Performance Enhancers

The equipment that will optimize your temperature, stop a nosebleed, and help you hit the perfect 300-yard drive

By Brett Zarda Posted 07.29.2008 at 12:06 pm 3 Comments

Chill Out By wearing Nike’s PreCool vest for an hour before competition, it takes 21 percent longer for an athlete’s core body temperature to reach the critical level where fatigue sets in. The latest prototype, featuring a body-conforming design inspired by '60s minidresses, is slated to roll out during the Beijing Games. The vest is filled with cold water (it weighs eight pounds when full, 14 percent less than earlier versions) and drained through two valves. A fabric that protects skin from contact with a freezing surface is laminated to thermoplastic polyurethane cells that hold the water. A six-millimeter air gap provides insulation, and a thin layer of aluminum reflects radiant heat.
Nike PreCool Price not set; nike.com Luis Bruno

View Photo Gallery

This is not a story about steroids. But it is about improving your abilities on the playing field. Using technology as sophisticated as any developed in traditional fields of science, athletics companies have designed this equipment to make you better, stronger, faster and healthier. It’s funded by absurd amounts of money and validated by the best athletes in the world. And if you’re lucky, it will be sitting in your gym bag soon.

Previous Article: The Shape Shifting Bike

Next Article: Say Hello to Ovi

3 Comments

link to this comment

supergrover

07/29/08 at 4:07 pm

it might actually work; and we'll find out on aug. 8

link to this comment

petrovg

07/31/08 at 5:44 pm

So how is this thing (if I'm ever lucky to get anywhere near it with all the high tech going on there and the price I'll have to pay to nike or reebok or whoever makes it) better than an hour of chilling out in a cool bath???

It works on my whole body, it sure enough "protects skin from contact with a freezing surface". It weights a lot, but not on me. It's still less costly to prepare, and it's also rather pleasant.

The only downside I can see is that no money goes to the sports goods company.

If you can't afford a bath, I reckon a cool shower might do it. Of course we don't all have showers, so you might have to skip to your local river. Or just get wet somehow and stand in the wind for a bit.

link to this comment

bballsk8er333

07/31/08 at 5:54 pm

That is the dumbest comment i have ever read. Did you even glance at the artical or have you never played a sport in your life. U wear it one hour before the game...maybe when your stretching and warming up...hmmmm? are you going to do this in a bath or the local river...no