No Socks, No Smell, No Problem: Wool Runners, a New Sneaker Design out of New Zealand

Snapshot: New Zealand based designers develop a unique patent-pending fabric which is sure to change the sneaker game.

Good news to all of you smelly footed readers out there, there’s a new shoe in town and it goes by the name of Wool Runners. It’s an innovative and fresh spin on the classic running shoe. The only difference is – no socks needed. Due to the brand’s patent-pending fabric made almost entirely of wool, these shoes don’t stink, literally. They’re also water repellent, stain resistant, tough, and made from a sustainable resource – wool.

Designed over the past few years by New Zealand based collaborators Jamie McLellan, Three Over Seven, Tim Brown, and Ag Research, Wool Runners are the world’s first woolen running shoe specifically designed for sockless wear. While most shoes are created using numerous synthetic fibers that contribute to a breeding ground for bacteria, wool is breathable and naturally anti-bacterial. Therefore, there are fewer odors.

The shoe’s upper component is made of a double-layered knit combination of New Zealand sheep’s wool, melt-bond fibers, and multifilament yarn. Together, these components create a material that is not only strong but also able to hold a three-dimensional shape necessary for a shoe. The sole of the shoe is super light, made of TPS rubber, and connected to the upper via a single seam. The overall effect is a minimalist design refreshingly void of branding.

In addition to the remarkable characteristics of wool, it is also a sustainable and biodegradable resource. Considering that all of the wool used comes directly from New Zealand, the sale of this product helps maintain New Zealand’s sheep farming industry.

With shipments spanning worldwide, Wool Runners are obviously on the fast track to success.

Photography courtesy of Three Over Seven