From the very beginning, one of Friedrich Hackner’s main goals was to improve comfort inside the shoe. That’s why, more than 40 years ago, he developed an entirely new shoe system featuring a removable, full-length footbed – a groundbreaking innovation at the time.
But even then, he was concerned not just with the idea of interchangeable footbeds – but with the functional shortcomings of conventional designs. After all, most footbeds – then as now – were made from latex blends or synthetic materials and were hardly capable of absorbing foot moisture or enabling breathability inside the shoe. What’s more, they were often based on petroleum-derived compounds – resulting in a negative environmental footprint.
And that had to change. What many other manufacturers simply accepted, Friedrich Hackner refused to ignore. He was convinced: true in-shoe comfort could never be achieved through half-hearted solutions.

This belief gave rise to Climatocork – a highly breathable footbed system based on the renewable natural material cork. Natural cork offers a wide range of material-specific advantages: it is lightweight, elastic, antibacterial, and thermally insulating. And thanks to its flexible cellular structure, it also provides outstanding cushioning properties. In short: it’s the ideal foundation for our footbed technology.
Climatocork is a prime example of our innovative spirit – and of what drives us forward: we take the inherent qualities of cork and refine them using specially developed manufacturing techniques, creating a footbed with high moisture absorption, maximum breathability, and exceptional wearing comfort.
This combination of natural origin, technical refinement, and artisanal precision makes Climatocork a core part of our philosophy. Because the Climatocork footbed is far more than just an insole – it is the heart of every Hackner shoe.

The Problem
The soles of the feet contain an average of around 370 sweat glands per square centimeter – more than twice as many as the forehead. These glands serve an important purpose: they release moisture to cool the body and prevent overheating. Even at moderate temperatures and with average activity levels, around 250 ml of sweat is released from the soles of the feet per day. Over the course of a typical 8-hour day, this adds up to more than 40 ml per foot – equivalent to about two shot glasses of liquid. Under physical stress, such as during sports, this amount can increase significantly. If this moisture is not effectively managed, it leads to a buildup inside the shoe – with common side effects like discomfort, increased odor, friction, or slippage. This, in turn, can result in blisters or bruised toenails – a well-known phenomenon in running.

The Solution
Climatocork offers a truly unique solution to the problem – absorbing moisture while delivering comfort in return. Our innovative manufacturing process fuses the footbed’s top layer with the Climatocork base without any adhesive layer. Unlike conventional footbeds, this allows moisture to be continuously transported from the foot, through the upper material, into the open-pored cork base – effectively preventing moisture buildup.
The result: Feet stay noticeably drier and comfortably tempered. The skin softens less easily and is better protected against blisters and irritation. At the same time, slippage inside the shoe is significantly reduced, and power transmission is optimized – which sustainably improves movement efficiency and overall performance. All of this is complemented by cork’s natural antibacterial properties, supporting a healthy microclimate inside the shoe.