Germany's HEZO: Scan with Your Phone, 3D Print Your Custom Cycling Shoes

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March 29, 2026 Applications 9894

German startup HEZO Sports has introduced an innovative system: take three photos of your feet with a mobile app, and they will use FDM 3D printing technology to create a pair of custom road or gravel cycling shoes just for you.

The fit of cycling shoes can make or break the riding experience. Even the slightest pinch or pressure point can lead to numbness and pain in the feet, completely ruining the joy of cycling. HEZO's goal is to solve this "poor fit" pain point at a more accessible price point.

Founded in 2022, HEZO developed a production system that combines smartphone-based foot scanning with FDM 3D printing. Users take three photos of their feet with the app, and the system collects 1,000 data points per foot with a claimed accuracy of 1 millimeter. This data is fed into proprietary software that generates a shoe geometry perfectly contoured to the individual's foot shape, with production then completed in Germany.

When it comes to pricing, HEZO has found an excellent balance. Compared to some 3D-printed cycling shoes on the market that cost up to $1,649, HEZO's gravel shoes start at €249 (approximately $284) and road shoes at €279 (approximately $319), putting them in line with mid-to-high-end traditional products.

HEZO's shoes feature a unique "onion-like" layered construction: an inner layer of 3D-printed TPU foam liner that conforms to the foot, and an outer layer of rigid 3D-printed MonoShell for support. This process, by precisely conforming to the foot's shape, directly eliminates the need for traditional insoles.

In terms of products, the Wolfland 01 gravel shoe and Helu 03 road shoe use polypropylene plastic filament for the shell, while the Helu Two Carbon uses PA6 carbon filament for increased rigidity. Both the inner liners and shells are washable, replaceable, and available in multiple colors. All models use the convenient Fidlock Winch magnetic closure system.

Currently, orders require a 8 to 12 week wait, with most of that time being the printing queue. However, a customer satisfaction rate as high as 97% suggests this wait might just be worth it.