Post-workout and pre-workout apparel might be the next big fitness thing. At least, Nike hopes so. The “Just Do It” company has teamed up with Hyperice to create shoes and vests designed to help athletes perform their best.
TEAMING UP
Nike we all know. What’s Hyperice? The company provides innovative technology for muscle and joint recovery, rehabilitation, and improved performance, and is best known for their Normatec air compression pants that athletes (including such bodybuilders as Phil Heath) use to boost post-game or post-workout recovery.
“Recovery is an important part of any athlete’s journey, but we’re hearing from athletes that this concept of ‘pre-covery’ is equally as important,” says Tobie Hatfield, Senior Director, Nike Athlete Innovation. “The footwear and vest that we’ve developed with Hyperice help get the body ready for activity, whether you’re playing for a title or you’re on your feet a lot at work.”
“Since the inception of Hyperice, we have taken a lot of inspiration from Nike, from the care and innovation we put into our products to how we connect with the athlete,” says Anthony Katz, Founder and President of Hyperice. “This collaboration is the culmination of years of work between our two brands to deliver innovative footwear and apparel for the athlete with the goal of enhancing their performance and recovery. And this is just the start.”
NIKE X HYPERICE BOOTS
The Nike x Hyperice boot is a wearable and mobile high-top shoe that offers heat and dynamic air-compression massage on demand for athletes’ feet and ankles. It contains a system of dual-air Normatec bladders bonded to warming elements that evenly distribute heat throughout the entire upper. This combination is designed to drive heat deep into the muscle and tissue in the foot and ankle, helping athletes move, perform and recover naturally much faster. To that end, athlete testers report that their feet and ankles feel freer and lighter—as if they’ve already completed their warm-up before actually starting their usual routine.
Athletes can synchronize the heat and compression of both shoes with the press of a button, or choose to run the left and right shoes individually, selecting from three distinct levels of compression and heat powered by a battery pack in each shoe’s insole.
NIKE X HYPERICE VEST
The vest uses thermoelectric coolers that deliver instant heating and cooling without the need for ice or liquid, helping athletes dial their body temperatures to their exact specifications during warm-ups and cool-downs. The vest contains thermal modules whose sensors autonomously monitor and maintain body temperature.
Meanwhile, an air bladder and pressure sensor within the vest adjusts to the body by pressing those thermal modules inward, enhancing comfort while also maximizing the effectiveness of the heating and cooling technology.
OLYMPIC DEBUT
Some athletes will sport the Nike x Hyperice shoes and vests before and after their events at the upcoming Summer Olympics. A commercial release date is still to be determined.
