On the Horizon: Remind Insoles Founder John Makens Discusses Upcoming Technology, Products and Designs

In the dynamic world of skateboarding and snowboarding, staying ahead of the curve is essential on all fronts. From boards to boots, wheels to liners, footwear and, of course, insoles—no piece of the puzzle should be overlooked! On the heels of that, leading the charge in foot comfort innovation is Remind Insoles, which is exactly why we're here. With winter and the new year approaching, I recently had the chance to sit down with John Makens, founder of Remind Insoles, for an exclusive sneak peek at what’s coming next.

Join us as we dive into the exciting new technology, products, designs and more that are on the horizon—from upgraded classics like the Medic, Destin, Cush and Remedy—to fresh releases and products, discover what’s next from the brand revolutionizing foot comfort and performance.

I know there are quite a few new products and updates coming out this year and early next year — without getting too much into detail (we’ll get to the nitty gritty details in a sec), what can we expect? Just in general.

We've been working really hard on redesigning our existing line and adding some new products as well. While keeping our key ingredients in the product recipe we also added some upgrades and updates that bring everything to a whole new level. We've been testing this product for the past couple years and the results and feedback have been super amazing. I'm super excited to unveil the new goods and get them out to everyone's feet.

As far as new technology updates, can you  break down how each of the staple Remind insoles (Medic, Cush, Destin  and Remedy) are being upgraded? And are there any brand new products on  the way?

We still have all the core staples in the line Medic, Cush, Destin and Remedy. What we basically did is redevelop and improve all the layers with upgraded higher performing materials. Our top layer material ATMOS FOAM is our comfort/impact layer. This is a micro cellular activated urethane that reduces impact to less than 10%. We add a new layer of custom forming therapeutic material that is an advanced cushioning co-polymer. This material is great for self molding to each individual's foot shape for a custom fit. One of our greatest new updates to the entire line is a high impact absorbent super polymer formula called PURE FORM. We added this feature to the bottom of every insole to improve impact absorption and durability even more than before. The combination of all these materials working together is an unbeatable match.

We also have a few new additions to our line that we are super stoked about.  The first one is a 3/4 Orthotic which is great for those stock footbeds that are glued in or also casual dress shoes that don't have a lot of room. The second is a sustainable Cork line of Cush, Medic, and Remedy. Cork is a great solution for a sustainable material that still has high performance characteristics.  Last but not least we are especially excited about our revamped Solution Boot Liner.  We have been working on these for the past few years and can't wait to get these puppies on people's feet.

In terms of new products, what can you tell us about the new 3/4 insoles and what are the benefits of those?

We all have that uncomfortable shoe in our closet that is a dress shoe or has glued in insoles. The 3/4 Orthotic is a solution to turning that shoe into something much more comfortable.  It will give you arch support and impact cushioned support in those shoes that don't have the room for a traditional replacement insole.

Let’s  talk snowboard boot liners—what sets these apart from the rest and why  did you choose “now” to bring these into the line? If I recall, you’ve  done liners before, right? How are these different?

Yes we offered liners several years ago and they were a great success. We spent all these years redeveloping the liners and updating what was an already amazing product to optimize durability and comfort as well as heat mold-ability. We also include our premium Remedy insoles included. We wanted to bring a whole new level of comfort and performance to snowboard/ski boots that is now an option.

What  about brand and skate shop collabs? Is there a new program in the works  that will allow businesses to create custom branded insoles?

We have some exciting collabs coming out and in the works. Shoe customization is a big thing these days and to be able to partner and work with your favorite brands, shops and artists is what keeps things fun and creative. Stay tuned on the next drops.

A  big part of what makes Remind insoles so rad — despite the technology  and countless benefits — is the art that goes along with them. Who are  some artists you’re working with right now and what was the inspiration  behind some of these new designs?

We have a large network of very talented artists that we work with. The whole creative process and concepts of each design is a joy to create and watch come to life. We work with Schoph who is one of my favorite artists from the UK.  He's been doing the Travis Rice and Bryan Iguchi graphics for the past several years. Mark Kowalchuck who is a great friend and has been doing Remind art for the past decade.  Pat Milbery who is a childhood friend and we've been working on some great initiatives like with B4BC and SOS outreach which are foundations that help give back to people in need. The inspiration for the art is always to tell fun stories and create stoke. 

Have you tried any of the samples yet? What were your initial thoughts?

They are so insanely good! I Can't wait for everyone to try them out!

When can we expect all this rad new stuff to drop? 

We are looking for a Fall 2024 drop... Any day now!