Founded as the British Boot, Shoe and Allied Trades Research Association in 1919,[2] it has since extended its expertise to cover other consumer product industry sectors including furniture, safety products, clothing, floorcoverings, leathergoods, homeware, and cleaning technology.
SATRA is also a Notified Body for EU Directives on personal protective equipment, toys and construction products.
[4] In 1952, SATRA was approached by The British Expedition to produce 34 pairs of boots to meet the challenge of climbing in one of the most inhospitable environments on the planet.
The boots were designed to provide a high level of thermal insulation for use in high altitude and saw a combination of inner vapour barrier, mesh insoles and an integrated rubber outer gaiter: the water resistant vapour barrier's inner layer stopped the boots becoming soaked with sweat then freezing; the mesh insole allowed sweat to disperse from the socks; the outer gaiter prevented melting snow soaking in to the boot itself.
There were five layers of Ceiba pentandra•kapok insulation, a naturally hollow fibre and a forerunner of synthetic versions.