Move like an athlete: Infinergy® anti-fatigue technology

The worksite hums, smoko has come and gone, the day’s heat seems relentless, and your feet ache with the weight of two besser blocks strapped to your feet. Sorry, two boots strapped to your feet. Heavy boots. Boots that seemed fine before the heat, sweat, and friction made them feel as comfortable as a barefoot stroll across hot coals.   

Let those coals smoulder for a while as we journey to a place where a new type of safety footwear does something rather unconventional.

Gives you energy

KAMU® is the new kid on the (besser) block, an 18-strong range of purpose-built safety boots that are harnessing the benefits of Infinergy® – the world’s leading high-performance response material. The premise is simple, let the boot do some of the work for you.

But let us not get ahead of ourselves. This story begins with three sisters and an innovative collaboration with BASF Performance Materials.

The KAMU® story begins

Founders of the KAMU® brand in Australia are third generation sisters to the Berkat Safety family business. Operating for more than 50 years, Berkat Safety has pioneered quality safety footwear and PPE to keep workers safe across the Asia-Pacific. The company is a trusted supplier of safety boots for BASF plants in Asia, while BASF serves as a long-time supplier of sole materials for Berkat’s boot production. Born from that strong mutual relationship was a unique opportunity to develop a safety footwear range that blended advanced performance with long-term comfort.

What if your boots could do some of the work for you?

Enter, BASF Infinergy® – the world’s leading expanded thermoplastic polyurethane compound in a closed-cell, elastic particle foam. The technology has found fame in high-performance running shoes with its elastic property empowering movement with up to 57% energy return with every step.

Now, that same technology is packed into a safety boot. Imagine that, safety footwear that lets you move like an athlete.

In partnership with the BASF Performance Materials team in Asia, the design and development team set about optimising the benefits of Infinergy® to create a safety boot that really put a pep in your step. KAMU® uses the Infinergy® midsole technology across its entire range, where the material springs back to its original shape immediately following impact, generating energy and rebound to move you forward. It has durability in spades while maintaining the same elasticity, resilience, and cushioning even under continuous loads. And that performance doesn’t waver in temperatures as low as -20⁰C and as extreme as 40⁰C and more.

The first safety boot range in the Asia-Pacific with the Infinergy® technology says it all.

The next step in comfort and design

Therein lies the performance, but how comfortable can a safety boot really be? The next two years served as research and development from the ground up to redesign the safety boot for maximum comfort and fit. Standard safety footwear, as functional as it remains, is a product primed for improvement. An award-winning footwear design team was onboarded alongside an Australian consultancy specialising in branding performance material to drive the ship forward. Scrutinising the minutiae of safety footwear detail, from the seam stitching to the zipper angle, helped perfect all 18 models of the KAMU® safety boot range.

One of the more refined outcomes was the distinction between men’s and women’s boots, with few current models catering to the female workforce. Accounting for the differences in women’s feet such as a naturally higher arch, shorter outside foot length, and shallower big toe, to name a few, KAMU® developed three female-specific models in an effort to bridge that gap. 

A safety boot that delivers all-round wellbeing in any condition requires a feature list that not only looks good, but functions beyond expectation.

Save our soles

The KAMU® four-layer, triple-density sole stands out for its next-level comfort, safety, durability, and energy rebound.

The anti-slip outsole is heat, fuel, and oil resistant, and features advanced abrasion resistance and greater bonding strength for an improved lifespan. The first layer midsole is made from a low-density, soft, and flexible polyurethane for enhanced comfort and support, followed by the Infinergy® midsole for the boot’s energy return. The ultra-lightweight ergonomic OrthoLite® insoles are washable and shock absorbent with thermal and dynamic comfort, particularly at the heel and metatarsus.

The lining

With style comes substance, and with KAMU® comes a choice of COOLMAX® or Sympatex® waterproof linings.

The COOLMAX® lining with wicking properties, is designed to keep feet dryer for longer by drawing away heat and moisture. Its antimicrobial quality is a worker’s best friend, inhibiting unpleasant odours for a healthy foot and a fresh step.

Sympatex®, the world’s thinnest membrane, is an optional lining made of non-porous material that keeps water on the right side of your boots. Constructed of billions of hydrophilic molecules, the breathable membrane retains optimal functionality regardless of the soaking it receives.

The lace-less look

A choice of KAMU® boots come with a quick fasten option with the Freelock® wire closure system, eliminating the need for shoelaces and ensuring a secure and safe fit. A simple twist of the Freelock® dial to tighten and loosen the boot is a fast and convenient way to get on with your day. Freelock® becomes a safer alternative to your standard laces, sometimes conducive to coming undone and creating a trip hazard or getting caught in machinery.

Next steps?

Discomfort drains your energy, so it was time to reinvent safety footwear for ultimate comfort and performance. The KAMU® safety footwear range comes with a host of functionalities to support your wellbeing and safety throughout your workday - it's about time to Reclaim Your Energy®.

KAMU® safety boots are comparably lighter than other models, and designed with an aesthetic that appeals to the modern-day worker regardless of industry. Every boot is certified to Australian standards while exceeding SRC slip resistance standards, the highest safety rating for safety boot outsoles.