Kempa x Michelin

Racing tyres meet handball field

Maximum grip at absolute top speed and glaring squeaks at rapid changes of direction. Handball and racing have much more in common than one might think. That’s why Kempa and Michelin have been working closely together for years now.

„It was this one phone call from Michelin at the company headquarters in Balingen that started it all.“ That’s what it says in the Kempa catalog of 2011 and since then, the MICHELIN soles of Kempa handball shoes have regularly set new standards.

Since 2003, Michelin has been transferring the technology of its own racing tyres to the design of shoe soles. Since then, Soles by MICHELIN have become a household name in the outdoor and sports sector and are a symbol of quality and durability.

In handball as well as in racing, the same demands apply to the soles and tyres: optimum grip with the least possible abrasion. It is with this objective in mind, that the experts of both brands develop and perfect the Kempa shoe models. The rubber compound of the shoe soles combines the technology of racing tyres with the sport-specific characteristics and movements of the players.

The distribution of roles in the manufacturing process is clearly defined according to expertise. While Kempa develops and improves the design of the shoes, Michelin focuses on the material mixture and optimization of the soles. The result: handball shoes with exceptional grip, based on the technology of racing tyres and ideally adapted to the requirements of the athletes.

2022

UPLIFT YOUR POWER! – The duel between WING and ATTACK continues in 2022. This year, for the first time, the ATTACK will appear in a very light and bright design. However, the following still applies: WING for lightness and ATTACK for stability.

What they still have in common are the Soles by MICHELIN.

2021

WING vs ATTACK 2.0 – With a new shine and proven technology, the duel between WING vs ATTACK goes into the next round.

The arcade style with its dynamic black and coloured accents gives the shoes a cool and modern look. What remains are the Soles by MICHELIN.

KEMPA HANDBALLSCHUHE WING LITE 2.0

2020

WING vs. ATTACK 2.0 shoes reach the next level of development in 2020. Both models have received a complete optical and technological update to suit every type of player.

The WING sole with HYPER GRIP gives excellent grip during impression and landing. In the ATTACK, thicker profile edges guarantee grip in every direction of movement. However, both shoes still have one thing in common: Soles by MICHELIN.

2018

The duel begins. Kempa and Michelin continue to develop the WING vs ATTACK models. The soles are precisely adapted to the requirments of the differnet types of players.

In the next few years, color and technology updates as well as several special models will be launched on the market. The neon yellow CAUTION shoes will be the starting point. The alarm red Ebbe & Flut collection will be released for the World Cup in Germany in 2019.

2017

Two years after the launch, ATTACK gets its opponent. The new WING will be the lightest handball shoe on the market, more filigree and for agile player types, with maximum grip for fast starts.

Equipped with a HONEYCOMB PROFILE, the HOLE PROFILE, TORSION AID, a FLEX SECTOR and the PIVOT for optimal turning movements, the MICHELIN soles of both shoes – WING and ATTACK – set a new standard.

2015

The name of the new model is also the name of the new series and will characterize Kempa handball shoes for the next years: ATTACK. The MICHELIN sole impresses with 15% more grip performance and increased wear resistance.

The technology is now being extended to the upper construction of the shoe. A higher heel clip gives the shoe more stability and ensures even more safety during the powerful and fast movements of athletes.

2013

Kempa and Michelin bring even more grip know-how from the race track to the handball field. An improved rubber compound doubles the durability of the new LIGHTtech and FORCEtech models.

In addition, the soles are optimized especially for handball players. The newly developed honeycomb structure of the sole reduces dust absorption. For the players this means: extreme grip, optimal ground contact and maximum safety.

2011

The starting signal of the successful story. After months of development and fine tuning, Kempa launches the LITEtech and FORCEtech models – the first handball shoes with MICHELIN soles.

The rubber formulation of the shoe sole is based on the technology of the internationally successful racing tyres. The outstanding grip and exceptional wear resistance mark a new era in the production of handball shoes.

2022

What they still have in common are the Soles by MICHELIN.

2021

KEMPA HANDBALLSCHUHE WING LITE 2.0

WING vs ATTACK 2.0 – With a new shine and proven technology, the duel between WING vs ATTACK goes into the next round.

The arcade style with its dynamic black and coloured accents gives the shoes a cool and modern look. What remains are the Soles by MICHELIN.

2020

WING vs. ATTACK 2.0 shoes reach the next level of development in 2020. Both models have received a complete optical and technological update to suit every type of player.

2018

The duel begins. Kempa and Michelin continue to develop the WING vs ATTACK models. The soles are precisely adapted to the requirments of the differnet types of players.

2017

Two years after the launch, ATTACK gets its opponent. The new WING will be the lightest handball shoe on the market, more filigree and for agile player types, with maximum grip for fast starts.

2015

2013

Kempa and Michelin bring even more grip know-how from the race track to the handball field. An improved rubber compound doubles the durability of the new LIGHTtech and FORCEtech models.

2011

The starting signal of the successful story. After months of development and fine tuning, Kempa launches the LITEtech and FORCEtech models – the first handball shoes with MICHELIN soles.

Everywhere a great team

Kempa and Michelin also work together outside the field of shoe development. Michelin has been a firm and reliable partner of Kempa events for years. The popular Kempa Challenge, a training camp for children and young people under the supervision of professional handball players, as well as road shows for the presentation of the new shoe models to amateur clubs, were realized by both brands in close cooperation.

The appearance of Uwe Gensheimer and Jannik Kohlbacher at the IAA in Frankfurt in 2017 will also remain unforgettable. At the Michelin stand, the national players presented the new Kempa handball shoes, answered questions and signed autographs for the fans.