly unsatisfied (4 testers)
  • Cannot say (1 tester)
  • Satisfied (7 testers)
  • Very satisfied (12 testers)

76 % of the testers were very satisfied (48 %) or satisfied (28 %) to the breathability and moisture dissipation. On the results, it is important to notice that feet of all testers perspired normally much or noticeably much. This means that tough demands were set for the breathability of the shoes.


Based on the user experience of the satisfied testers, it can be stated as follows:

  • Testers were pleased to the breathability of the shoes
  • Breathability was good enough for the whole working day
  • Breathability was better than on the previous safety shoes of the testers
  • Perspiration of the feet decreased or ended
  • Using a good sock is also very important to get the best possible breathablity, especially on a long working days (even 12 hours)
  • When using previous safety shoes, testers feet perspired and they had to change socks at the end of a working day and sometimes also during a working day. When using the Sievi AirRacer shoes socks were dry at the end of a working day
  • Tester comment: ”Shoes are close to perfect on breathability”.



Unsatisfied tester or partly unsatisfied testers were not pleased because of following reasons:

  • Breathability was weak (unsatisfied tester, SieviAir R3 Roller S3)
  • Shoes dissipated moisture quite well, but after a longer use of the shoes feet started to perspire. Loosing the shoelaces gave help for the problem.
  • Socks were somewhat moist after using the shoes 10 hours.
  • During a working day, feet perspired on a warm indoor work (building work area and inside a forest machine).

In case of the unsatisfied users, it is good to notice that when sitting for example inside of a warm forest machine, there is no the pumping effect on the shoes generated by the walking steps. Because of this breathability activation of the shoes cannot happen.

As a conclusion, it can be said that due to the exhalation channels of the SieviAir sole, shoes were breathable and dissipated moisture well. Feet did not perspire during a working day or at least perspiration was noticeable less than normally.

When using a breathable shoes, it is also important to use a sock with a good quality in order to achieve best possible benefit of the shoes.


Fatiguing of the legs

Before the test period, testers were asked how their legs fatigued during a working day by using a following scale:

  • Legs do not fatigue (0 testers)
  • Legs fatigue somewhat (7 testers)
  • Legs fatigue (16 testers)
  • Legs fatigue noticeably much (2 testers)

After the test period, testers were asked how their legs fatigued when using the Sievi AirRacer shoes compared to their previous safety shoes of the testers by using a following scale:

  • Legs fatigue more than normally (2 testers)
  • Legs fatigue somewhat more than normally (0 testers)
  • No change to previous (3 testers)
  • Cannot say (0 testers)
  • Legs fatigue somewhat less than normally (6 testers)
  • Legs fatigue less than normally (14 testers)

80 % of the testers legs got tired less than normally when using the Sievi AirRacer safety shoes.


Unsatisfied testers said as follows:

  • Shoes did not fit on the feet and heel stayed loose and because of that steps felt heavy. Shoes did not stay on the feet as robust as they do normally. If shoelaces were tightened, lace of the shoe got too much pressure.
  • Legs got tired more than when using short ankle boot (SieviAir R5H Roller S1P tester).

In case of unsatisfied testers, unsatisfaction was not caused by the weak shock absorption. Fatiguing of the legs was caused by the poor fit of the shoes when shoelaces were too loose. Probably the size of the shoe has been one size too big. Tester with high ankle boot had not used high ankle shoes before and fatiguing of the legs was caused by the new kind of tightening on the ankle area.

Shock-absorption was efficient and pleasant and it worked well. Sole of the shoe was pleasantly soft, flexible and it worked well. Testers mentioned that in addition to the good shock-absorption, also the lightweight of the shoes decreased the fatiguing of the legs.

Legs got tired and fatigued less than normally during a working day and shoes worked well also on a long working days (12 hours) and on a days when there were walking over 10 km. Difference on fatigue was noticed very well when Sievi AirRacers were compared to the previous safety shoes of the testers.

When using the Sievi AirRacer safety shoes:

  • Legs did not fatigue
  • Soles and back did no become sore.
  • It was more pleasant to do a standing work and moving work when legs did not fatigue or become sore during a working day as normally.


Comfort and feeling

Lightweight of the shoes and adaptiveness to the feet were something new that testers were not experienced before when using safety shoes. Shoes fit well and were lightweight and comfortable to wear. Some of the testers said that shoes were almost like a running shoes and that shoes were very pleasant to use.

High ankle support of the SieviAir R5H Roller S1P safety shoes felt almost like the same as the support on a sports shoes and it was very pleasant and it gave also good support.

Shoes were stable and well shock-absorbing and at the same time the feeling of using the shoes was great. It was easy to put on the shoes and take the feet off the shoes. Shoes were quiet to use.


Pleasant and lightweight steps

Test group liked the lightweight and flexibility of the shoes and the softness of the steps were also pleasant. Softness was especially great when working and walking on a hard concrete floor.

The test group kept the sole material of the shoes very good. Sole was flexible and shoes were good for walking. Walking steps were pleasant and rolling. Also feeling to the ground felt good.


Fastening of the shoes

Three of the four test shoes had Boa fastening system and it was pleasant and safe to use and easy to fasten as wanted. Also the SieviAir R1 S1 sandal with a traditional hook-and-loop fastening system worked well after learning to find the correct tightness of the fastening system.


Quality and durability of the shoes

There were no problems on the quality or durability of the shoes during the 2 month test period. Shoes were used on a hard work at indoor and outdoor conditions and also on forest walks.


Best on the Sievi AirRacer safety shoes

Conclusion of few testers from the shoes:

  • ”I have never used better working shoes on my feet”
  • ”I use working shoes over 8 hours daily and now I have perfect shoes. Feet did not perspire and shoes are lightweight.”
  • ”Shoes are pleasant for the feet and comfortable to use.”


Recommend to a friend

84 % of the testers would recommend the Sievi AirRacer safety shoes to a friend.


Tested Testing Lab brand

Tested high quality sports and wellness products are awarded with the “Tested Testing Lab” brand licence. The Sievi AirRacer safety shoes are awarded the “Tested Testing Lab” brand license.