ISPO Award Winner 2025: Kipnext by Kiprun introduces a new era of glue-free running footwear

Innovation in running footwear often comes from incremental improvements. Kiprun’s Kipnext (KIPX) takes a radically different path. Awarded an ISPO Award 2025, the shoe is built through a completely redesigned process that reduces traditional soling and assembly steps from 15 to just 1. Using a patented manufacturing method, the midsole, outsole and bonding to the upper are created without any glue or chemical adhesives, removing a major environmental burden from the production chain. 

“Winning the ISPO Award is an immense recognition for us. After four years of intense R&D, industrial partnerships and iterations, this prize validates both our technical achievements and our environmental ambitions,” says Stéphane Benaddi, Technical Project Leader Footwear Process. For Kiprun, the award underscores a commitment to prove that performance and sustainability do not need to be competing goals. Kipnext shows how a bold production shift can deliver both.

At the core of Kipnext lies a process innovation that challenges long-established industry routines. Instead of producing midsole, outsole and upper separately, then bonding them through multiple adhesive layers, Kiprun uses a supercritical fluid foam injection process. Nitrogen is mixed under high pressure with a thermoplastic compound, which forms and binds the sole unit in a single step around the upper. 

“One major challenge was to rethink the shoe manufacturing process from the ground up,” explains Pacôme Tomietto, Material Engineer Footwear Process. Traditional running shoes rely on complex component stacks, manual bonding and chemicals such as azodicarbonamide or solvent-based glues. Kipnext removes these entirely — simplifying the overall product structure, cutting chemical use and lowering the environmental footprint. 

The result: a 26% reduction in CO₂ impact (PEF methodology) through fewer components and reduced energy usage. At the same time, the new sole materials improve end-of-life recyclability, giving the product a clearer route into future circular systems. Despite this radically simplified construction, Kipnext maintains the cushioning, durability and lightness expected from a performance running shoe. 

Glue-free construction alone would not be enough to convince serious runners — so Kiprun backed the concept with extensive testing. Kipnext underwent abrasion, flex and impact cycles across long-distance simulations. According to the brand’s internal testing, the shoe is 50% more durable than comparable Kiprun models using traditional foam bonding after 1,000 km of use. 

For retailers, Kipnext offers a clear and compelling proposition: a shoe that significantly lowers production impact while meeting the performance expectations of the running community. The concept aligns with a growing consumer segment looking for products that combine technical credibility with responsible manufacturing. 

“For Decathlon stores, Kipnext’s unique selling point is its status as the world’s first glue-free performance running shoe displaying a proven reduction in environmental impact,” says Romain Degezelle, Kiprun Footwear Product Manager. It gives stores a tangible, science-backed story that resonates with eco-conscious athletes. 

With Kipnext, Kiprun presents more than a single product – it introduces a new industrial platform. The technology behind the model is designed to scale, opening potential pathways for use across other categories and silhouettes. Reduced production steps, fewer chemicals, lower emissions and improved recyclability form a blueprint that could influence how performance footwear is built in the coming years. “This award will also help us to pursue new similar projects and look to the future – on how we can incorporate new technologies, to enable the best types of footwear for our consumer,” notes Degezelle. 

The ISPO Award 2025 recognizes exactly that momentum: a manufacturing breakthrough with the potential to reshape industry standards. Kipnext embodies a forward-looking approach where less complexity, fewer materials and smarter processes support both performance and environmental responsibility. 

• First glue-free performance running shoe
• 26% lower CO₂ impact through simplified manufacturing
• High-performance cushioning with proven durability
• Improved recyclability through new sole materials