The Invincible IGS is a different kind of safety boot. It’s a truly revolutionary piece of safety footwear, using industry-leading technology to provide never-before-seen metatarsal protection. And on 1st May 2024, the True Women’s Fit V2185 Invincible boot was awarded the BSIF Product Innovation Award for PPE at the Safety & Health Excellence Awards.
So how did V2185 Invincible go from drawing board to award? And what was it about its design and construction which caused it to be singled out by BSiF as the most innovative PPE product on the market? Let's find out.
The Invincible was developed to give wearers working in industries featuring heavy rolling or falling objects a True Women’s Fit metatarsal safety boot that could reliably pass the rigorous and demanding metatarsal test. These include industries such as Construction, particularly Quarrying and Demolition, as well as sectors including Welding and Sewer maintenance.
But to develop a boot that would take metatarsal protection to the next level, we knew we had to take the development and design to the next level too...
What makes V2185 Invincible uniquely innovative is the pioneering design and materials used to give the wearer consistent protection against metatarsal impact. After two years of research and collaboration with safety specialists, professors and carbon experts, we developed ExoGuard®, Invincible’s patented internal protection system which is unlike any other on the market. It features:
Arching over the middle of the foot, this strap is made of material featuring graphene mixed with resin, making it over 200 times stronger than steel, safeguarding the metatarsals with incredible strength.
Beneath the carbon strap is a network of PU studs designed to distribute energy transferred from the carbon strap after initial impact. Finding the right compound structure, the best design for maximum energy dispersion and absorption and arriving at the highest levels of comfort took 2 years of development.
Pictured: the ExoGuard® - Invincible's pioneering patented protection system
ExoGuard®’s third line of defence is an advanced cushioning material which distributes away remaining energy waves from impact with superior shock-absorption.
Along with V12’s IGSTM sole unit, advanced ankle protection, protective midsole and scuff-resistant toe and heel, the fully waterproof Invincible ensured that next-level met protection had arrived.
And Invincible’s performance in the notoriously challenging met protection test shows this. It didn’t just pass the test – it consistently passed it. We also saw this when we tested it against 7 other industry met boots. It outperformed all competitors, and achieved 10% over the required clearance level.
Find out more below:
Many women in safety-related industries are still forced to make do with smaller sized men’s boots, which can lead to poor long-term foot health, as their feet are an anatomically different shape and structure from men’s. The V2185 Invincible uses an innovative design to achieve a True Women's FitTM, so wearers get total comfort as well as met protection.
V12's female last was created using over 4,000 foot scans of global female foot shapes, so it specifically supports the feet of women, as well as accommodating both wider and narrower foot shapes.
But V2185 Invincible required even further design nuances to its foot form.
To accommodate the ExoGuard® system into a female-specific design, V12 made targeted adjustments to the last, so it continued to reflect global female foot shapes, but was equipped to house the additional met componentry and uphold the comfort that wearers have come to expect and rely on in V12 boots.
The inside story: the ExoGuard® protection system at work inside the V2185 Invincible
With years of experience serving the construction industry and collaborating with Health and Safety experts, we understand the importance of providing female workers with specially tailored footwear. By ensuring a proper fit, Invincible not only enhances female wearers' morale and performance, but also reinforces that their value is, and should always be equal to that of their male counterparts.
The testimonials below encapsulate this perfectly:
“These are amazing boots! Only taken 20 years of wearing crippling men’s fit boots before I finally have something I can actually wear to do my job.”
Kristy Blakeborough, Head of Biogenics
“I’m done with wearing 2 pairs of winter socks inside boots that are too wide, don’t fasten around the ankle, cause me to clench my toes, and hurt my thighs and pelvis. These are exactly what I’m looking for in an industry that requires met guard protection as the standard.”
Katherine Evans, Mining Geologist
This female-fit safety met boot is the culmination of a journey involving relentless pioneering design, industry-expert collaboration and an unyielding focus on providing women with the correct fitting PPE, so to be given this accolade by such a renowned trade body is a truly rewarding feeling!
Want to read more about this ground-breaking metatarsal safety boot? Click below.