At Hettas, a Canadian performance running shoe brand founded by Lindsay Housman that designs footwear exclusively from a female perspective, the shoe is their vehicle for change. Their mission is built on three core pillars:
- Advancing research in women’s biomechanics and physiology
- Cultivating inclusive community through sport
- Driving impact by keeping girls in sport and advocating for equality
Hettas shoes are engineered for the unique needs of women athletes, featuring:
- Narrow, minimal heel cup for a secure fit
- Rounded instep for midfoot support
- Breathable, stretchy toe box to match the natural splay of female toes
- Pebax plate for reduced impact and better energy return
Research-backed innovation
Hettas is leading the charge to improve women’s athletic footwear with science-backed designs. In collaboration with the Simon Fraser University Run Lab, Hettas has funded groundbreaking studies revealing:
- Female bodies are, on average, 12 cm shorter, 18 kg lighter, and have more body fat than men, meaning their footwear needs to be distinct.
- Female feet have higher arches, narrower heels, and require more space at the fifth metatarsal -yet most athletic shoes are simply scaled-down versions of men’s models.
- Research showed Hettas shoes had the lowest peak impact accelerations at the sacrum compared to other “super shoes,” indicating female-specific shoes may help protect female runners—who already face higher injury risk in the sacrum and hip regions—from impact-related injuries.
Industry support for female-specific design
This research is strongly supported by a recent study published in BMJ Open Sports & Exercise Medicine, which calls on the footwear industry to move beyond the outdated “shrink it and pink it” approach when designing women’s running shoes. The study highlights that women’s foot anatomy, biomechanics, and life stages differ significantly from men’s, and that simply scaling down men’s shoes fails to address these unique needs. . Their qualitative research involved a diverse group of recreational and competitive women runners aged 20 to 70, including mothers and runners across various life stages.
Key insights included the importance of wider toe boxes, narrower heels, added cushioning, and performance features that do not compromise comfort. The study also underscored the need for different shoe designs tailored to specific running contexts and life stages, such as pregnancy and aging.
The research highlights the need for female-specific shoe designs to test their potential of enhancing women runners’ comfort, injury prevention, and performance. Importantly, this study was funded by Hettas Sport Ltd in collaboration with Simon Fraser University (SFU), and it contributed to securing grants from the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). This not only underscores the scientific rigor behind the findings but also demonstrates a strong, evidence-based foundation for Hettas’ commitment to pioneering women-centered footwear solutions.
Groundbreaking research: Future of women’s footwear
Hettas has responded to this call by securing a three-year NSERC Alliance grant (2023–2025), which will fund further studies on:
- Energetic cost comparison of running in female-specific shoes (showing reduced impact at the hips and pelvis compared to other “super shoes”)
- Injury prevention using wearable tech and menstrual cycle tracking (paving the way for a large-scale trial)
- Impact of marathon shoe durability on female distance runners (ongoing)
- Menstrual cycle’s effect on biomechanics and running economy (ongoing)
- Biomechanics of female runners with chronic ankle instability (ongoing)
Additional wins of Hettas’ approach
- Instron Testing: Traditional energy return tests used only male force profiles. To create a female standard, Hettas partnered with SFU Run Lab to measure an elite female runner at a 10K pace. Her profile was notably different from male standards.
- Pilot Run Study (2022): This study helped finalize Hettas’ female-specific fit, ensuring optimal comfort and performance.
Hettas is more than just footwear. Through their Athlete Support Program, they invest directly in female athletes’ careers. Their crowdfunding campaign on FrontFundr invites the community to support the growth of women’s sport. They’re also proud to support initiatives such as:
- International Women’s Decathlon
- Girls on the Run
- Numerous other community-driven events and causes.
