Hi-tech kit that promises to make you fitter — and faster
From smart socks that double as a personal trainer to a sports bra that counts calories . . .
Back in the Eighties, when you went for a ‘jog’ you just pulled on whatever old T-shirt, baggy leggings and trainers were closest to hand. Nowadays, however, we ‘run’ — and we take that running seriously. Whether to compete, stay fit or socialise, 10 million people in the Uk run regularly, and there’s a huge demand for sportswear that raises our game.
It’s estimated that the market will hit £17.5 billion by 2023 — and no wonder. Not only does modern running gear look good, a new breed of hi-tech sportswear promises to enhance performance, too, from energy-preserving trainers and clothing that boosts circulation to a sports bra that records every beat of your heart.
But chris Wright, strength and conditioning coach at Loughborough University, warns that some of the promises of greater speed, less fatigue, and happier joints sound too good to be true — and may well be. While people rave about lightweight trainers, running shoes that suit your physiology will ultimately give you the edge, he says.
‘There’s an argument that if you’re carrying 10g less on your feet, you’ll be able to run faster. But whether you have a high or low arch has a massive impact on your technique and any stress that might go through your joints as a result, so having shoes that support your feet in the best way possible is a priority above whether a material is lighter.’
as for compression clothing — garments that fit tightly on the skin, designed to stabilise muscles and improve circulation — research published last year found it promoted better running performance, as well as decreasing muscle soreness.
So which of the latest running gear will give you a (faster) run for your money? I went the extra mile to find out . . .
SPRINGY, SPEEDY SUCCESS
THESE shoes look cool and feel solid, yet their ‘zero-gravity feel’ technology translates into lots of cushion and bounce. They’re so supportive and comfortable that I spring along like a mountain goat. The shoe contains an inbuilt sensor that tracks stride length, rhythm, distance and pace if you sync it to the Under armour Map My Run app, which is easy to use. Just wearing quality kit rather than my usual battered trainers gives me a boost, but I really do run more smoothly and speedily in these — 8.5 km/hour is sustainable when often I slow to around 8 km/hour.
NO-WOBBLE WORKOUT 2XU MCS Run Compression Tights, £105, 2xu.com
COMPRESSION leggings are made to support key muscles and tendons used when you run, reducing the strain on your body and helping to speed up recovery. The fabric of these leggings is light, flexible and strong. Their compression of your thighs, quadriceps and calves is designed to reduce the force of impact when your foot hits the ground, and helps to protect your knees, too. The fabric also reduces muscle oscillation — it holds muscles in alignment with bones and joints, so they move more efficiently — and the graduated compression helps to return oxygenated blood to the muscles faster, all aiding performance. When I run in these, I appreciate what this means. Nothing wobbles. I feel streamlined and compact, which gives me the confidence to increase my pace.
POWER PAST FATIGUE 2XU Compression Long-Sleeve Top, £70, 2xu.com
THIS top uses strong compression fabric to support your biceps and triceps, forearms and stomach muscles, but mostly I feel the pressure in my upper back muscles, pulling my shoulders back but not restricting movement.
It encourages good posture and the firm support reduces muscle oscillation, which lessens soreness and fatigue. (To compare, I wear a normal top on my next run and feel like a jelly). My only mistake was wearing it on a treadmill. I nearly baked alive. But for a park run in brisk weather, it speeds me on my way. 4/5
A MARATHON-WINNER
Nike Vaporfly 4% Flyknit running shoe, £209.95, nike.com
PEOPLE keep winning marathons in these shoes — so often, in fact, that some claim they give an unfair advantage. Sounds good to me. Their uppers are a single piece of material in a thin, but tough, knit-effect, and each sole is a foam and carbon-fibre plate.
When I run in them, the shoe feels exquisitely light, yet solid and powerful. The sole is designed to propel you forward, and I do feel thrillingly fleet of foot. There’s less grip in the heel than I’m used to, but they’re springy, and I don’t feel I’m exerting myself until I hit 9.5 km/hour — astonishing for me.
My husband is dazzled by them and impresses me by bending the sole of my fashion trainer (pliable as a hairpin), then trying to bend the Vaporfly — impossible.
‘This is an athlete’s shoe!’ he cries. and I agree. 5/5
SACK THE SOCK COACH
Sensoria smart socks, around £200 (plus shipping from Germany), mindtecstore.com
THESE socks are upsettingly expensive, even if they do come with a Bluetooth microelectronic sensor. This turns out to be a small plastic tile 1cm thick that clips into the sock, connecting to textile pressure sensors. ‘You look like you’re on parole,’ says my 15-year-old son. The sensor logs speed, distance, calories, stride and form, pairing up with your phone as you run and giving audio tips en route. (apparently I ‘heel strike’ — meaning I land on my heel instead of the ball of my foot.)
The socks supposedly withstand 25 washes, after which a new pair will cost approximately £39. 3/5
E-BRA TO BEAT THE BEST
Myzone Sports Bra, £44.99, and MZ-3 fitness tracker, £129.99 (plus shipping from the U.S.), myzone.org
THIS lightweight sports bra pairs with a fitness tracker that logs your heart rate, calories, effort level and time spent exercising.
To use it, you download the Myzone app and connect the sensor via Bluetooth. You can also connect and compete with other users.
It sounds great, but frustratingly my tracker kept switching off — announced by three annoying beeps that stopped me in my tracks.
Even when the tracker stayed on and, post-exercise, uploaded six readings of my heart rate per minute, it wasn’t consistent. It registered 94 bpm at one point, 0 bpm at another.
That said, it was impressively thorough, and the data revealed I could have run harder and faster — so I will. 2/5