HAIX®, a hi-tech manufacturer of specialist footwear based in Bavaria, Germany, has gained its reputation for reliability and quality in footwear for firefighters, police and military forces, emergency services and taskforces worldwide. HAIX® focuses on protecting operators from the day-to-day hazards of demanding, dangerous and life-saving roles, while maintaining outstanding comfort. Its innovative design and hi-tech approach is inspired by the personal experiences of professional firefighters within the company.
HAIX® was founded by Xaver Haimerl in 1948, as a hiking and work boot manufacturer. It was Xaver’s son, Ewald Haimerl, who steered HAIX® on its current course. As the deputy chief of Mainburg’s fire service, Ewald was unhappy with the boots that he and his firefighter colleagues were supplied with. So, in 1992, he applied the skills learned working in his father’s factory to designing custom boots to specifically fit the needs of firefighters.
Over nearly 30 years, HAIX® has expanded its product range and today HAIX boots support heroes in more than 80 countries across the world.
“Aid workers dealing with the Fukushima disaster, the Haiti earthquake and the typhoon in the Philippines put their trust in HAIX footwear designed for the emergency services. We equip armies, task forces and police all over the world with functional footwear. These shoes have been developed with the reality of what happens in practice in mind – often in collaboration with the relevant decision makers,” says Simon Ash, Sales manager HAIX UK.
Footwear for every challenge
In the UK, HAIX boots support the day to day missions and rescue work of heroes in the military and the emergency services, including firefighters, police and coastguard volunteers.
Her Majesty’s Coastguard provides year-round search and rescue with 352 HM Coastguard rescue teams located in stations around the UK. Its 3000 volunteers chose HAIX boots, and Richard Hackwell, Head of Coastal Resources for HM Coastguard, says: “Our volunteers work hard, and we need a boot that can keep up and work just as hard as they do. Rescue missions can last for long periods of time when searching for missing people; our volunteers are lifting loads, carrying people and working on a variety of terrains, so it is important to ensure they have the best support available for their feet.”
Supporting firefighters, every step of the way
As well as working with emergency services teams directly, HAIX also supports charitable causes that care for active and retired emergency services professionals physically, mentally and financially. One of these causes is the British Firefighter Challenge, an annual event that sees former and currently serving firefighters compete in a series of gruelling strength and endurance tests.
The 2019 edition, held in Watford, saw 186 firefighters compete in the event, raising a total of nearly £7,000 of donations for the British Firefighter Charity. HAIX, as Team GB’s official footwear sponsor, provided each member of the team with a pair of Black Eagle trainers to wear during training, as well as a pair of Fire Eagle Boots to wear during the Challenge itself.
Simon Ash adds, “Whether in Watford or Devon, Los Angeles or Kosovo– wherever firefighters are deployed, wherever lives are being saved, wherever absolute reliability is demanded of footwear in the field – that’s where HAIX’s premium quality boots are an essential piece of kit.
“Our customers entrust us with the everyday safety of their employees and our shoes enable them to fulfil their missions. All of us at team HAIX® are proud to say that heroes wear HAIX® and our objective is to offer our loyal fans the best protective shoes in the world”.