Hi-Tec takes military solution to waterproofing shoes

This time of year takes any outdoor runner’s mind inexorably to the question of keeping their feet and footwear dry.

Snow, rain and mud all conspire to soak through even the hardiest of outdoor running shoes, leaving feet cold, wet and generally unhappy.

Running shoe manufacturer Hi-Tec is adopting a new approach to solving this problem, adapting a military technology called Ion-Mask to the perennial question of keeping athletic footwear dry on the inside when it’s wet on the outside.

The Ion-Mask procedure involves coating the item to be kept dry with a chemical which bonds to its surface to repel water.

It has been developed by scientists at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in Wiltshire, and is being taken into the civilian sector by a spin-off company, P2i.

Hi-Tec has already announced plans for a range of Ion-Mask coated shoes, while plans are also afoot to find partners to produce waterproof mobile phones.

Indoor and outdoor shoes from Hi-Tec, Merrell, Keen, ECCO and others are available from Fitness Footwear.