PADS FOR TREKKING POLES
Not just a simple rubber cap
Trekking poles are used for mountain hiking and Nordic Walking.
The surfaces and terrains encountered during these activities vary widely in hardness and consistency, so it's essential to ensure a good grip for the pole, even on hard surfaces where the steel tip cannot penetrate.
Pads are rubber caps that fit onto the pole tips and meet this specific need.
They are equipped with a tread pattern for solid grip even on wet or damp surfaces - just like shoe soles or car tires.
Equally important, they act as shock absorbers, reducing the impact on joints.
A small component, yet essential for ensuring safety and comfort - an example of how in industrial design, there are no small or large projects, because the method and the interaction between aesthetics and functionality are always the same.
Client
- GABEL - Rosà (VI) - Italy
Objectives
- New design for a pad suitable for hard and wet surfaces
- Create a wide contact surface with the ground
- Achieve a distinctive, recognizable design
- Minimize the rubber thickness as much as possible
- Integrate logo and product code
- Compatibility with tips of 11 to 14 mm in diameter
Materials
- Thermoplastic rubber (TPR) 75–80 Shore
Technologies
- Injection molding
THE PROJECT STORY
From sketch to prototype
Some images tell the story of how an idea becomes a real product:
- project presentation boards
- 3D modeling and first prototype made through rapid prototyping
- first batch of the final product
