Dressed to score
Sports shoes with air pockets and shirts equipped with odour control system – join the technology race
Sumithra Thangavelu
A GOOD pair of running shoes can lift the spirits of a morning jogger. So can a shirt,designed to keep the body cool while your sweat glands go into overdrive during a game of tennis. The all too familiar logos of market leaders Nike, Reebok and Adidas dominate the space for sportswear, offering a myriad designs which are upgraded about once in three months.
In sportswear, the emphasis is on footwear, which come in numerous designs bolstered by technology for comfort.
Sportswear are broadly classified into shoes, clothing and accessories that cover both indoor (badminton, squash, table tennis etc) and outdoor games (tennis, basketball, cricket, soccer, golf, cycling and swimming) and activities like walking, running, jogging, cross training and aerobics. The main players in the segment are Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Lotto and Power (the last two brands are marketed by Bata).
Sole purpose
The sole is the soul of a shoe and determines the speed and efficiency of an activity. Most running/walking/jogging shoes come with light-weight rubber soles. The Durable Rubber Compound (DRC) soles in Nike are softer than carbon rubber and are used for indoor games and tennis. They are non-marking soles (markings are minute projections in the sole, designed to provide grip) and don’t damage the surface.
Nike’s carbon rubber soles are used in running and jogging shoes. Imported soles like Dural on come with a soft sole when compared to Nike’s other import, the tough-soled BRS 1000. Both are marking soles and used in running and walking shoes. Others like Nike’s Presto (Rs 5,900) come with both Duralon and BRS 1000 soles.
Reebok’s models have hard and soft rubber soles. Adidas’ Torsion models provide good grip and are designed for both indoor games to give stability and control as well as outdoor sports.
Bata’s Lotto comes with PVC, polyurethene (PU) and rubber soles while soles in the Power brand are made of PVC and rubber. PVC and rubber soles are used in shoes for walking and jogging by both Lotto and Power, while PU soles are used in shoes designed for tennis and hockey.
Get a grip
The sole also determines grip, an important factor in sports. The marking soles provide good grip for activities like running, jogging or trekking. Shoes for sports like tennis and other indoor games come with non-marking, flat soles. Spikes are used in cricket, soccer and running shoes. They are available in both metal and rubber and are used for better grip. The spikes are removable and in cricket they come as half spikes for batting and full spikes for bowling.
Shoes are also designed according to the sport they are used in. Basketball shoes are high-ankled while running shoes are low cut as there is less risk of injury. Shoes for tennis and aerobics are mid-cut to provide extra support to the ankles.
Technology
Reebok has its DMX (Dynamic Moving Cushion) technology that uses a flexible cushion in the inner sole. This comes as ten-part or a six-part cushion and supports movements in all directions. It is used in all sporting activities including trekking.
Adidas’s models have the `Adiprene’ technology used to protect the heel and `Adiprene +’ for forefoot propulsion. They are used in running and walking shoes. Torsion and Xtraxion technologies are used for rough outdoor sports like trekking and mountaineering as well as in indoor games.
Nike’s technology for better sporting performance includes its BRS 1000 and Duralon soles along with its air cushioning technologies designed for specific sporting activity.
Air padding
Shoes with air pockets give you the feel of walking on air. Literally. The air pockets placed within the soles that are visible occupy more space and hence give extra cushioning on impact with the ground. In some models they are hidden within the soles. Nike’s models have air pockets for specific athletic needs. For instance, its Air Max with high-impact protection pushes air to the forefoot and is used in sports like running and basketball while ‘Zoom air’ technology helps keep the foot close to the ground, providing `Responsive Protection’. This is popularly used in sports like basketball and tennis. Models in Reebok and Adidas also come equipped with air cushioning.
Apparels and accessories
Apparels cover all sports. Reebok’s ‘Rafter collection’, named after tennis star Patrick Rafter offers `Hydromove’ shirts with an efficient water management system. This spreads the body’s sweat over an even area, enabling rapid evaporation. This way, the body stays cool even during a strenuous game. The fabric is said to be anti-microbial and prevents deterioration and controls odour. The shirts are priced between Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,500.
Nike’s Agassi and Pete Sampras series of T-shirts are priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 3,000 while the golf series has the Tiger Woods collection costing Rs 4,000. In their basketball line is the Michael Jordan collection at Rs 3,000.
Adidas T-shirts come with the ‘Climalite’ technology to maintain moisture, ‘Climawarm’ for thermal insulation and ‘Climashell’ for weather protection.
Apart from shirts, tennis skirts ranging between Rs 400 and Rs 600 in cotton and lycra are available. Shorts cover running, basketball, cycling and golf (Rs 400 – Rs 2,000). Tracksuits are used mostly for jogging (Rs 500 – Rs 2,000) while swimwear is available in a range of designs for both men and women (Rs 800 – Rs 2,000).
Riding boots cost from Rs 4,000 to Rs 7,000 in branded showrooms. Others like Equitack, a Chennai-based firm specialising in equestrian tack, markets its full and ankle-length -boots costing between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000. It also stocks breeches with cotton and lycra mix in both half and full length sizes that cost about Rs 1000. Apart from the international brands, stores like Chennai’s’ The Pavilion Enkay have swimwear for gents, ladies and children in polycot and lycra. They also stock cricket shoes (Rs 750 – Rs 2,950), track suits (Rs 600 – Rs 750) and track lower (Rs 300 – Rs 385). Sporting accessories include tennis, cricket and golf bags, gloves and socks for the different sports.
Appropriate clothing, shoes designed for a specific sporting activity and accessories like bags and caps ensure a sportsman’s comfort. More importantly, they safeguard against possible ankle twists and attendant aches and pains. So go ahead and take your pick. It is , after all. And open game.
