How many of us have returned from a wet weekend of hockey and put astro trainers on the radiator or shoved in newspaper, to try and get them dry before midweek training or the following weekend?
The founder of a new product believes the solution is here to beat the age-old problem and make trainers last longer. More importantly, says British entrepreneur Simon Dent, many amateur hockey players may not be looking after their feet properly.
Dent founded foot care brand Save Our Soles after taking up running and his lightbulb moment came when he continually put on damp shoes.
Further, he says our feet are a “hugely underserviced part of the body.”
This year, he launched the Atacama dryer product which has received positive reviews from the running world.
It is now looking to make headway in the hockey market.
Indeed, this correspondent put his astros on the Atacama for 40 minutes after a Monday knockabout and they came out completely dry. The same for my wife’s hiking boots on a longer time setting.
There is also an ozone setting which blasts cold air for a period to get rid of any smells and bacteria. (Hockey Paper readers can claim 10% off – see below).
Former GB international goalkeeper Harry Gibson, who retired from hockey four years ago, met Dent through his current work in the tech industry and is helping market the product after becoming an Atacama advocate.
“The pure practicality is we were constantly shoving newspaper in our shoes, or if you went to tournaments you would see rows of astro shoes outside the room because they were so wet and you would hope they were drying in the heated corridors,” he tells THP.
“There was day-to-day training and our shoes would be constantly wet. I would rotate shoes but wouldn’t have many on the go at once as you want to wear them in.”
The other factor to consider, says Gibson, is foot health and performance benefits.
“If your shoes are wet, does that cause slippage and injury? 100% this product would have played a part for quite a few of the international lads.”
It now raises the question that with thousands of amateur players running out during the autumn and winter months on astro or water-based pitches, are we looking after our feet as well as we should be?
Dent’s running has gone from 10kms on the South Downs to Marathon des Sables, coupled with chill blains and sore feet.
He ordered every shoe drying product on the market but soon spotted a gap for a footcare brand to stem wearing inappropriate shoes and making them cared for and last longer.
Dent believes we need to put more focus on our feet – and that applies to the club hockey player.
“The more we talk about it the better. It’s a new way of thinking and we aren’t just launching a brand,” he says.
Gibson adds: “We are all quite used to not looking after our feet. Potentially it is an undervalued and underappreciated part of the process. There is a lot of buzz around electrolytes and supplements but every sport that is played standing up goes through your feet.”
The Hockey Paper readers can claim 10% off with code THP10 when purchasing at saveoursoles.com.
