A First in the Sports Industry! Mizuno Manufactures the Ultimate Custom Sole Original Shoes with 3D Printers: "3D U-Fit"

Mizuno has developed technology to design and manufacture custom-integrated soles using 3D printers in the sports industry for the first time. The order reception for personal fitting shoes "3D U-Fit" will begin in April. "3D U-Fit" measures individual foot shapes and creates an integrated sole tailored to that data, allowing the creation of original shoes that fit each foot perfectly. Let's explore the full details of the revolutionary new era of shoes that "3D U-Fit" heralds.

Create Shoes that Fit Your Feet Perfectly

Many people struggle to find the right shoes due to wide, narrow, or uneven foot shapes. Selecting shoes made for wider feet may cause the heel to be loose, or buying shoes that fit the left foot can leave the right foot feeling too roomy. "3D U-Fit" is designed to solve such issues.
 
In traditional manufacturing processes, the sole, which is responsible for most of the shoe's functionality, had technological constraints that made it difficult to easily customize for individuals. However, by leveraging 3D printing technology, "3D U-Fit" eliminates those constraints. Measuring the individual foot shape and creating an integrated sole based on that data allows for the production of original shoes that fit each person's feet perfectly.
 
What inspired the creation of "3D U-Fit"? The development team’s Kenjiro Kita from Mizuno Corporation recalls a certain experience that played a role in this.
 
“This dates back more than 20 years. We received a request to make shoes for a child. Although they were an ordinary person, the child had a disability that caused foot deformity, making standard shoes unsuitable. We were asked to create sports-style shoes designed to fit this child’s feet.
 
"We attempted to make them, but the technology at the time made it extraordinarily time-consuming and costly. While we could create a one-of-a-kind shoe for top athletes, providing custom-made shoes for the general public was not feasible from a business standpoint.
 
"A lot of time has passed since then, but the thought that we could use the latest technology to make shoes fit each person's feet more reasonably and smartly led to the start of the '3D U-Fit' development.”

Different from Conventional Shoes Utilizing 3D Printing Technology

While I personally own several shoes utilizing 3D printing technology, many sports brands and shoe manufacturers have developed similar products. Most utilize 3D printing technology to create either the entire midsole or part of it.
 
Creating the midsole with 3D printing eliminates the need for molds to shape the foam, allowing testers to produce shoes in a shorter cycle than standard options. Additionally, it's easier to adjust parameters like hardness based on data.

With "3D U-Fit," seamless fit and ride quality are achieved by integrating the midsole, outsole, and insole. Significant technological breakthroughs, including the completion of the integrated sole production technology and the design flow for creating custom shoes based on measurement data, led to the provision of personal fitting shoes at a realistic price of 55,000 yen (tax included).

Design & Selection of Sole Hardness

When purchasing "3D U-Fit," the first step is to measure your foot shape at MIZUNO TOKYO. Using a 3D foot shape measuring device, your foot shape is assessed in 3D. A diagnosis is conducted by footwear experts, and a base sole is designed.

The sole design and upper color (available in Black and White) come in two options each, allowing for personal selection. Uniquely, the hardness of the sole can be chosen between "normal" and "soft." You can choose based on preference or purpose (whether for thorough walking or primarily for town use).
 
"The integrated sole will be the only one in the world that fits that person's foot. Naturally, adjustments can be made in length and width for the left and right feet, which I believe solves the problem for those who have struggled with shoe size selection until now."
 
The upper is made of highly stretchable knit material. Attachments are added to adjust the wooden last to correspond with each foot shape. After the data collection, the finalized information is sent to the Mizuno Technics Yamazaki Lambard Factory, where shoes are manufactured based on that data. It reportedly takes about a month to complete.

I was able to try on sample shoes, and I distinctly noticed the difference between the two types of sole hardness, "normal" and "soft" (of course, you can try them on when creating the shoes). Unlike shoes that typically use 3D printing technology, they had no excessive weight or stiffness, allowing for comfortable walking.

The knit upper fits the foot softly. Even with a sample shoe that was roughly sized, it was comfortable, so the completed model, which would be perfectly tailored to my foot, would surely provide an outstanding fit and walking experience.