Gold Standard ISPO Award for ‘Torpey Kláw’
Torpey, Ireland’s market leader in bamboo hurley technology, is proud to announce that its ground-breaking hurling glove, the Torpey Kláw, has won a coveted ISPO Award. The Kláw combines cutting-edge protective materials with razor-sharp grip and feather-light feel. Its unique fabric stiffens on impact to protect the hand while maintaining dexterity – ideal for the demands of hurling and camogie. ISPO hosts this flagship annual global event in Munich, Germany for 80,000 businesses from 120 countries. This recognition marks the first time an Irish company has received this prestigious international honour for excellence in sports innovation.
ISPO, founded in 1970 in Munich, Germany, is the world’s largest and most internationally influential platform for the global sports industry. Each year, it gathers over 80,000 professionals from more than 120 countries — from industry leaders and start-ups to technology providers, brands, and retailers. The ISPO Award represents the gold standard in global sports product innovation, celebrating exceptional design, functionality, and forward-thinking performance.
The Torpey Kláw is the result of six years of dedicated research, testing, and collaboration between clinicians, designers, and material scientists. Conceived and engineered at Torpey HQ in Co. Clare and validated through testing at Loughborough University’s Sports Technology Institute, the Kláw integrates state-of-the-art protective textiles that harden upon impact, providing superior hand protection while remaining light, flexible, and breathable. This innovation sets a new benchmark for safety and performance in hurling and camogie.
Seán Torpey, Managing Director of Torpey, said: “Winning the ISPO Award is a landmark achievement for us and for Irish sports innovation. The Kláw represents the culmination of years of scientific research, engineering, and deep understanding of our game’s unique challenges. This award underscores the Kláw’s breakthrough in achieving protection without compromising comfort or performance.”
Developed with input from clinicians such as Daniel Harte of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and product design specialists at Design Partners, the Kláw also drew crucial player insights from former Westmeath hurling captain Aonghus Clarke, who commented: “The Kláw balances comfort, protection, and performance perfectly. It’s a game-changer for players training hard and catching hundreds of fast-moving sliotars every week.”
While designed for the specific demands of hurling and camogie, Torpey believes the Kláw’s advanced impact-protection technology has potential applications across other high-impact sports — from cricket to lacrosse — marking it as a pioneering innovation with global reach.
Torpey Kláw costs €30, sizes XS-L for youth and S-XL for adults, and is on sale at https://www.torpey.ie
