Penner is launching on Kickstarter Spring 2017 with early bird prices as low as $99
AS COMFORTABLE AS IT LOOKS
In designing this shoe we wanted to produce a level of comfort that people have never experienced. Through our many (MANY!) tests we discovered what makes all the difference: The shoe's ability to conform completely to the shape and movement of the wearer's feet.
THE SHOE
After making this discovery we reconstructed every component of the shoe, using only the very softest and most flexible materials; materials that would quickly adopt the complete shape and movement of the wearer. And it worked.
LET US EXPLAIN, ONE PEICE AT A TIME
1. UPPER
The upper is the material on the outside of the shoe. While leather is an excellent choice for an upper, not all leather is created equal. Within the leather industry there are 3 tiers. Only tier 1 can be made with unparalleled softness and flexibility.
TEIR 3
(Genuine Leather)
Basically Scrap leather. The lowest quality out there.
• Many imperfections
• Not soft or flexible
TEIR 2
(Topgrain Leather)
Great quality leather. Few imperfections.
• Some imperfections
• Sort of soft & flexible
TEIR 1
The finest selections of “full-grain” leather. Used on high end designer footwear.
• Few imperfections
• Very soft and flexible
PENNER LEATHER (BEST OF TEIR 1)
Leather that comes from a special farm that breeds their cows with strict standards of care to ensure that the cows are never scratched or put under any stress that would toughen the hide. (Yeah, it’s a real thing).
This leather has been fine tuned with properties that allow it to morph to the shape of your foot.
• No imperfections
• The softest and most flexible leather you'll ever feel in your life.
Psst... It's that type of leather that looks better over time.
2. LINING
There are three common options used by almost all shoe manufacturers. None of them are that great. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean you don't feel it.
PIG LINING
Pros
• Breathable
• Inexpensive
Cons
• Not durable
• Bad natural odor
LOW GRADE COW LINING
Pros
• Inexpensive
Cons
• Not durable
• Stiff
• Treated = Not breathable
SYNTHETIC
(Often faux leather)
Pros
• Inexpensive
Cons
• Often not breathable
• Not durable
PENNER LINING
A carefully developed sheep lining with a thickness of only .8mm. A feeling of softness your feet will never forget.
Pros
• Breathable
• Durable
• Incredibly soft = comfort
• Incredibly flexible = comfort
Cons
• Cost to Penner Footwear (A tiny fraction of that cost is passed on to you)
- BUT WAIT! -
"I know that leather isn't as breathable because my feet sweat and smell more in my leather shoes ."
3 REASONS WHY PEOPLE THINK LEATHER DOESN'T BREATHE
1. Pig is a common shoe lining material because it’s inexpensive. Pig leather's natural odor is unpleasant.
2. Many shoes use low quality leather that require touch ups with chemicals that reduce breathability.
3. It often looks like leather, but it’s not - it’s synthetic faux leather. The easy way to tell is the price.
3. INSOLE
So you may be thinking,
“If these shoes are so comfortable then they must have some heavy duty extra thick cushy insole.”
No. They don’t.
After a crazy amount of testing we’ve learned that there are two types of people:
1. Those with genuine foot conditions who should see a doctor. Sorry, these shoes probably aren't for you.
2. Everyone else. You just don't need a thick cushy insole.
But lets talk about what you DO need.
Carefully engineered moderate arch support.
An insole with 100% memory, made possible with Poron technology. (The only insole tech that will never break down.)
Extra thin & flexible in the forefoot where things need to bend?
4. OUTSOLE
If the outsole is stiff then your foot can't bend where it needs to. If your outsole is flexible then it's probably made with a material that will break down quickly. And you know, the outsole isn't something you want breaking down quickly.
It's a rare balance to find. But we did it. With a PU/rubber concoction carefully fine tuned to maximize strength and flexibility.
Psst... it's also really grippy.
6.HEEL COUNTER
A rigid heel counter is what keeps the back of your foot in the shoe. It's stiff structure is also what gives you blisters - unless you completely rethink it's design.
High Performance Elastic
STEP 1
We eliminated that hard surface and replaced it with high performance elastic. No more rubbing. No more blisters.
STEP 2
We don't like the look of exposed elastic. So we covered it up. :)