Announcing Insolia® Field

Reducing Costly and Preventable
Non-Contact ACL Injury Risk

ACL Injuries Occur When Athletes Are Improperly Positioned During Deceleration or Landing

Research indicates that 70% of ACL injuries occur without direct contact, typically during sudden deceleration or a single-leg landing. Athletes are most vulnerable when their weight shifts to the back of the foot.

Mechanism of Non-Contact ACL Injury
Barry P. Boden, MD, Frances T. Sheehan, PhD

  • Research identifies forward weight distribution as the safe position

  • The at-risk position occurs when weight shifts to the back of the foot

  • Insolia Field Cleat elements work together to enhance forward weight shift

The Insolia Field Boot and Insole System
Six Innovations

Boot Innovations

1) Single Center of Rotation Aligned with Great Toe Joint

Insolia Field Arranges Studs
Around the Great Toe Joint
Creating a Single Center of Rotation

The stud pattern aligns with the foot's natural pivot point during high-force cutting maneuvers. Each stud's curvature matches its radial position from this center.

Benefits:

  • 20% less rotational torque than standard designs

  • Maintained linear traction

  • Reduced knee stress

  • Enhanced heel lift and forward weight shift

Standard Soccer/Football Boots Lack a Single Center of Rotation

  • Multiple rotation centers prevent proper pivoting during play.

  • Most boots claiming injury risk reduction only function when on toes or heels alone.

  • They fail during high-force maneuvers when the entire foot contacts the ground - precisely when protection is most needed.

2) No Motion Restricting Studs Under the Great Toe Joint

Insolia Field Places Studs
Around the Great Toe Joint, Not Under It

  • Stud arrangement enhances natural joint motion

  • The First Metatarsal, not the toe itself, creates this movement

  • Proper flexibility requires the First Metatarsal to move downward and rotate inward

  • Studs under the joint block this motion, increasing the risk of injury.

Critical Difference: Stud Placement Relative to the Great Toe Joint

  • Standard cleats place studs under the Great Toe Joint, restricting flexibility. This restriction disrupts coordination throughout the foot, preventing safe deceleration mechanics.

  • The blocked joint inhibits ankle flexion, delaying heel lift and forward weight shift when needed most.

  • Insolia Field places three studs around the Great Toe Joint, preserving natural motion.

3) Zone of Flexibility in the Outsole for Great Toe Joint Motion

The Zone of Flexibility is Molded into the
Top of the Outsole

  • Maintains a smooth bottom surface for minimal rotational resistance

  • Interior geometry inhibits excessive foot bending

  • Includes a concave dome under the Great Toe Joint
    (see Innovation 4)

The Zone of Flexibility Surrounds the Great Toe Joint

  • Connects the rigid forefoot to the rigid midfoot and heel sections

  • 3-4 cm width adapts to individual foot shape

  • Enables natural bending for heel lift and forward weight shift during deceleration.

Flexing the Insolia Field Outsole

4) Air Gap Protects Great Toe Joint from Upward Pressure

A concave dome creates an Air Gap under the Great Toe Joint, preventing upward pressure from reaching it during aggressive cutting motions.

The matching Dome on the outsole's bottom maintains structural strength at this critical pressure point

Insole Innovations

5) Insolia Flex™ Technology in the Insole

HBN’s patented Insolia Flex technology

The Asymmetric Depression Under the Great Toe Joint:

  • Allows natural joint drop and rotation

  • Encourages ankle flexion

  • Enables protective forward weight shift

Benefits:

  • 10% improved walking efficiency (reduced VO2/kg)

  • 40% increased forefoot walking comfort scores

6) Insolia Cradle™ Technology in the Insole

Patented Insolia Cradle features:

Anatomically-Matched Heel Cup

  • Contours to the heel bone's natural shape

  • Improves balance and stability

Medial Side Support

  • Reduces plantar fascia strain

  • Increases comfort during standing and movement

Insolia Sports Technology
Beyond ACL Protection

Our Technology Addresses Four Major Sports Injury Risks:

  • ACL Tears – through forward weight positioning

  • Achilles Injury – by enabling natural heel lift

  • Lateral Ankle Sprains – by controlling foot inversion

  • Turf Toe – by preventing joint jamming

Each injury stems from restricted Great Toe Joint rotation
When this joint cannot move naturally, the body compensates with motions that increase the risk of injury.

The Core Principle:
Optimizing Great Toe Joint function Reduces Injury Potential across All Sports

Next Applications:
This technology adapts to all court sports, including basketball, tennis, and pickleball, through specialized insole and outsole designs.

Insolia Field
Built on Decades of Innovation

HBN Shoe was founded to solve Footwear’s Most Challenging Comfort Problem
High Heeled Shoes

Over 60 million pairs of footwear with Insolia Technologies have been sold globally, delivering measurable improvements in comfort, walking efficiency, and body health.

Learn more about our Fashion & Comfort innovations.