A British sportswear brand, inov-8, has become the first company to add the substance graphene to running and fitness shoes, thanks to a new partnership with the University of Manchester.
A single layer of carbon atoms make up graphene, and these atoms are bonded together by what looks like a flat honeycomb pattern, which is one million times thinner than paper and the substance has also been called the world’s strongest material, by Columbia University.
Thanks to this partnership, lab tests have been conducted to show that the rubber outsoles of these shoes are likely to be stronger, more flexible, and more resistant to wear and tear than current running shoes on the market.