New Kit Technology

Written by Michael Olson (Return to Kits Homepage for the 2018 World Cup)

Kits have changed a lot since the late 1800s. (If you haven’t read my piece on the history of kits, please check it out. We’ve come a long way from wearing hats and pants.) For this World Cup, the kits are pretty good to begin with. We are in a modern era so how much better can they really get? They’re already light, breathable, and stylish. Well, Nike and Adidas keep finding new ways to answer this question.

Nike

All of Nike’s 2018 World Cup Kits feature their new Vapor Design with AeroSwift Technology. Martin Lotti, Nike’s Creative Director, dreamed of a kit built for the future and for speed. To make this dream a reality, they had to start with the basics. [1]

They made new yarn. Nike scientists tested hundreds of different kinds of yarn to determine filament qualities built for breathability and that were also light weight. Eventually, they made a textured yarn that pushes sweat away 20% faster than previous kits and dries 25% faster. (Think about how amazing this is, they made improvements on an already impressive kit.) This textured yarn is fuller, meaning they can use less of it in a kit and not be at risk of making it see through. These kits are 10% lighter and have 50% more stretch. And! The new yarn feels better on skin! [1]

The yarn is knit in a new pattern. (This is the AeroSwift element). Nike single knits areas where athletes need motion / breathability and double knits areas for structure. This makes natural holes in the jersey, which promotes breathability. With the old kits, they would use a laser to burn holes into shirts. Their new process does a better job at maintaining the integrity of the kit, as burning holes breaks down the kit. These new holes are built into the kit. [1]

As a whole, Nike’s designers made a conscious effort to focus on the upper body’s range of motions. Additionally, the shorts are knit with the same yarn as the jersey. (Players responded very positively to this change, as they made the shorts significantly more comfortable. Apparently the new waistband is so good, its hard to go back to any waist band tied with a string.) And lastly, they updated the socks. They now feature NikeGRIP technology, which gives more traction through the sock’s nano fiber. This meshes well for players who wear Nike shoes. It ensures that players feet do not slide around. The people at Nike worked hard to make these kits amazing, and it definitely shows. [1]

Nike’s poster boy, Cristiano Ronaldo, models the new Vapor and AeroSwift kits.[1]

Adidas

Adidas came up with some new technology too. Their authentic kits feature Climachill technology. Adidas’ Climachill technology keeps players cool and dry in the hardest playing conditions. (This might sound like I’m repeating myself.) Like Nike, they tested these kits over and over again. In their new Clima-chamber (don’t you love how these are all named?), they raised the temperature to over 122°F and used a hot plate to simulate a human. They ended up with a kit that is 100% polyester and doubled knitted. [3]

The fabric is interweaved with titanium and aluminum cooling spheres. This is what chills players, enabling them to play harder and stay focused longer. The tiny spheres are deliberately placed all around the back, neck, and forearms (aligning with the warmest areas.) The titanium runs throughout each piece of clothing. This in combination with the flat yarn design furthers the cooling process. Adidas put the Climachill technology into all parts of the kit and, in their eyes, it’s going to change football apparel forever. [3]

If you look close enough, you can see tiny bumps (I think those are the aluminum balls.)[2]

My Thoughts

Which brand do I like more? Well, it doesn’t really matter. They’re both technologically advanced. They clearly meet the expectations that a kit should for function. But who cares? Think about it, for years, people played amazingly without great technology so small improvements on something already great isn’t going to matter that much. These changes aren’t like going from pants to shorts. At the end of the day, I think it’s more important that the kits have a meaning to the players. It gives them something more to play for. Something tells me they’re not too interested in aluminum balls.

Return to Kits Homepage for the 2018 World Cup

 

Bibliography

[1] “Nike Vapor Kits with AeroSwift Technology Anchor Advanced Football Performance System.” Nike News. Accessed April 05, 2018. https://news.nike.com/news/2016-football-vapor-kit-aeroswift.

[2] “Update – No More Adizero – All-New Adidas 2018 World Cup Kit Technologies Released – Climalite vs Climachill.” Footy Headlines. November 15, 2017. Accessed April 05, 2018. https://www.footyheadlines.com/2017/11/no-more-adizero-climalite-vs-climachill-all-new-adidas-2018-world-cup-kit-technologies.html.

[3] “Adidas Launches Climachill Apparel That Helps Keep You Cool and Raises Your Game.” Adidas NEWS STREAM. March 13, 2014. Accessed April 05, 2018. https://news.adidas.com/us/Latest-News/adidas-Launches-Climachill-Apparel-That-Lowers-Your-Temperature-And-Raises-Your-Game/s/576d7799-ad91-485c-94b4-abbad6002010.

 

How to cite this article:

“New Kit Technology,” Written by Michael Olson (2018). World Cup 2018 Guide, Soccer Politics Blog, Duke University, https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/tournament-guides/mens-world-cup-2018-guide/gear/kits/new-kit-technology/ (accessed on (date)).