Frequently Asked Questions
The most significant difference that everyone can see in the Hann Shoes are the carbon fiber ellipses in the heel and forefoot of the shoe. These ellipses act as energy storage cells that absorb and retain energy as the heel or lower midfoot initially makes impact with the ground. As the foot shifts to the forefoot prior to takeoff for the next step, the energy stored is transferred into the forefoot ellipse and returns energy to the wearer. This creates a trampoline-like effect, giving you a boost of energy with every step!
Most shoes are designed to act as shock absorbers to reduce the impact of the ground strike. In most shoes, wearers do not get the energy back after their feet strike the ground. So, the athlete is constantly supplying all the energy for every step. The Hann Shoe design actually returns energy to the wearer to lessen the workload on the wearer.
The Hann Shoe not only absorbs the energy upon making contact with the ground, it stores the energy within the two elliptical carbon fiber cells and returns the energy to the wearer upon takeoff in the next step, reducing the energy the wearer needs to supply for the exact same step with other shoes. This effect allows the wearer to increase their performance because it reduces their overall systemic oxygen consumption. In a study with the renowned Professor Emeritus of Biomechanics Dr. Benno Nigg, the Hann Shoe was found to reduce systemic O2 consumption by up to 2.2% (imagine running .6 miles less in a marathon!)
Carbon fiber plates in existing shoes do not store and release energy to improve athletic performance. If you bend a carbon fiber plate, it returns the energy in the wrong direction and does not support the athlete. Instead, the existing carbon fiber plates rely on a different function known as the teeter totter effect. These shoes usually have bent carbon fiber plates. As the forefoot moves down towards the ground, the plate pushes the heel forward creating the teeter totter effect, which does exhibit athletic improvement.
The Hann Shoes design relies on a different technology. Our design is focused on the concept of energy storage and return. The carbon fiber ellipses compress upon contact with the ground and stores the energy. As it re-forms to return to its original shape, the carbon fiber ellipses return the energy to the wearer during takeoff, which increases athletic performance.