Test runners wanted for first crowdsourced running shoe study

“How many heartbeats can a running shoe save?” That is the central question in a crowdsourced study, launched as of today by Swedish running shoe company Airia Running.

The company will recruit runners from all over the world to compare their usual running shoes to Airia 1.5 in a simple treadmill test. The hub of the project is the website http://www.saveheartbeats.run where test runners register and report heart rate data. 

”Engaged consumers want more than the ordinary marketing nonsense, runners not the least.” says Mattias Geisler, CEO of Airia Running. ”And this project can prove our own shoe tests in a conceivable and transparent manner and also pave way for new thinking in the running shoe business.”


Photo courtesy of Airia Running

Airia Running puts substantial effort in the project by developing the technical platform for the test and offering free Airia shoes for at least 100 interested runners not yet in possession of the shoes.

“We are curious by nature and dig down deep on every possible aspect of running shoe performance. And we will make serious efforts to produce hard facts with all our products,” says Mattias Geisler and continues: ”Too much of the R&D in the running shoe business takes place behind locked doors and never reach public scrutiny.”