Gearing up for a Multi-Million Dollar US Army deal

WARWICKSHIRE running shoe firm UK Gear is making giant steps towards global success after securing a major contract with the US Army.

The Wolston-based business has won approval to supply advanced specification training shoes to the American forces in a deal which is expected to be worth $millions in export sales.

Approval from the US Army Running Shoe Program is the latest boost for the firm which was founded in 1993 by Coventry-born CEO David Hinde.

During the past seven years, the business has supplied performance clothing to the Scottish and Welsh athletes for all sports in the Commonwealth Games and provided the West Indies Cricket Team with all their performance clothing in 1999.

But in 2001 the former Finham Park pupil made the biggest leap in the business world when his company formed a significant partnership with the British Army, which saw the firm design and test its products with The British Army Physical Training Corps.

This major step forward resulted in the creation of UK Gear’s PT-03 running shoe, which was the first ever commercial product to earn the distinguished right to bear the British Army’s crossed swords insignia.

David said: “During the 90s I realised we had done as much as we could in the way of sporting organisations and I was looking for a new idea.

“I always had an ambition to get involved in designing shoes. We had the expertise, but we needed the feedback from individuals who were serious about their fitness but refused to compromise on the high standards. The British Army was ideal

Army fitness instructors from the APTC tested the PT-03 over a six-month period. The entire project from concept, through design, testing and manufacture took UK Gear 18 months.

David added: “It’s been created with the help of some of the fittest people on the planet – the Army’s own fitness instructors – which means it will stand up to the demands of any runner.”

In the summer of this year, UK Gear – which started out from a small unit in Attleborough, Nuneaton – heard about the contract win with the US Army.

David added: “It has given us particular pleasure that a training shoe worn by the British Army should be adopted by the US military. It is, at the same time, a giant step for UK Gear on the way to meeting our ambition of being the training shoe of choice for military personnel worldwide.”

Not content with one running shoe developed with the British Army, David has this month unveiled his latest creation which is the first shoe in the world designed to last 1,000 running miles.

The PT-1000 was rigorously tested by 40 Army fitness instructors who ran thousands of miles in prototypes and has taken eight years to develop.

David said: “The PT-1000 is the result of our long-term strategy to build the world’s most durable and sustainable running shoe – without compromising on biomechanical performance or comfort.

“Our unique and long-lasting relationship with the British Army has been our inspiration and has allowed us to test our products to withstand some of the harshest conditions in the world, by some of the most demanding athletes in the country.

“We are incredibly proud of our success and our products, but if someone had said we would supply the US Army recruits, I wouldn’t have believed it.

“We will not be stopping now, there is plenty to come over the next five years.”