The power of sweat is being used in a new thermoregulating collection of running gear by Puma and Swiss apparel technology firm, X-Bionic.
Using both X-Bionic’s patented 3D Bionic Sphere and Thermosyphon technologies, the capsule is designed to keep runners cool in the heat and warm in cold weather, Puma said. It does this by maintaining a “thin film of moisture” between the wearer’s skin and partial compression fabric, wicking away excess sweat to keep athletes comfortable.
“Puma is always looking to bring best-in-class technology to our consumers and partnering with specialists is one way to do that,” Charles Johnson, Puma’s global director of innovation, said in a statement. “With X-Bionic our intent was to create an apparel collection that would allow our top-performing athletes and consumers to feel comfortable regardless of climate conditions. This is a great partnership; one that combines X-Bionic technology with Puma design.”
Related Stories
The capsule will contain both long- and short-sleeve shirts, running shorts, socks and jackets that X-Bionic said will keep runners in an “optimal temperature zone” for high-performance activities like long-distance running and interval training.
“By integrating our award-winning, patented technology into this one-of-a-kind running capsule, Puma I X-Bionic becomes an icon of athletic excellence,“ Professor Dr. Bodo Lambertz, X-Bionic founder, added.
X-Bionic’s technology uses thermodynamics to maintain the delicate balance necessary to ensure excess sweat doesn’t overwhelm the wearer. The challenge in creating this product was use sweat to its advantage, considering it is an unavoidable aspect of running, the firm said.
By designing with these principles in mind, X-Bionic and Puma say they have created a capsule that is functional under a variety of ambient temperatures and situations, especially in the midst of sustained performance.
“Depending on the ambient temperature, functional clothing must ensure reliable thermoregulation even when performance is sustained,” X-Bionic said. “Only an enlarged evaporation area and efficient sweat management guarantee an optimal skin climate even under load. The idea is, to reduce sweat, not to prevent it.”
Puma’s collection with X-Bionic will be released on Jan. 1 at Puma stores around the world and through its e-commerce channel.
Earlier this season, Puma staked its claim in the e-sports market with its Active Gaming Footwear silhouette, a shoe designed to cater to professional gamers.
