More On Dale Jr's New Adidas Fire Suit and ClimaCool

by 4ever3 on Feb 7, 2008 12:21 AM EST

After I got the initial e-mail the other day from the Adidas representative regarding Dale Jr’s new 3-stripe racing suit with ClimaCool Technology my curiosity regarding the make-up of the suit was peaked, so I asked him for more information about it. Here is what he sent me:

ClimaCool(r) isn't just another moisture-wicking fabric. It is an integrated system of technologies that work together to regulate the athlete's body temperature far better than any single fabric technology can.

ClimaCool(r) apparel actively conducts heat and sweat away from the body through a combination of heat and moisture-dissipating materials, ventilation channels and three-dimensional fabrics that allow air to circulate close to the skin.

By mapping the body's critical heat and sweat zones using infrared cameras, designers are able to place these technologies exactly where they are needed to optimize the athlete's body temperature. An athlete can actually stay cooler in ClimaCool(r) apparel than they can in bare skin.

ClimaCool(r) (Apparel)

A combination of performance fabrics, open mesh and ventilation channels keep cool air flowing in and heat and sweat flowing out.

You stay dry, comfortable and performing at your peak in even the most heated competition.

With ClimaCool(r) equipped apparel you can ignore the heat and keep your focus right where it needs to be: on the road, track, field or finish line ahead.

Cool Apparel Background

In summer, sweat is your friend. Sweating helps you cool down and lets you perform at your best for longer - no matter how intense your session or how intense the heat or humidity.

Contrary to some popular belief going naked is not the best solution. To shed extra heat, the sweat needs to evaporate off your skin, not run down your body. Sweat that drips from you is wasted. To combat this you should wear a wicking fabric that absorbs sweat from your skin as it builds up during sport exercise. The sweat can then evaporate off your skin or from your athletic attire cooling you down, as it should.

Too much sweat in your kit makes it heavy and uncomfortable and if you 'wet out ', eventually you will, ' max out ' your temperature.

To combat this you need to spread sweat across the garment, away from the sweat production areas, allowing air in as ventilation in key, critical sweat zones. Mesh should be used as ventilation, applying it where it has most benefit. Air is also your friend too, cooling you down by evaporating more liquid sweat.

3dimensional fabrics should be used for cooling benefit as they allow sweat to be pulled across your running singlet and out through the fabric to evaporate. 3D fabrics, because of their construction, also allow air to flow not just into your singlet or t-shirt but also across your skin. This translates into faster and better cooling. 3D fabrics also stop that sticky wet feeling by keeping fabric cling to a minimum, allowing you to concentrate on your workout rather than a wet sticky feeling of garment against skin

Finally conductive fibers may be used to draw heat away from critical sweat zones allowing you to exercise at your optimal level for longer.
Conductive tape can also be used on key sensorial areas resulting in a cool feeling against the skin.

Key utilities for efficiently cooling during intense exercise:

* Placement of ventilation in key heat and sweat zones;
* 3dimensional fabric constructions to enhance micro ventilation and moisture management;
* Use of conductive fiber (i.e. X-static or others) or tape in critical sweat zones which conduct heat away from the body.