A safety footwear revolution – from idea to innovation
Wenaas ID represents a new chapter in safety footwear. What started as an idea—a desire to develop a safety shoe with better ergonomics and greater sustainability—has, through several years of focused research, become a safety shoe that feels like a trainer.
Now the Wenaas ID series is here
Safety shoes that feel like a trainer!
Wenaas always goes the extra mile when it comes to protecting people at work. This safety shoe series is unlike anything else on the market. We have developed our most comfortable safety shoe ever.
- Developed in close collaboration with SINTEF.
- Extensive user testing has been carried out.
The Wenaas ID collection is a safety shoe where you replace the InLet, when it wears out—not the entire shoe. InLet can also be adapted to the type of work and body weight, with three different options.
Good for you, your wallet, and the environment!
A unique research and development project
The research project, called Lightfoot, originally focused on reducing weight and minimizing environmental impact. The result was Wenaas ID – developed with the integrated comfort system InLet.
To identify the best solutions, the project was carried out in collaboration with SINTEF, one of Europe’s largest manufacturer of protective footwear, Orion, as well as industry partners such as Aker BP, Equinor, and OneCo, with support from the Research Council of Norway.
Over four years, and with a total investment of more than NOK 10 million, extensive analyses, laboratory testing, and user trials under real working conditions were conducted – both offshore and onshore.
User research + science = Wenaas ID
SINTEF (one of Europe’s largest independent research institutes) conducted in-depth user studies to identify the main challenges associated with prolonged use of safety footwear. Concepts and prototypes were tested both in laboratories and in the field. The result is a research-based product developed with real user insight – and a safety shoe that sets a new standard for comfort, functionality, and sustainability.
Collaboration with SINTEF (one of Europe’s largest independent research institutes)
Wenaas’ primary focus is protecting people at work. However, it is also in our DNA not only to create safer solutions, but also more comfortable and user-friendly ones. In close collaboration with SINTEF, we assembled a team consisting of designers, physiologists, and material experts. The result is a safety shoe that combines protection, lightness, and comfort in an entirely new way.
The revolutionary footwear comes with three different InLets – soft, medium, and firm – all designed to significantly reduce pressure on the heel. The InLet should be replaced every six months for optimal performance. By replacing only the InLet and not the entire shoe, you save your feet, money, and the environment.
Wenaas ID has been thoroughly tested both offshore and onshore, including during long shifts and in demanding working conditions. Users report significantly improved comfort, support, and well-being – with results so positive that several testers wanted to keep the shoes after the test period ended. Test users also noted that the safety shoe was easy to use, had a perfect fit, and performed well in heavy rain, wet snow, and icy conditions. Those with knee and muscle pain reported a noticeable improvement after use.
So, to sum it up:
We have developed a safety shoe that feels like a trainer.
We have developed Wenaas ID.
Developed from the ground up
– without compromise
To integrate InLet, the entire shoe construction had to be redesigned. The puncture-resistant sole was moved closer to the outsole, the traditional
midsole was removed, and space was freed for a thicker, more shock-absorbing comfort layer—without compromising safety requirements,
durability, or chemical resistance.
The result is a safety shoe that withstands extreme loads, while delivering a completely different comfort experience—feeling like the comfort of a trainer.
A. Upper: Several of the uppers in the range feature an HDry membrane and are waterproof.
B. Newly developed, lightweight safety toe cap with an asymmetrical design, providing more room for the toes and a more natural fit.
C. InLet: An integrated and replaceable part of the shoe’s construction. It reduces pressure on the heel and forefoot and helps prevent musculoskeletal issues.
D. PU frame: A newly developed protective galosh that shields the InLet from chemicals, oil, salt, and other external stresses.
E. Soft puncture-resistant midsole, Puncture Block – a soft and flexible solution that provides protection without compromising comfort.
F. Outsole with excellent slip-resistant properties. Complies with the new standard and SR test. Also HRO heat-resistant.
Soft InLet
– extra soft cushioning, ideal for people with stationary work or low body weight.
Medium InLet
– suitable for people who alternate between stationary work and moderate walking.
Firm InLet
– ideal for people who walk a lot during the workday, as well as for users with high body weight.
"For over 10 years, I have needed to take painkillers due to joint and knee pain while at work. After I started using the new safety shoe, I did not take any painkillers during the entire 14-day period. The new safety shoe was very comfortable".
— Offshore Worker
Here, the InLet is replaced – quickly and easily, depending on the task at hand.
InLet – comfort and support on a new level
InLet is not a traditional insole, but an integrated and replaceable part of the shoe’s construction. It functions as a load-relief platform inside the shoe and is designed to reduce stress on both the heel and forefoot throughout the entire workday.
Reducing pressure on the heel is one of the most important measures for preventing musculoskeletal disorders. Achieving lower pressure is difficult through minor adjustments to traditional insoles, but with a completely new approach to safety footwear construction—using an InLet of running-shoe quality, adapted for demanding work environments—the results become clear.
Documented performance through extensive testing
Using statistical tools (regression analysis) and biomechanical analyses, SINTEF mapped how the shoe’s construction and the InLet system affect the load on the foot. Two different InLet densities—Soft and Medium—were tested, and both showed a significant and statistically proven reduction in pressure and forces on the heel compared to other well-known safety shoe models included in the test.
The tests also documented that Wenaas ID with Medium InLet performs consistently and reliably across all weight classes, delivering high comfort and shock absorption regardless of load.
SINTEF tested
two different
material densities
in the new shoes’
InLet system.
Both resulted in
significantly lower
pressure on the
heel.
A safety shoe-collection that sets a new
standard for comfort, functionality, and sustainability.
Sustainability with documented impact
Lower carbon footprint
Wenaas ID has a 52.1% lower carbon footprint per pair compared to traditional leather safety shoes. Longer service life, a replaceable InLet, and thoughtful material selection result in a significantly reduced environmental impact — especially when scaled across larger volumes.
Sustainability in practice – smarter than replacing the entire shoeA key element of the Wenaas ID sustainability strategy is the replaceable
InLet. When comfort decreases or ergonomic needs change, the InLet can easily be replaced—rather than replacing the entire shoe.
This provides renewed comfort and enables customized ergonomics throughout
the shoe’s lifetime.
Replacing the InLet instead of the whole safety shoe delivers:
• Strong ergonomics – optimal support and pressure relief over time
• Sound economics – only the part that wears out needs replacing
• High sustainability – longer service life and reduced waste
Combined with durable materials and a documented lower carbon footprint, this makes Wenaas ID a well-considered and future-ready choice—for the user, the employer, and the environment.
Material selection for Wenaas ID
The material choices in Wenaas ID are made to ensure high durability, long service life, and stable performance under demanding conditions. The shoe is built with Dyneema®, PuTek®, an HDry® membrane, and a Puncture Block puncture-resistant sole. Together, these materials contribute to a robust construction that withstands moisture, mechanical stress, and prolonged use in harsh work environments—without compromising comfort.
The result is a safety shoe developed for tough industrial use, maintaining function, comfort, and protection over time.
Dyneema® is an extremely strong yet very lightweight
fiber, developed through advanced material technology.
It is up to 15 times stronger than steel by weight, yet
so light that it floats on water. This provides a unique
combination of low weight and high strength.
The fiber is designed for demanding applications and
contributes to:
• High strength and reliability
• Long service life and excellent abrasion resistance
• Low weight, resulting in increased comfort and
reduced energy use
For environmentally conscious users, Dyneema® is also
a sustainable choice. Its production has up to a 90%
lower carbon footprint compared to equivalent HMPE
fibers.
Our Puncture Block midsole is soft and flexible, allowing your foot to use less energy when walking. The sole contains no hard layers between the PU outsole and the insole, yet it still protects your foot against nails and sharp
objects that may penetrate the outsole. Puncture Block has passed the puncture resistance test using new 3 mm nails, in accordance with the requirements of EN 20345 (latest standard). And for those who care about the environment—this sole is a sustainable solution, produced
from environmentally friendly materials.
PuTek® material is developed for high resistance to mechanical wear and surface abrasion. Its robust construction ensures long service life and stable performance over time.
The material is primarily used on high-cut footwear exposed to increased stress, such as work in drilling mud, wet environments, and repeated drying cycles. Unlike traditional leather, the material withstands repeated wetting and drying without loss of strength or function.
The surface retains both durability and appearance during prolonged use. This contributes to extended product lifetime, improved total cost of ownership, and
increased sustainability.
HDry is our waterproof membrane system. The membrane functions like a sock that is laminated directly to the leather. This sock has no seams that could create small holes in the membrane and cause leakage. This method of attaching the sock ensures there are no folds or wrinkles in the shoe’s membrane/lining. In addition, it prevents moisture from accumulating between the lining and the outer leather, which can often occur with other technologies. The result is dry feet throughout the entire workday!
Illustrasjon av Wenaas ID med HDry® og en tilfeldig annen vernesko
HDry® er vårt vanntette membramsystem som er benyttet i Wenaas ID-serien. Mebran fungerer som en sokk som er laminert direkte på skinnet. Sokken sørger for at det ikke hoper seg opp fuktighet mellom fór og ytterskinn som ofte kan oppstå ved andre teknologier. Vår demonstrasjon viser hvordan HDry® holder fuktighet ute og damp og varme slippes ut av fottøyet sett i forhold til andre verneskoprodusenter hvor absorbert fuktighet blir liggende mellom læret og innermaterialet.
The illustration shows no moisture in Wenaas ID shoes with the HDry membrane compared to another standard safety shoe.
Wenaas ID for healthcare professionals
Are you responsible for safeguarding the health, safety, and well-being of employees in a demanding work environment? What if the right footwear could make a bigger difference than you think?
In our research and development project, we took a closer look at how safety footwear affects comfort, strain, and health over time. The results may challenge established assumptions – and open the door to new solutions.
Would you like to know what we discovered?