Running shoe start-up adds graphene to its material mix

Quebec-based running shoe brand Norda has incorporated graphene-enhanced material from Directa Plus into its shoes. Directa Plus founder, Giulio Cesareo, said he had tried on a prototype pair of Norda shoes made with the graphene material and that the footwear fitted perfectly.

The use of Directa Plus material in the brand’s shoes came from Nick Martire, co-founder of Norda. The company launched the brand after two years of trying out prototypes in the  cold and wet conditions of eastern Quebec. From the start, their flagship product, Norda001, used bio-based Dyneema fiber in a seamless upper. It now includes Directa Plus, as well. 

Directa-plus says its graphene enhanced material offers advantages beyond wind and waterproof protection, preventing the creation of hot sports and thermal discomfort for the user in footwear. Its footwear membrane is also antistatic and being just 20 micron thick it is extremely light. This enables manufacturers to create a light and thin shoe that performs great thermal regulation both in hot and cold weather.