Are your sneakers still not quite right? The problem might be the insoles

Professional athletic shoes generally adopt supercritical foaming insoles, which is the "standard configuration" in today's sports technology field. Supercritical foaming technology solves the triangular contradiction of traditional insole materials being unable to balance "lightweight", "high rebound", and "durability".

Lightweight

Traditional materials: Traditional EVA or rubber insoles have a higher density, and making them thicker will noticeably increase the weight.

Supercritical foaming: By dissolving gas (usually nitrogen or carbon dioxide) into the base material (such as PEBAX, TPU, etc.) in a supercritical state, hundreds of millions of micro-air cells are formed. These air cells are extremely small and uniform, making the interior of the material mostly air, thereby achieving an extremely low density. This allows the insoles to be very lightweight while maintaining their thickness, effectively reducing the overall burden on the shoe and saving every bit of energy for the athlete.

Energy feedback

Traditional materials: Traditional cushioning materials (such as ordinary EVA) act more like a "sponge", unable to efficiently return energy after absorption, with some energy dissipating as heat, feeling "soft and energy-absorbing".

Supercritical foaming: Its cell structure possesses extremely high elasticity. When compressed, it deforms rapidly like a spring and quickly recovers its original shape, maximizing the conversion of downward kinetic energy into rebound potential energy. This is the so-called "propulsion" or "spring-like" sensation, which provides assistance for movements such as running and jumping, directly enhancing athletic performance.

Cushioning protection

Professional sports mean high impact. When running, the impact force on the feet is several times the body weight. This is even more pronounced when jumping and landing in basketball.

Supercritical foaming material, through its uniformly distributed micro-airbag structure, can evenly disperse the impact force across the entire surface of the insole, preventing pressure from concentrating on a single point (such as the heel). This greatly reduces the impact on joints, bones, and soft tissues, effectively lowering the risk of sports injuries.

Durability and fatigue resistance

Defects of traditional EVA: After long-term compression, the molecular structure of traditional EVA is easily damaged, causing the material to be "packed down" and lose its elasticity.

Supercritical foaming: Its cell structure is integrally formed, offering stronger structural stability and tear resistance. It can withstand hundreds of thousands or even millions of bends and compressions, with a rebound rate and thickness retention far superior to traditional materials, ensuring the long-lasting performance of athletic shoes.

High process plasticity

Supercritical foaming technology can precisely control the hardness, density, and shape of the final product by adjusting foaming parameters, base material formulas, and mold shapes. This allows brands to:

• Achieve an integrated "midsole-insole" design: The midsoles and insoles of many high-performance running shoes use the same or similar supercritical foaming materials, forming a complete energy return system.

• Perform precise localized tuning: Use foaming materials with different densities in different areas, such as a higher rebound formula in the forefoot and a better cushioning formula in the heel.

Professional athletic shoes choose supercritical foaming insoles to achieve a balance and high level across four core performance indicators: "lightweight," "cushioning," "energy return," and "durability," directly serving athletes' core needs for speed, efficiency, and protection.