OrthoLite, the industry leader in brand, high-performance and comfortable footwear solutions, launched OrthoLite O-Therm™, an innovative new thermal insole technology that sets a new standard for footwear protection in cold weather. O-Therm offers all the advantages of known open-cell polyurethane foams, while combining the world's lightest and most insulating cold protection. This technology is only possible with the unparalleled thermal performance of O-Therm's patented aerogel, and is unmatched by any other footwear product. For consumers, their feet will stay warm, stay outdoors longer, feel more comfortable, perform better, and go farther in cold weather conditions.
O-Therm is the first and only open-cell polyurethane foam infused with aerogel. This new technology creates a thermal barrier that can block the cold and maintain footwear temperature regulation. O-Therm uses advanced aerogel, which is one of the most heat-insulating materials in the world. The proprietary combination of materials in O-Therm provides unparalleled heat-insulation performance and comfortable foot protection throughout the day.
Rob Falken, OrthoLite's vice president of innovation, explained: "OrthoLite's proprietary aerogel is O-Therm's secret. Our advanced aerogel does not need to be suspended to capture tiny air pockets and will not fail when compressed under the feet. OrthoLite’s aerogel is different from any other aerogel solution. It is nanopores in a porous structure, which forms an excellent thermal barrier to block heat transfer. In addition, O-Therm advanced silica Aerogel powder is the lightest man-made material, weighing only three times that of air."
O-Therm's advanced aerogel is also super hydrophobic, which means it can repel water and remove moisture from the feet, thereby providing a drier and more comfortable shoe environment. This proprietary advanced aerogel is unique to OrthoLite and does not require special handling or packaging. This is the world's first.
OrthoLite collaborated with a third-party thermal testing laboratory, the Vartest laboratory in New York City, to quantify the thermal performance of O-Therm aerogel insoles under extreme cold conditions of -78°C (-108°F). Third-party test results have verified that O-Therm is a breathable thermal barrier. When tested at -78°C (-108°F), it is 54% higher than the comparative test results of other thermal insoles on average.
O-Therm retains all the comfort and performance advantages of OrthoLite open-cell polyurethane foam. O-Therm is a 2mm base layer thermal foam that can be combined with a variety of OrthoLite top foams for a wide range of footwear, including: outdoor, leisure, work, skiing and snowboarding, fashion and other cold weather footwear, Tailor-made insole solutions. O-Therm's inherent lightness and plasticity also make it an ideal thermal insulation solution for footwear linings and insoles, bringing unparalleled cold protection technology without increasing volume or weight.
OrthoLite President John Barrett said: "We are proud to introduce this new thermal insulation innovation to the footwear industry. We see its huge market potential in cold weather footwear applications and other areas."
As a vertically integrated American company, OrthoLite has facilities all over the world. The company works with its brand partners to create and produce custom insole formulations that provide unparalleled comfort and performance.