Innovative Running apparel
Innovations in running apparel give runners a reason to go shopping again.
Moisture Management
Running apparel is all about keeping the runner comfortable in all kinds of weather. That means the apparel has to repel water from outside the garment and permit moisture from inside the garment to escape. Running apparel is also about comfort. If apparel is uncomfortable, runners won't wear it.
The Nike Sphere Thermal Men's Windstopper repels the wind and insulates the runner with air pockets that retain heat without adding bulk or weight. This garment is iPod-enabled, with a specially made pocket that lets you control your iPod player from the outside of the pocket and manage your cords with ease. The classic Dri-FIT men's running pant pairs nicely with this jacket. The Nike Sphere Thermal Men's Windstopper retails for $90; the Dri-FIT running pant for $60.
Women's running apparel is stylish and functional. Nike's thermal Half Zip Women's Jacket, retailing for just $42, is perfect to throw on over a tee shirt after a run. The Nike+ Women's Windrunner jacket, made of Clima-FIT fabric, also includes a tunes pocket for our iPod.
Protection From The Elements
Besides getting the runner's sweat off their body and wicking it out to the outside of the garment, running apparel must also provide protection in bad weather. Runners don't take the day off from running just because it's raining or snowing, or if it's 100 degrees outside. They need running apparel that will keep them warm, dry, and comfortable in the winter, and cool and protected in the summer. Modern fabrics include sunscreen protection built right into the fabric of running apparel to provide maximum protection for the runner.
Perhaps the best recent innovation in running apparel is the advancement of fluorescence and reflective apparel. Runners run in the dark, especially during the winter when daylight is scarce. More and more running apparel manufacturers are incorporating reflective and luminescent fabric and trim into their designs, making runners more visible to motorists and cyclists. For $20, runners can purchase a reflective Nike running vest that fits over any running apparel.
Seamless Running apparel
Another trend in athletic apparel is seamlessness. Seamless apparel fits like a second skin, and there are no seams and seam bindings to chafe against the runner's armpits, neck, and torso. Fabric content of up to 10% spandex keeps the clothing fitted snug against the runner's body, providing warmth, comfort and wind resistance for the runner.
