When we first released the Apex in January, the response was massive and a lot of you were curious about what went behind it. So, we're pulling back the curtain on what it takes to build our most technical shoe made for India on the move.
We at Comet are obsessive about our sneakers, nerds even.
What that meant was that when we were designing Apex, we broke down every element that was needed to meet our vision of a dad-style sneaker, built for everyday use, easy on the feet and the right performance level cushioning technology that can help you achieve everything every day.
ENGINEERING FOR AESTHETICS AND FUNCTION
Each upper of the Comet Apex has 49 components just in the upper.
Each component solves for both function and aesthetics. From the silicon heel counter for better heel lockdown, to the choices in the mesh used — even the otherwise aesthetic-looking panelling choice helps add structure to fit your foot inside the upper for maximum comfort and stability.
And all of this doesn't even include all the research and technology that went into building our own foam tech and a 4 component sole.
ENGINEERING FOR PERFORMANCE
We engineered a new foam compound with a much higher compression quotient. The result is SpacewalkX, upto 1.5x softer than our original Spacewalk foam.
To balance the softer midsole, we added the Sharkfin™ for lateral stability.
A slightly firmer compound was added to the heel to make the heel-to-toe transition more natural while walking. These together make the 4 component sole.
Softer than our original Spacewalk foam.
SpacewalkX our new proprietary foam compound, engineered with a much higher compression quotient.
THE REAL TEST
We spoke about uppers and the sole, all the effort and engineering that went into it. But all that is academic. The real question is is it India-proof?
All Comet shoes go through more tests than an average Indian student.
All these tests are certified under the SATRA global standard. SATRA is the footwear equivalent of the FDA for foods the strictest and most used by footwear brands internationally. Read more about SATRA ↗
As the upper and the sole have to come together, we do the tests to make sure they stay together. Durability and comfort is what our Cometeers care about, so we ensure that we exceed any testing benchmarks for the same.
The Sole Bond Test
A sole bond test measures the strength of the adhesion between a shoe's sole and its upper. It tells us exactly how much force it takes to separate the two which, in plain terms, tells us whether your shoe will fall apart in six months or hold up for years.
The Comet Apex can take a force of up to 25 N/cm before the upper and sole separates that’s similar to the pulling force of a modern motorbike like a Bullet.
The Sole Performance Test
The Apex sole has 4 pieces.
- 01The Rubber outsole: Engineered for grip and abrasion resistance.
- 02Dual EVA midsole (Part 1):Made of SpacewalkX, our softest cushioning yet
- 03Dual EVA midsole (Part 2): Strategically placed on the heel, for better heel-to-toe transfer
- 04The Sharkfin™ TPU unit: Sits in the middle of the shoe, providing structural stability and torsional support.
Walked by a machine non-stop, over 3 days.
Our flex cycle machine walks the shoes for 600,000 steps. The international standard is 100,000 cycles. We test our soles at 6× that benchmark.
We put the sole through a flex cycle machine it adds force on the sole the way real walking does. The machine walks the shoes for 600,000 steps. That's 480km non-stop and takes 3 days to complete the test.
The international standard is 100,000 cycles and we test our soles for 6×the same.
Then we check three things:
- Does the bottom still grip after all that wear?
- Does the cushioning still bounce back or has it gone flat?
- Did the middle of the shoe hold its shape or did it twist out?
MATERIALS MATTER
Before a single Apex gets stitched, we test what it's going to be made of.
Materials are the foundation of the shoe. Get them wrong, and no amount of clever design or careful assembly can save the final product. That's why every material that goes into an Apex gets put through multiple separate tests at a certified footwear lab before it's approved for production.
Here's what that actually looks like:
| TEST | OUR RESULT | INDUSTRY MIN. | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength (warp / weft) | 819 N and 673 N per 5cm | 400 N and 250 N | ✓ Pass |
| Elongation at Break | 125% and 145% | — | ✓ Pass |
| Tear Strength | 75.9 N and 71.7 N | 30 N and 20 N | ✓ Pass |
| Abrasion Resistance (Martindale) | 25,600 cycles, zero abrasion | — | ✓ Pass |
| Colour Fastness to Light | Grade 5 (highest possible) | — | ✓ Pass |
| Colour Fastness to Perspiration and Water | 4 to 4/5 across all fibre types | — | ✓ Pass |
| Colour Fastness to Crocking | 4/5 dry, 4/5 wet | — | ✓ Pass |
| Colour Migration | 4/5 — dyes stay put, no bleeding | — | ✓ Pass |
THE HUMAN IN THE LOOP
Here's the part machines can't do.
We have someone stationed at the factory whose entire job is to walk the floor and monitor every stage of production. Every stitch line, every bond, every finishing step. He micromanages the process on purpose because in footwear manufacturing, the difference between a great shoe and a mediocre one usually comes down to the thousand small decisions made during assembly, not the spec sheet.
MEET KHADEER
FACTORY QUALITY CHECK LEAD
Khadeer walks the factory floor every single day. Every stitch line, every bond, every finishing step. The Apex is built the way it is because of people like him who refuse to let a single detail slide.
The Apex isn't just another product in the sea of many. It's a shoe built with precision; each component chosen and tested for how Indians actually live.
Built to disappear on your feet so you can get on with your day.
We made this for the person on the move.