Sports and technology have always gone hand in hand. Despite the customary cries of injustice that always seem to accompany every advance in the technology that goes into sports equipment, sooner or later every long-distance runner is wearing the latest high-performance running shoes, and every swimmer is wearing bodysuits that simulate the way in which a sharkโs skin interacts with the water.
Read on for a list of must-have clothes that can potentially help you to maximize your own sporting performance.
Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
Made famous last year as one of the key factors which allowed Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge to run the first sub-two-hour marathon, the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly shoes are probably the most significant advance in running technology ever. The shoe features a carbon fiber midsole and thick, lightweight foam heel that function a little like a spring to help your foot take off from the ground. People who have tried the Next% report an improvement of up to 5 percent in their times.
Speedo LXR Racer Proย
Worn by some of the worldโs most elite swimmers, this swimsuit has led to a revolution in swimming, playing a part in the breaking of multiple world records. The fabric used to make the suits is inspired by the skin of a shark, and Speedo claims that it reduced the drag on a swimmerโs body buy around 16 percent. It is also purported to improve oxygen economy by 10 percent and is sure to cut seconds off your personal best.
Jumpsoles
The curious-looking Jumpsoles were originally designed to help basketball players leap higher but have since been embraced by athletes across many different sports. They essentially consist of a weighted sole with the heel missing. Doing exercise in them can strengthen the muscles in the leg, making it easier to acrobatic leg lifts for figure skaters, gymnasts and martial artists.
Compression Sports Clothes
Can clothes that are tight enough to compress your muscles improve your athletic performance? There is some evidence that compression clothes cause a reduction in muscle vibration for athletes, which potentially helps energy economy. Ultra-tight running shorts, shirts and socks are available from most big sports brands. Check out On The Go custom clothing for the latest models and must-have clothes to improve your performance.
Wearables
The likes of Nike and Under Armour are investing heavily in producing clothing with integrated sensors. Under Armour has developed their E39 compression shirt which measures GPS positioning, heart rate, anaerobic threshold, aerobic capacity, and muscle heat, among many other things. Nike, on the other hand, is developing workout shoes that can give accurate information on distance covered and the biomechanics of the way a person runs.ย
In sports, there is an element of truth in the saying โa workman is only as good as his tools.โ If the technology is out there, there is no reason why an athlete should not take advantage of it. The must-have clothes described above will serve to help you maximize your performance and reach levels that you may have never thought possible.
