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2016 Gift Guide Wearables
Gift Guide, Sports, Watches, Wearable Technology

Holiday Gift Guide – Wearables

2016 Gift Guide Wearables

Wearables seem to be going through a sophomore slump right now. They are at that awkward stage of the market where they are starting to find an audience, but that audience is beginning to gather underneath a few tentpoles. As a result, the periphery marketplace is collapsing. The bowing out of 4 major wearable makers (with others likely on the way) should not be read as a failure of the segment though. The tentpole companies are putting out really exciting products that people are clamoring for. The list below is sure to please anyone!  

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Rio 2016 Summer Olympics Wearable Tech Track Field Phelps Jacket Cycling Rowing Crew Visa
Clothing, Olympics, Shoes, Sports, Wearable Technology

Wearable Tech Found At The Rio Summer Olympics

Rio 2016 Summer Olympics Wearable Tech Track Field Phelps Jacket Cycling Rowing Crew Visa

In less than 2 days the first medals will be handed out at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. In the 4 years since London’s 2012 Games, wearable technology has emerged as a vital aspect of sports. From training to game day, technology is helping athletes realize their peak potential and even provide a competitive edge. The wearable tech being used isn’t just smart watches and connected devices. It also includes cutting edge fabrics and 3D printed accessories. Head past the break to find some of the technologies being used at this summer’s Olympics.  

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Nike HP 3D Printed Sneakers Jet Fusion
Business, Manufacturing, Shoes, Sports

Nike Partners With HP For 3D Printing Technology

Nike HP 3D Printed Sneakers Jet Fusion

When you think of HP the first thing that comes to mind is probably computers or inkjet printers (or those terrible TouchPad ads). Moving forward, HP would like for you to add 3D printing to that list. The company has announced two new commercial printers which they believe will be game changers for both prototyping and manufacturing. We don’t normally cover industrial products, but the tech behind HP’s new Jet Fusion 3D printers is a significant step forward and could very well pave the path to an on-demand, 3D printed manufacturing economy. In fact, the technology is so game changing, Nike is partnering with HP to use the printers for future products.  

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New Balance Zante Generate 3D Printed Running Shoe Midsole Sale
Shoes, Sports

New Balance 3D Printed Sneakers Go On Sale 9am April 15th

New Balance Zante Generate 3D Printed Running Shoe Midsole Sale

Last year we were very excited about New Balance’s announcement that they would bring to retail a running shoe featuring a 3D printed midsole. The running footwear is designed for heal strikers, with a design formula similar to the company’s Fresh Foam line of sneakers. After almost 5 months, the company has finally announced the details of the launch. The sneakers will go on sale April 15th at 9am for $400. The original plan was to launch the limited edition sneaker both online and in the company’s Boston flagship store, with other select stores offering the footwear later in the year. It seems that the company’s launch plans might have tempered a bit since November though. New Balance is now only planning to sell 44 pairs of the shoes starting April 15th and there is no mention of it reaching further retail outlets at a later point. To give you an idea of how constrained supply is, if they offer the shoes in size 7 through 12, this would mean only 4 pairs of sneakers in each size. We were hoping for a bigger role-out of the 3D printed running shoes and wonder if it is an indiction of production woes with the technology.  

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Adidas Interactive Health Technologies IHT Zone Heart Rate Monitor School PE Spirit Challenge
Sports, Wearable Technology

Adidas ZONE Fitness Tracker Designed For Your Kid’s PE Class

Adidas Interactive Health Technologies IHT Zone Heart Rate Monitor School PE Spirit Challenge

With childhood obesity becoming a major issue, Adidas has been working to ensure that kids are motivated to be healthy and fit. Last year the company launched The Spirit Challenge in partnership with Interactive Health Technologies (IHT) to encourage K-12 students to be more active. The challenge was designed to provide motivation, with schools competing against each other for prizes, and to foster awareness. The Spirit Heart Rate Monitor used for the challenge was a simple, screen-less device that provided auditory feedback as students moved between 3 different heart rate zones. The 5 year old device provided no visual feedback to help kids discern with a glance how they were doing. Recognizing that 5 years in wearable technology represents an incredible technological shift, Adidas has announced a new wearable compatible with the IHT system and software.  

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Under Armour Architech 3D Printed Midsole Sneakers
Manufacturing, Shoes, Sports

Under Armour Releases Limited Edition 3D Printed Sneaker

Under Armour Launches Architech 3D Printed Midsole Sneakers

When Adidas showed off a prototype 3D printed shoe last year we were very excited to see such a giant leap forward in 3D printing, manufacturing, and sneaker design. What we didn’t realize was that within months there would be a slew of other shoe manufacturers jumping into the 3D printing “ring.” We have seen a second 3D printed sneaker from Adidas, have release plans from New Balance for a pair of kicks with printed midsoles, and even witnessed a successful Kickstarter for a fully 3D knitted shoe. Now we can add one more company to the list. Under Armour just announced a sneaker with a 3D printed midsole. The shoe, called UA Architech go on sale today for $300 through the company’s website and at their company store in Baltimore. The catch…Under Armour only produced 96 pairs. Like other sneakers with 3D printed midsoles, the design is based on a lattice structure. To ensure the pattern of their lattice design achieved the best possible balance of support, cushioning, flexibility, and energy return, the Under Armour used Autodesk’s Within software. Within takes a set of goal perimeters and then automatically generates the optimal 3D printing design. The result is a shoe which Under Armour claims has the “ultimate stability and cushioning.”  

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Lumo Run Your Own Shorts Clip
Sports, Wearable Technology

Lumo Run Now Allows You To BYOS (Bring Your Own Shorts)

Your Own Shorts Clip Lumo Run Updated Work With Any Shorts Clips On

With the days getting longer most of the US is preparing to thaw out from the winter, which means it is time to get back outside and exercise. As we look forward to hitting the pavement during non freezing temperatures, the search starts for tools to help us perform better. We love ones that not only track our running, but also help us become better runners. Things such as stride length, cadence, vertical bounce, hip rotation, and ground contact time are so important to not only be an efficient runner but also to prevent injury. Working with a running coach is a great way to address these issues but time with a coach isn’t cheap and chances are they won’t be with you when your form completely falls apart as you struggle through mile 12.  

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