our heritage wall
1974
Hi-Tec Sports is founded
by Frank van Wezel
In the appropriately named village of Shoeburyness, England. Frank’s love for sports leads him to build an innovative, lightweight and instantly comfortable Squash shoe.
1978
Hi-Tec is established
in the USA
With the introduction of the world’s first lightweight hiking boot, the Sierra Sneaker, a sport shoe for the mountains.
1981
The silver Shadow is
launched
With the introduction of the world’s first lightweight hiking boot, the Sierra Sneaker, a sport shoe for the mountains.
1982
the MAGNUM
brand is born
following a direct demand from the FBI to Hi-Tec for lightweight, athletic, and comfortable uniform boots.
1988
Hi-Tec was floated on the London Stock Exchange
and became a public company.
1990
The Altitude IV
becomes the number 1 hiking boot in the US. Mountaineer Adrian Crane climbs the 50 highest peaks in each of the 50 states in the USA in a record time of 101 days.
1992
Kings Cup boots
featured on 52
Premiership players
In the first season of England’s world famous Premiership Football competition, Hi-Tec’s dominant position in sport was confirmed with the best-selling Kings Cup boots featured on 52 Premiership players.
1995
Wimbledon Tennis
Championship
Hi-Tec becomes the Official Shoe
of the Wimbledon Tennis
Championship.
1996
The Adventure
Racing Series.
Combining its roots of sport and outdoor, Hi-Tec introduces a revolutionary new multi-activity event in USA, The Adventure Racing Series.
2000
Frank privatizes
the company.
2007
the world’s first
game improvement
performance golf shoe
Golfer Padraig Harrington
wins 3 major Championships
wearing Hi-Tec’s technologically
advanced CDT Golf shoe.
2008
Hi-Tec is the first to launch the revolutionary
ion-mask™
Golfer Padraig Harrington wins 3
major Championships wearing
Hi-Tec’s technologically advanced CDT Golf shoe, the world’s first game improvement performance golf shoe.
2010
Hi-Tec releases the liquid
mountaineering video
which becomes viral with over 15 million views and wins the 2011 Cannes Lions award at the Creativity Awards in France.
2011
Ed van Wezel, son of
Frank, becomes CEO
and the Global Headquarters is moved to the Netherlands, the country of origin of the van Wezel family
2013
Hi-Tec wins Footwear
Product of the year at
the Great Outdoors Awards
with the introduction of the popular ‘Zuuk’, an incredibly lightweight multisport shoe.
2014
To celebrate its
40th anniversary
Hi-Tec debuts the Classic74, inspired by the design of the company’s original Squash Classic.
2015
Hi-Tec sponsored athlete
and three-time World
Squash Champion,
Nick Matthews
is officially awarded his Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne.
2016
Premium Sneaker line
HTS74 is launched
Hi-Tec is the first outdoor footwear brand to partner with world-famous tyre brand, Michelin. The outcome? A high performance technical outsole providing superior traction.
2017
LIVE EXTRAORDINARY
An active athleisure collection is launched in HI-TEC SA.
2019
Nelson Mandela’s
original Hi-Tec
Tennis Shoes
return to South Africa from Amsterdam and now displayed at Hi-Tec Stellenbosch.
2020
The proud and hungry
Hi-Tec SA family inspired
to push new boundaries
& get the world outside.
2021
Hi-Tec launches one of the most iconic campaigns in the brand’s history.
“The purpose of freedom is to create it for others.”
These words belong to South Africa’s late president, Nelson Mandela, and in July 2021 Hi-Tec paid tribute to Madiba’s legacy by re-releasing his famous Wimbledon Sneaker, housed at the Stellenbosch Concept Store.
The brand;s ambitious walk is one that raised significant funds for the children of South-Africa.