Running gear technology isn't always marketing gimmicks

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

This article kicks off a series of stories on how I plan to go from a triathlete and runner to a trail runner and maybe even an ultramarathon runner if all goes according to plan. for a while I decided to leave it only because I was tired of paying so much attention to the technical and clothing components and wanted to simplify everything a little.

When choosing one or another sneaker, jacket or other element of running equipment, you read a lot of incomprehensible words that were invented by cunning marketers of sports brands. Boost, Adizero, Flyknit, ThermoBall, FuseForm, REVlite, FlashDry and others. You can buy some kind of trash on the market, brush it off and save a lot of money. No, not even like this: A LOT OF MONEY. And you can try to figure out whether these special words have any meaning or are they just tricks to raise the price.

Below I will give examples of technologies that have been tested by me over the years and, in my opinion, are worth the money. I will show it in numbers, sensations, or simply offer to take my word for it.

adidas Boost

A couple of years ago, adidas launched the Boost series. This is a kind of special bubble material that is springy, protects the sole and does not wrinkle. There are variations on the theme - Energy Boost, Ultra Boost, Pure Boost, and so on. I had the very first Energy Boost shoe, which I ran Strava estimates over 1,400 km, and the Ultra Boost, which has run over 700 km to date. With such a roll, as promised by the manufacturer, the balls did not crumple and did not lose volume at all. They can wear off after you wear out the sole, but they won't shrink in volume. The outsole is also very durable. But let's talk about bubbles.

Adidas Ultra Boost outsole after 700 km

Adidas ultra boost outsole after 700 km

Adidas Ultra Boost outsole after 1400 km

Adidas Energy Boost Bubbles Do Not Shrink

Membrane and ThermoBall from The North Face

First, about the balls. ThermoBalls are the kind of synthetic balls that fill very expensive but very lightweight jackets for runners and urban dwellers in The North Face.

Feathers constantly crawl out of down jackets, and when wet, feathers and down shrink. Thus, they remove the air cushion that warms you, which is not good.

If you pack a jacket with ThermoBall in a compression bag for the summer, then, unlike down, such material will not be compacted. This is indeed the case. A jacket with an insignificant weight, which is commensurate with downy counterparts, does not wrinkle, retains your warmth and loses only part of its properties when wet. Checked in the forest in a downpour: the jacket was wet, but it continued to keep warm, albeit worse.

In terms of membranes, these are fabrics that repel water and release moisture from your body during vigorous exercise. This is how The North Face's gutter membrane works.

Buy membrane jackets from all manufacturers you trust. These are the best things I've worn and they are always worth the money.

Compression garments from 2XU and other manufacturers

Compression garments apply even pressure to your legs, arms or body. In it, the girls' priests look fit and cellulite is not visible, but in general this clothing is intended for something completely different. I bought myself a compression from 2XU, as there was no other one nearby. It can be used for two purposes:

1. Support … You probably know that the leg muscles are a very heavy load. When you run, the ligaments in your legs and other connective tissues are overwhelmed by muscle weight and jerks. Compression tights, knee socks, leg warmers or shorts keep them in place. The load is reduced and the connective tissues hurt less after training and at long starts. For me it works 100%, and I completely got rid of my injuries literally the next month after purchasing the tights. As for the compression T-shirt, which I also own, it helps to maintain good posture. For me, this is the only profit from her.
2. Recovery … Manufacturers claim that compression garments help you recover faster. I cannot say with certainty whether this is so or not. But I heard that it helps many. Some amateurs and pros even sleep and walk around the house in compression underwear. I associate my recovery with the consumption of BCAA amino acids, which coincided with the wearing of compression garments. Maybe it's not BCAA that makes sense at all.:)

Thermal underwear SPYDER

When exercising outdoors in cold weather, you should have thermal underwear. Then you can put it on in the first layer, and the second - a membrane that wicks away moisture. This is what the manufacturers advise. In reality, everything works like this. You run in the cold and still all wet. The thermal underwear gets wet and feels like a sponge to the touch. But the sensation of a wet rag, like from a cotton cloth, is not. The moisture is actually removed from the skin by a membrane. If your classes do not last many hours, then you can simply put on a jacket or windbreaker on top. You will not freeze. Thermal underwear is the most awesome purchase I've had. You just completely change your attitude towards the cold.

Adidas Climacool T-Shirts

You cannot run in any weather in cotton T-shirts. If you don't have money for adidas, then look for something more affordable. But the T-shirt must be made of special synthetic material! Adidas Slimacool T-Shirts do not stick to sweaty body and dry very quickly. And, most importantly, they do not create chafing and unpleasant sensations of cold nasty tissue on the skin.

It's worth mentioning here that adidas had a T-shirt with tiny metal pieces below the neck that were supposed to keep you cool in the summer. Checked - did not notice the difference.:)

GORE-TEX materials

This technology of manufacturing footwear materials is used by many manufacturers: ECCO, adidas, Asics, Salomon, The North Face and others. If we talk about me, in such shoes my feet are not wet, they breathe, so they do not chafe.

The same thing works with clothes.

Vibram

This is a technology for manufacturing a rubber sole, which is also licensed by many manufacturers from Vibram (the name comes from the name of the creator - Vitale Bramani). Vibram makes materials that are used by climbers, runners, surfers and many other athletes. This material is unrealistically resistant to wear and, most importantly, very grippy on difficult surfaces. For example, my The North Face sneakers use a Vibram sole. They are tenacious, like the claws of a cat, on clay and soil!

Garmin HRM-Run heart rate sensors

And finally, some electronics. Garmin has a special heart rate sensor that, according to the manufacturer, is able to do a lot more besides measuring the heart rate. It comes with a top-of-the-line watch and is a pleasure to receive. But if you buy a heart rate sensor separately on the same one, then you will find out that its price is $ 100! For what?!

There is a reason. And the manufacturer knows why he is asking so much money. With this gadget and Garmin watch, you can hone your running technique to perfection. This will be especially appreciated by those who work with a trainer remotely. See what data you get from this sensor only:

So there is a worthwhile thing behind the marketing term again. And the benefits are undeniable!

A small life hack. The strap of this sensor wears out quickly, and it is difficult to find it separately on sale. But you can easily buy a soft and multicolor strap from Polar. And it costs much less. And most importantly, you will not lose functionality.

Conclusion

Yes, I didn't mention technology, which is just a marketing bullshit. And yes, there are a lot of them. But sound mind and mindfulness will help you find worthwhile developments and improve your life a little. If I find a manufacturer's cherry that I like, I stay with it for a long time, and it will be very difficult for another brand to remove me from it. Which is what I wish for you.