Pebax® is a high performance plastic combining energy, flexibility, durability, comfort, and above all light weight, which are all key properties for a high performance running shoe. Chosen by the best known brands in the field, Pebax® is used in most high-end running shoe models for which the above properties are key to fulfilling the needs of simple occasional runners (jogging, walking hiking) as well as top-level professional runners (marathon, cross-country running, ultra-distance running).
The key properties of high performance running shoes may be summed up as follows:
Light weight
Light weight is a very important feature in a good running shoe, for both professional and amateur runners. In Japan, the weight of a shoe is normally displayed in the stores. A marathon shoe can weigh less than 130g! More than 20% lighter than all other traditional materials used in the make-up of running shoes, Pebax® is highly appreciated both by designers anxious to reduce the weight of the shoe as much as possible without affecting performance, and by manufacturers as one of the benefits of Pebax® is straightforward processing (injection-moulding of components).
Energy
Another very important characteristic in a good running shoe is its capacity to return maximum energy during the running motion. This concept may not be easy to visualize (see graphs below), but this major feature is studied by the biggest high performance running shoe brands using a number of test methods such as DMA (dynamic mechanical analysis); this particular property is even more critical in other applications like diving flippers. Pebax® is the best material available in terms of energy return, making it the preferred material for designers of high performance shoes.
Flexibility and Comfort
Flexibility and comfort are crucial characteristics in a good running shoe, for endurance runners but also for everyday joggers. Some races such as ultra-distance runs or ultra-marathons (in Japan) can cover distances of several hundreds of km! It is therefore absolutely vital that the shoe be suited and comfortable to avoid injuries to the runner during competition and training. Pebax® is available in a wide range of flexibility, reaching levels that are similar to rubber, while also featuring outstanding rigidity; this gives running shoe designers unrivalled freedom when creating new models, allowing every runner to enjoy optimum flexibility and comfort.
Durability
Possibly one of the most important features for runners, in particular in very long races which put the shoes through extreme stress, durability, or the lifetime of the shoe, is a key property. Pebax® aptly fultils this need as it features the best fatigue resistance of all other materials making up the shoe. Remarkably, Pebax® can withstand hundreds of thousands of 90º flexures, even in extreme temperatures down to -40ºC ! Once again, this makes Pebax® the preferred material of every high-end running shoe designer. The performance of Pebax® at very low temperature also explains the choice of Pebax® in the design of ski boots.
So, why hesitate? If you want running shoes that offer the best performance currently available, choose Pebax®, and make sure that this material has indeed been used to manufacture the model you have chosen!
