Sports footwear startup company Hypsole LLC introduced the first-ever, 3D-printed guards to slide onto cleats and make it easy to walk off-field.
The elastomeric polyurethane (EPU) cleat guards work like removable soles and turn cleats into functional footwear so athletes can walk between tournament fields, head home or run post-practice errands.
Called Tidal 3D Elite, the utility-patented guard even resembles a sneaker when coupled with an athlete's cleat unlike competing products, which are typically stretchable thermoplastic elastomers slip-on covers.
Tidal 3D Elite cleat guards have a wave-shaped silhouette and are compatible with major brands of footwear for football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, rugby and ultimate Frisbee.
The cleat guards were designed for athletes who don't want to trade style for function, according to founder Jes Christian, a former Division I track and field athlete
"I believe that our guards can have wide appeal among style-conscious athletes, and I believe that's a sizable category," Christian said in an email.
"The Olympics demonstrated the significance of style on a global scale. In track and field, my sport, for example, gold medal contenders and winners were sporting full makeup, nail and hair styles — often with different looks for each race. They were playing with style wherever they had the freedom to do so, on both the men's and women's sides, and that's not just reflective of the Olympic environment. Many athletes across sports and levels of play want to express their own style while competing and training if they can do so without sacrificing performance."