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| The Zoom Vomero + 5 shoes from Nike help to correct gait |
Some years back, swimming received a boost from a new hydrodynamic swimsuit, the Fastskin by Speedo. It was invented by British designer and former competitive swimmer Fiona Fairhurst, together with Speedo’s R&D-team, Aqualab.
From the days when bare-foot runners occasionally made the news, sports has indeed come a long way. Compression clothing and specially designed sneakers are the order of the day now. And the best part is many of the latest models are now available in India.
Speedo’s full-body swimsuit and its successors — with the look of a superhero costume — are now standard swimwear.
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| Sneakers from Puma are designed to give a cushioning effect |
So what’s performance-boosting sportsgear? Simply put, these are specially designed apparel or footwear that enhance the performance of a sportsperson. Though you will still not get advanced footwear like ASICS or sports gear made by companies like CW-X or Opedix in India yet, you can definitely get more than basic stuff at brands like Nike, Reebok, Adidas and Puma.
Says fitness expert Rana-deep Moitra: “Performance enhancing apparel provide certain levels of surface pressure to different body parts. This helps to increase blood circulation and deliver more oxygen to the working muscles, thereby delaying fatigue and the build of lactic acid and continue to function for long.”
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Nike, for instance, has a range of high technology apparel spanning a wide range of sports like athletics, football, tennis and basketball. The company recently launched the Zoom Vomero + 5, shoes for runners which help to correct gait. These have elastic mesh panels to provide comfort and support through all phases of foot strike, a seam-free overlay which enhances support.
Nike has what are called ‘strategically placed blown rubbers’ which improve cushioning for a more efficient neutral stride. These are available for both men and women and are priced at Rs 8,500 and Rs 7,995, respectively.
“Performance enhancing apparel has moisture management technology. The garments are lighter, drier and cooler and help athletes maximise their energies,” says Sanjay Gangopadhyay, marketing director, Nike India.
Puma Sports uses cell technology for which it has a patent. “This technology helps take the moisture away from the body, bringing it to the surface of the T-shirt by using capillary action and helping it evaporate thereafter so that the fabric remains light,” says Rajiv Mehta, managing director, Puma Sports.
Puma also offers footwear that has a ‘hexagonal structure’ placed either in the sole, toe or across the surface of the shoe which gives a cushioning effect to the athlete. This provides lift while running and also corrects running posture.
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| The Reebok apparel is made of unique anti-sweat and anti-cold fabric; Zigtech is the latest footwear technology from Reebok which helps to reduce muscle wear and tear |
Apart from footwear, Puma sells T-shirts, jackets, vests, performance caps, track pants, shorts and swimsuits. There’s a lot of compression bodywear made of material like Lycra which can be worn under a T-shirt. These envelop the muscles and help tone them, especially for people who do high-intensity workouts. The brand has products for sailing, football, cricket and athletics. Prices start from Rs 1,000 for vests and go upwards of Rs 7,000 for footwear.
Zigtech is the latest footwear technology from Reebok. This promises to reduce wear and tear in key leg muscles by up to 20 per cent, allowing you to train harder for longer. The bottom unit features lightweight foam that is engineered into a geometric zigzag shape which helps absorb the impact of heel strike and sends a wave of energy along the length of the shoe propelling the athlete forward.
In apparel, Reebok has X-Static, where a heat regulating thermodynamic silver is combined with EPA registered anti-microbial. The result is an anti-odour, anti-sweat and anti-cold fabric. The silver embedded fibres react to the body's temperature, keeping you cool when it's hot and vice versa. Priced upwards of Rs 1,299, these are available in all Reebok stores.
Nike uses technology to create seamless garments that prevent chafing which have ergonomic side seams for better movement, and something called ‘aerographic technology’ for ventilation. This encourages breathability, moisture management, thermal insulation and protection against extreme climate conditions. Prices start from Rs 795 and go up to Rs 10,900.
Adidas, too, has a host of technologies like Techfit to create compression garments that reduce muscle vibration. Adistar is the luxury running shoe by Adidas that lots of athletes prefer. “It comes with the Geofit technology and comes with an anatomically-corrected padding on the upper layer of the shoe to provide more comfort and a snug fit,” says Tushar Goculdas, director, marketing & sales, Adidas.
If you are looking to give your on-field performance, check your nearest sportswear brands.
