X-Claw: our outdoor footwear range tested and approved by professionals in the field

Grip, stability, aesthetics, durability, sturdiness: these are just some of the many qualities of our new X-Claw outdoor shoe. And it's not Coverguard who says so, but the professionals who tested it! In order to offer equipment that is adapted to the needs and constraints of the field, our shoes were worn for several months, under real-life conditions, by employees of companies in a wide variety of sectors. Coverguard's approach is optimized by its Coverlab, a community of in-house and external industry experts who work together to develop PPE capable of maximizing the potential of each user through in-depth tests and studies.

For the X-Claw, SARL Thierry Kerguelin Paysagiste, managed by one of Worldskills France's experts, took part in the tests. MD Groupe, specialists in the building and civil engineering sector, under the leadership of QSE manager Cédric Benon.

For these two professionals, our shoes are as attractive as the experience.

Introduce us to your respective companies!

Thierry Kerguelin: I've been a self-employed landscape gardener in Châteaugay near Clermont-Ferrand for some thirty years. Today, 6 or 7 people work with me to create and maintain gardens and green spaces. I'm also a trade expert for landscape gardeners at the Worldskills 2024 international competition. I help them improve their techniques and work to the millimetre!

Cédric Benon: As for me, I'm QSE manager at MD-Groupe. We have companies involved in public works and roads, but also in civil engineering, rehabilitation, extension and elevation, earthworks, sounding and also special sites with deep foundations or asbestos removal. It's quite a wide range of activities, with very different trades and therefore different PPE requirements, which I manage in-house.

How did you get to know Coverguard, its team and its products?

Thierry Kerguelin: I met the Coverguard team during the French team's first Worldskills training session. They asked me to join the Coverlab for the testing phase of the X-Claw shoe. I was having tendon problems at the time, so I thought it would be interesting to test a shoe to make it optimal and help me work in better conditions. Three weeks later, I received my pair of shoes!

Cédric Benon: When I took up my post at MD-Groupe in 2023, the whole company was already equipped with Coverguard 4-in-1 parkas. That's how I got to know the brand. Then, a few months ago, Matthieu Basset, the footwear product manager, contacted me. He told me about the X-Claw project, and it turned out to be a good idea, because at the time, we were using two types of shoes: one pair that was comfortable but not very resistant, and another that was much more resistant but very uncomfortable. He showed me the X-Claw prototype and I agreed to test it. We equipped around thirty employees.

“The approach is really very good, with a real ability to listen to our needs and expectations”.

What did you think of Coverguard's approach and its Coverlab: designing PPE in collaboration with companies to adapt them perfectly to expectations in the field?

Thierry Kerguelin: This approach, like Coverguard's partnership with the Worldskills, is very relevant. It's important for brands to get closer to their users, so that they don't miss out on certain things and offer products adapted to their practices. By having their products tested by a panel of professionals, they bring back a whole series of comments and expectations that it's important to take into account.

Cédric Benon: Above all, it's very relevant to address different professions, as Coverguard has done. Each profession has its own specificities. The approach is really very good, with a real ability to listen to our needs and expectations. This ensures that our employees always have PPE adapted to their mission and working conditions. In fact, our employees readily agreed to play along. That's what they're looking for.

Would you say that adapted PPE optimizes the tasks performed by the people wearing it?

Thierry Kerguelin: Safety footwear is undoubtedly the PPE with the greatest impact on the quality of the work performed! When you put them on in the morning, you don't get your day off to a good start. You know you're not going to work in peace. 30 years ago, employers dictated what shoes to buy, chose the cheapest ones and made sure they fit everyone. Today, things have changed. As a boss, I'm all too aware of the discomfort this can represent. When you don't have that constraint, you're free-spirited and can concentrate on your task.

Cédric Benon: Absolutely. In our company, with our old shoes that were quickly damaged, our employees didn't feel safe. It occupied all their thoughts and impacted on their work, that's obvious. It's very important to have equipment that's comfortable, robust and safe, so that you can get on with your job.

“With the X-Claw, I feel cushioned, like I'm walking on the moon”.

What were your first impressions of our new X-Claw shoes?

Thierry Kerguelin: First of all, I was surprised by the slightly compensated sole; my heel was higher than usual, and that was really very pleasant. Safety shoes are often not laced all the way up so as not to be bothered by the tongue. But here, I did it and I wasn't bothered at all. I had a good range of movement, even with the laces tied all the way up. This is a good thing, as it also ensures a better seal and avoids getting wood shavings in your shoes when chainsawing. So it was a very positive first impression!

Cédric Benon: At home too. As far as aesthetics were concerned, we were also unanimous. The black leather, the blue sole: everyone thought they looked good and went with every outfit. The materials are a guarantee of quality, and the colors a look to die for. So, on discovering the model, our staff were quick to take off their shoes and try them on straight away. In the first impressions, it was the feeling of lightness that stood out the most.

And then, as the days and weeks of testing went by, what was the feedback?

Thierry Kerguelin: For me, the question of comfort is essential. I need shoes that aren't too heavy so that I can still lift my feet at the end of the day. Especially when you're riding on wet, sticky terrain. That's the case with the X-Claw. They provide a cushioned feel, and I feel like I'm walking on the moon, weightless. I also like the fact that they're high-cut and hold my ankles well. The tongue at the back is very pleasant. You pull on it and the shoe slips on easily, no need for a shoehorn. The sole is also very satisfying, giving us good stability. Last but not least, a very important detail: the very good length of the laces and their resistance. On safety shoes, they're often too short. In short, we adapted very quickly. And I didn't get any blisters, which can sometimes be the case with new shoes.

Cédric Benon: Exactly, some operators even told me they felt like they were wearing slippers! I've also had very good feedback on the shoe's cushioning, particularly from people in civil engineering. The X-Claw are so comfortable that nobody wants to give them back: they've been adopted.

So much the better! Especially as they've been designed to last...

Thierry Kerguelin: In any case, they're highly resistant to humidity, they're very watertight and don't warp or harden in contact with water. After three or four months of use, my X-Claws show no signs of weakness.

Cédric Benon: The shoe immediately seemed quite robust indeed. It looks very high quality. Time will tell...

“In our company, the X-Claw shoe was widely acclaimed”.

Greater safety, greater comfort, less physical and mental strain: can we say that this equipment helps to maintain good health at work?

Thierry Kerguelin: Yes, thanks to the X-Claw's lightly-compensated sole, I've felt an effect on my well-being and health. Usually, I tend to press hard on my heels when I walk. Now I feel I'm no longer using my body in the same way, my center of gravity is better. And there's less stress on my Achilles heel. That's really important, because an Achilles heel means 6 months off work!

Cédric Benon: The fact that the X-Claw is so comfortable and offers good grip obviously has an impact on well-being. It helps prevent injuries and makes you feel good in the workplace.

After these very conclusive tests, are you going to include the X-Claw in your PPE for your employees and the young people you train?

Thierry Kerguelin: As soon as it goes on sale, I'll definitely suggest they work with it!Today, I don't have any other shoes, I wear them every day and already recommend them to people around me.I talk to the young people who take part in Worldskills about them, and I feel they're quite receptive.It's great that some of them are joining the Coverlab.The younger generation has a relevant view of PPE.

Cédric Benon: In our company, the X-Claw shoe has been widely acclaimed.So it will be easy to offer it to other employees.

Today, at MD-Groupe, 160 people could benefit from it. We also plan to carry out other tests of this type with Coverlab. We've been won over by the approach, and we're open to any suggestions for improving the safety of our operators on worksites, and beyond.