Nike Swiftsuit / Victory Spike shoe

Aerographic Swiftsuit

The Nike ‘Swift’ range of apparel is designed to reduce wind drag, particularly aimed at running and hurdling events. The new range is 7% more effective than its Athens predecessor – a benefit of about 0.02 of a second in the 100m, potentially the difference between first and third place in elite competition.

‘Aerographic’ refers to Nike’s engineered mesh technology. It can remove up to half the yarn in a garment by allowing designers to incorporate mesh panels directly without the need for extra materials. The result is lighter and less prone to potential skin irritation.

The incorporation of the technology into the Swiftsuit allows for enhanced cooling, reduced weight and drag, and increased comfort for runners. The garment pictured was created specially for athletes at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Zoom Victory Spike shoe

In the world of elite running, where records are broken and races won in fractions of a second, the weight of a competitor’s shoe, and the snugness of its fit, is of extreme importance. Just a few grams can make all the difference.

The Nike Zoom Victory Spike is a veritable feat of lightweight engineering – under 100g and lighter than Michael Johnson’s famous ‘Gold Shoe’, but durable enough to be worn by middle-distance and distance runners (certain highly-specialized running shoes are designed to be worn for just 40 seconds during a sprint, and only once.)

Even the thread holding the center seam together was deemed too heavy; a water-soluble material was utilized which is dissolved at the end of the manufacturing process, shaving a whole 1.2 grams off the final product.

15 July 2008 | Fashion