TCF POST Desk
LINDON, Utah, Oct. 1, 2026: HandsFree Labs (HFL), the company behind Kizik, has launched Blue Ox, a work boot brand aimed at tradespeople. It is HFL's first brand built specifically for industrial and protective footwear.
Blue Ox brings HFL's hands-free entry technology to work boots, a category that HFL says has changed little in generations. Lace-up, pull-on and zip-up styles still dominate, even though workers often have their hands full with tools and materials. With the mechanism, the wearer steps in and the boot locks, then steps on the heel to release it.
HFL was founded in 2017 and holds more than 200 granted and pending patents. It has so far applied its technology to athletic, lifestyle and casual shoes, mainly through Kizik. Founder Mike Pratt called the jobsite "one of the toughest, grittiest tests" the technology has faced. COO Jason Lee said workers such as electricians, framers and ranchers shouldn't have to stop to tie their boots in the morning or handle mud- and grease-covered boots at night.
The launch includes two styles:
◆ Stockton: a moc toe and wedged outsole, designed for farming, ranching and other outdoor trades. The wedge shape is meant to help shed mud on uneven ground.
◆ Magna: a round toe and heeled outsole, aimed at welders and electricians who want to avoid debris catching at the toe.
Both styles come in steel toe or soft toe and share a waterproof build and a stitched Goodyear welt, which allows a worn boot to be resoled rather than replaced. Steel toe versions carry ASTM F2413-24 certification for impact and electrical hazard protection.
