Goal
Med-Eng, a leader in bomb-protection gear, sought our help in devising protective footwear that would save the limbs and lives of de-miners.
Action
After an in-depth analysis of the nature of explosions and the types of land mines in existence today, we found that most casualties occur not because of the mine's shrapnel, but because the shock wave comes from directly underneath the leg.
We determined that the best solution would require ensuring that the shock wave did not emanate from directly underneath the leg.
Result
The basic principle of the Spider Boot is remarkably simple and effective: distance the foot from the source of the blast, and through extensive live blast testing, the Spider Boot has proven to provide 4 to 5 times the protection of conventional mine boots.
Today, this life-saving product is sold to the United Nations as well as many armies around the world. In 2005 the Spider Boot was displayed at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Situation
There are an estimated 70 to 110 million land mines buried in over 60 countries worldwide. Every day they kill or injure as many as 100 people. Med-Eng responded by developing special protective equipment for clearing mines.
The company requested from us footwear solutions that are wearable by at least 95% of the world's de-miners, easy to put on and take off, and comfortable to walk in.