The Impact Attenuation test measures how well an insole absorbs and reduces the force of an impact. This is particularly important for extreme sports like skateboarding and snowboarding, where the feet experience significant forces during landings, tricks, or sudden impacts.

In this test, the heel section of the insoles (both FP Insoles and Remind Insoles) was subjected to an impact force under controlled conditions. Here’s a breakdown of the test setup and the forces applied:

Test Conditions:

• Impact Energy: 37.5 Joules (J). This is the amount of energy the insole is expected to absorb when impacted.
• Striker Mass: 5000 ± 10 grams (approximately 5 kg). This is the mass of the object that strikes the insole.
• Impact Area: Heel section of the insole. The heel is one of the most critical areas in extreme sports for shock absorption, as it bears a large portion of the landing force.

The striker (a weighted object) was dropped onto the heel section of the insole to simulate real-world impact during skateboarding or snowboarding. The transmitted force measures how much of the impact force is transferred through the insole to the foot. The less force transmitted, the better the insole is at protecting the foot from injury.

Results:

• FP Insoles (Sample A): The transmitted force was measured at 11.8 kN and 11.7 kN (kilonewtons). This low level of transmitted force indicates that FP Insoles provide excellent shock absorption, effectively reducing the impact force transferred to the foot and minimizing potential injury.
• Remind Insoles (Sample D): The transmitted force was measured at 24.5 kN. This is more than double the transmitted force of FP Insoles, meaning the Remind Insoles fail to absorb as much impact. Higher transmitted force can lead to a higher risk of injury, especially during intense physical activities.

Source: Remind Insole