While our bodies are the best asset that we have when we are playing sports, our equipment and our sportswear also play a key role in giving us the necessary improvements in our daily life. Centuries ago, sportswear didn’t need to be fancy and intricate as long as it was lightweight and didn’t wear down the athlete.
But as decades passed, sportswear soared in popularity as large corporations like Nike and Adidas sought to control the ever-evolving market.
As technology continues to progress, many corporations and business organizations have incorporated these advancements in clothing, footwear, and sportswear. The aggressive competition between these conglomerates has resulted in significant improvements in the quality of products and production efficiency.
What does the future hold when it comes to sportswear? Will we see more futuristic-looking designs? What are some practical features in these clothing items that impact athletes’ performance? Here are interesting facts about them.
Hypercooling Technology
The human body will produce a lot of heat when under a lot of physical pressure. In most cases, this pressure will result in sweating, which helps cool the body as an individual exercise for an extended period.
Companies like Nike, Adidas, and North Face have been producing high-tech fabric that can let the skin “breathe” while you’re exercising. The ‘hyper cooling’ technology that Nike has released for its leggings have intelligent sensors that can help vent out excess heat while providing a fair amount of compression.
Some variants of this sportswear can also protect the skin from overexposure to UV light and excess heat that might cause health complications.
Winter Sportswear
Even though sportswear is all about optimizing and improving athletes’ performance, it should keep the athlete comfortable while not limiting the range of movements. Athletes who play sports in cold weather conditions usually have to wear thicker sportswear to retain body heat.
But most companies and businesses that have been developing winter sportswear have to be conscious of the fact that these clothing pieces shouldn’t limit the performance of athletes, especially those who are skiing.
Fortunately, some companies are known for producing top-of-the-line and high-quality ski jackets. The Obermeyer skiing jacket is known for balancing functionality and comfort while retaining the wearer’s body heat throughout various environments.
Some companies are selling heated jackets. These high-tech jackets have built-in systems that can effectively monitor the body’s ambient body temperature. If the body feels cold, it provides even more insulation than usual. If the person is hot and sweaty, it provides more cooling to regulate the temperature.
Smartwatches
Since we live in a digital age, almost every device in the past few years can be connected to help individuals have an edge with data and information. Smartwatches and smart bands are known for being one of the most innovative means of tracking your activities.
Companies like Garmin are known for producing dedicated smartwatches specifically designed for sports or hiking. These are known for featuring GPS, a built-in heart rate sensor, and other sensors that can help measure your calories, the distance you have covered, and an altimeter for avid hikers.
Tech giants such as Samsung and Apple also have smartwatches paired with smartphones and other devices. Although these aren’t specifically targeted to sports enthusiasts, they’re known for having many features. Some Apple Watches are known for having blood oxygen and ECG features, which can be a bonus for those keen on their health.
Whatever your choice may be, it will depend on your personal preference and the features you want. Almost all the top-selling smartwatches in the industry can accurately measure data during your training and physical activities.
There is a variety of important sportswear that can improve sports enthusiasts and athletes’ performance. It’s important to note that even though these are high-tech innovations, the human body will always play a significant role in winning competitions, races, and challenges.
Are these innovations the pinnacle of technological advancement in sportswear? Only time will tell. There’s bound to be even more technological innovations in the coming years, and people should be excited about what’s rolling out of factories these days.
