Our Story
It's Time For Cleats That Reduce The Risk to Athletes.
Change is Here.
Season after season, we watched in horror as top athletes crumpled into writhing heaps on the field, with no opponent in sight. Top athletes--prime physical specimens at the top of their game, felled...by what? We poured through decades of research proving the cause: cleats that lock a player's foot to the playing field. When the shoe or turf wouldn't give, the knees of these amazing athletes would.
We conducted patent searches for solutions. All of them were totally impractical, at best. So we tested our prototypes at a reputable biomechanics lab to conduct rotational stress tests that prove our claims on our now-patented product. Then, working with the design savants at i-generator, we iterated and ideated 7 more now-patented solutions. To bring our cleated footwear tech to life, molds were made, second generation prototypes were built, and athletes from every level laced 'em up and put them through their toughest paces.
Cleat Design Matters
Research shows that cleat design directly influences how much grip an athlete experiences. When there is too much rotational traction, the foot can “lock” to the surface, driving torque up the leg and into the knee.
Key Takeaway: Cleats are part of the injury risk equation.
Surface Conditions Influence Traction
NFL Epidemiology (2021-2022) showed higher rates of lower-extremity injuries on turf versus natural grass. Artificial surfaces deliver higher rotational stiffness, sometimes exceeding thresholds linked to injury risk.
Key Takeaway: The surface is notorious for its contribution to injury risk.
Traction & Injury: The Connection
Biomechanical reviews link higher rotational resistance at the shoe–surface interface with increased risk of ACL and other lower-extremity injuries. It’s not ONLY “turf vs. grass,” but whether the rotational torque exceeds safe levels.
Key Takeaway: Non-contact lower-extremity injuries are strongly tied to excessive rotational traction - a result of current surface and footwear design.
How Caddix Solves the Traction Problem
Our SmartStuds™ flex and release under load. Instead of locking the foot in place, SmartStuds™ deform slightly during pivoting and cutting, allowing for quicker stud release from the playing surface. This reduces rotational torque on the knees and ankles without sacrificing the traction athletes need for acceleration and cutting.
By targeting safe rotational stiffness ranges identified in biomechanical research, Caddix cleats strike the balance between performance and protection.
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A company is developing cleats for women soccer players to decrease knee injuries
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Pat McAfee & Joe Flacco talk about Caddix Cleats on Pat's show (11:50 in)
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Former football player reducing injury in sport with invention
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A great 5-minute segment about the idea and the visionaries behind it.
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Dennis Pitta and Todd Heap invest in cleat company Caddix
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Former Ravens Todd Heap, Dennis Pitta invest in Caddix Cleats
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2 former Ravens hope this cleat company can change football
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Caddix Cleats adds Todd Heap, Dennis Pitta as majority investors
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Portland's i-Generator works with Nike, Adidas, and startups
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Joe Flacco debuted new cleats that could change the NFL forever
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This New Cleat is Designed to Prevent Knee Injuries
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