ELTEN GmbH

Tradition and innovation for healthy feet in gardening and landscaping

Ground maintenance, planting, irrigation and drainage or setting up construction sites: The activities in gardening and landscaping are just as diverse as the risks of injury for the employees. Feet are frequently affected by accidents - wearing safety shoes is therefore a necessity. Those who work outdoors almost all year round are familiar with the problems that come with it: dust-dry ground in summer, humidity in spring and autumn and slippery surfaces during winter.

Solutions are needed to meet the daily challenges faced by gardeners and landscapers. One of the strengths of the German safety shoe manufacturer and developer ELTEN GmbH is the development of safety concepts that specifically target the requirements of specific working environments and not only protect against injuries caused by impacts, sharp edges and penetration. For over 114 years, the family-owned company has stood for sophisticated foot protection concepts and technological innovations. When developing new products, ELTEN always focuses on the users and their needs. The company's products not only offer safe protection against injuries, but also fulfil the requirements of ergonomics, wearing comfort, keeping feet healthy and modern design.

With over 400 employees and an annual production of more than 3 million pairs of shoes, ELTEN is one of the leading manufacturers of safety footwear in Europe. The versatile product range includes the right model for every trade and every foot shape. In co-operation with the University of Tübingen, Elten has determined the anatomical differences between men's and women's feet and subsequently developed a safety shoe collection for women. Furthermore, scientists have measured the 3D shape of feet and identified three foot types from the data. ELTEN has developed the Ergo Active multi-width concept based on this information. In a second step, feet were analysed in motion and the series was modified for even more comfort. The result: the models in the extended Ergo Active 2.0 range can widen in certain areas and provide more support in others.

ELTEN also offers safety shoes with Biomex Protection© ankle protection. The plastic cuff was developed by Dr. Georg Ahlbäumer, a German orthopaedic surgeon living in Switzerland. It provides permanent stability to the shoe shaft and protects the lateral ligaments. If the foot is at risk of twisting, the cuff guides it back into its natural movement and thus helps to prevent accidents.

For gardening and landscaping, the models in the "XXSG" series from ELTEN are a good fit. The shoes are equipped with a special outsole construction and feature BASF’s Infinergy® material as the sole core. This elastic particle foam complements the advantages of TPU with the typical properties of foams. The result: elastic like rubber, but springy and lightweight. The material not only absorbs the impact of the foot when walking, but also bounces it back. ELTEN was the first manufacturer to use this material in safety footwear.

The safety boots in the "XXSG" series have a cowhide leather upper and a toe cap made of PU; the material is durable and ensures that the front of the shoe does not wear out too quickly. The "Wellmaxx Safety-Grip" outsole prevents slipping on wet surfaces with its coarse tread profile. A negative profile at the ends of the sole also prevents tripping and twisting accidents. Against cold, wet days and water from the garden hose, there are some models with a waterproof Gore-Tex membrane.