HAIX has launched the new FIRE EAGLE 2.0 EXG which is the world’s first firefighting boot made from lightweight EXTRAGUARD upper material.
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Press Release, Mainburg, 02 June 2025: The HAIX FIRE EAGLE 2.0 EXG is the world’s first firefighting boot made from lightweight EXTRAGUARD* upper material from the GORE-TEX brand.
- Extremely lightweight, flexible and moisture-resistant: The firefighting boot is based on the popular FIRE EAGLE Lightweight and is the first model in the world to utilise this innovative material.
- Ready for action in an instant thanks to RapidFit: The RapidFit fastening system from HAIX has proven itself; once adjusted to the individual fit, the fastening can be tightened in an instant with just one hand.
EXTRAGUARD Upper Material In Detail: The EXTRAGUARD outer material sets new standards in the FIRE EAGLE 2.0 EXG: reduced weight, quick drying after operations in wet environments and protection against everyday chemicals as well as viruses and blood characterise the material. Whether in floods, during lengthy fire-fighting operations or in a road accident on a rainy day – firefighters are often called upon to work in wet environments. This places special demands on personal protective equipment. The 3-layer EXTRAGUARD upper material is particularly robust, abrasion-resistant and at the same time lighter than conventional leather, yet it absorbs practically no moisture from the outside. This means that the boot retains its low weight even after long periods of use in wet conditions and the wearer’s feet remain warm and dry. The firefighting boot can be easily cleaned under running water; special care products such as those used for leather boots are not required.
The new EXTRAGUARD upper technology from Gore reduces the weight and offers a new level of comfort over the entire service life of the boots. The upper material is extremely robust and offers protection against heat and flames in accordance with DIN EN 15090.
The new EXTRAGUARD upper consists of 3 Layers:
- a highly abrasion-resistant and flame-retardant outer protective layer,
- a functional layer that insulates and protects against mechanical dangers and
- an innovative construction inner layer that hardly absorbs absorbs hardly any water.
This 3-layer upper material is sealed with GORE-SEAM tape and then processed together with the GORE-TEX CROSSTECH inner lining to create a firefighting boot. The seam sealing prevents moisture from penetrating from the outside via the seams. The EXTRAGUARD upper technology ensures that the boot absorbs only minimal water from the outside, even after months of intensive use and loss of the water-repellent impregnation. The GORE-TEX CROSSTECH material provides protection against chemicals and blood-borne pathogens..
The advantages at first glance:
- remains light in wet conditions
- permanently low water absorption
- reduced heat loss in wet conditions
- fast re-drying
- easy cleaning, no maintenance required
- flame-resistant in accordance with DIN EN 15090
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Editor’s Footnote: A little bit of history. The late Ewald Haimerl, son of HAIX founder Xaver and long-time managing director of the Bavarian footwear company, was not only a master shoemaker in his father’s business but also Deputy Commander of the Mainburg fire brigade. In the 1990s Ewald designed a revolutionary leather functional firefighter boot, the first in a range which soon achieved both national and international popularity as well as condemning previous rubber firemen’s boot designs to the history books, and after this success he branched out into designing and manufacturing equally functional military combat boots.
* Over the last few months I have been trying out a pair of EXTRAGUARD combat boots, supplied by W.L.Gore, over various types of terrain and under different climatic conditions. If all goes to plan I hope to be able to wear them in the Middle East in mid-summer and after this outing I will update readers on my thoughts… insha’Allah!
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