The world’s first running slipper has been unveiled: the £140 slip-on shoe is designed specifically for women’s feet and claims to offer better support than lace-up alternatives

Every good runner knows that your choice of shoes is crucial.

But with options ranging from barefoot flats to sneakers so bouncy they almost feel like they’re springing, it can be tough to know where to start.

Now a shoemaker has unveiled what he calls the ultimate women’s running shoe. At first glance, you’d think it was a slipper.

The shoe, called QLVR (pronounced Clever), has a slip-on design but offers better support than lace-up alternatives, according to Martin Dean, 46.

“We’ve been tying our shoes since the Stone Age. The oldest shoes in the world date back to 3500 BC and they have laces. It’s time to evolve!” says Dean.

A shoemaker has unveiled what he calls the ultimate running shoe for women – and at first glance, you could mistake it for a slipper

Mr Dean, a fourth generation shoemaker from St Albans, decided to create the sports slipper after watching his daughters stand on the backs of their shoes to take them off.

“Like most kids, my two daughters, Chloe, 18, and Yasmin, 14, would always step on the backs of their expensive trainers to take them off,” he explained.

‘The majority of athletic shoes are made to fit the shape of a man’s foot and then scaled down to women’s sizes in the same way to save on production costs.

‘Using laces makes this work to some extent, because the laces absorb the slack.

‘But women’s feet are anatomically shaped differently than men’s feet; they are narrower at the heel, have a higher instep and a wider toe box.

‘They don’t fit properly and this can cause the foot to slide too far forward, causing friction, blisters, reduced stability and ultimately injuries.’

Mr Dean, a fourth generation shoemaker from St Albans, decided to create the performance slipper after watching his daughters standing on the backs of their trainers to take them off

“The majority of athletic shoes are made to fit the shape of a man’s foot, and then similarly scaled down to women’s sizes to save on production costs,” Dean explains.

Mr. Dean took his inspiration for the shoe from dog ball launchers, which have a 360-degree locking mechanism.

“I looked at how the molded cup on the end of the stick mirrors the shape of the ball. It’s in a closed position so it can expand and contract to hold the ball in place, but still have enough elasticity to hold the ball firmly until it’s launched,” he said.

‘I thought we could turn that around and use it as a closure system for a shoe.

“That was the inspiration, and then came the eureka moment.”

The shoe has a zigzag design, which means it’s flexible enough to put on easily, but stable enough not to need laces.

The shoe has a zigzag shape, which means it is flexible enough to put on, but stable enough that no laces are needed

Nicolle, Mr Dean’s wife and co-founder of QLVR, was one of the first to test the shoe and again described it as ‘surprisingly satisfying’

Nicolle, Mr. Dean’s wife and co-founder of QLVR, was one of the first to test the shoe.

“The first time I put the shoe on, it’s a surprisingly satisfying feeling. It’s unexpected to feel such good support around your foot without having to lace it up first,” she said.

‘The shoe looks a little quirky and different, but once you put it on, you understand why it has to be different.’

The team wanted to make the shoe not only comfortable and supportive, but also as environmentally friendly as possible, so they opted for a range of plant-based materials.

These include dandelion rubber foam, sugar cane and plant fibers, yarn made from sustainably grown eucalyptus wood and a polymer made from castor beans.

“Our goal is to make products that perform best while causing the least possible harm to the environment,” said Mr Dean.

‘That’s why we look for alternative materials for every component that deliver the best performance and are better for the environment at the same time.’

QLVR trainers are now available for pre-salebefore a Kickstarter campaign launches on July 23. The goal is to raise enough money to pay for the production tools, initial production, and to eventually get the QLVR shoes into stores.

Mr Dean added: ‘With the QLVR running slippers, we’ve solved a problem everyone faces with their shoes: no more squashing the back of your shoes, no more bending over to put them on, and no more stopping to tie your laces.

‘This is the evolution of the sports shoe!’