sportstyle

16 • July 2021 sportstyle • sportstylemag.com Function and comfort are always top of mind at Pearl Izumi with textiles an important tool in the design and development toolbox. Materials with moisture management and thermoregulation properties are fundamen- tal. "That is the lowest barrier for entry," says Pickels. "Then we do testing, and if the material passes, it goes in the toolbox." But that's a wide net, so the team continues to "slim down the toolbox" looking for more spe- cific characteristics appropriate for cycling. For example a compression bottom needs stretch and recovery, a jersey needs a soft feel. "But then we'll want a compressive, soft jersey material," says Pickels. "We build our toolbox in an iterative fashion." Picture: Surf's Up Picture has amassed a strong following in the world of snowsports in recent years, but innovative design and development doesn't end when the snow stops falling. For exam- ple, a key product introduction from the active-outdoor French apparel brand for the upcoming season is the EICOprene wetsuit. The sustainable, neoprene-free EICOprene Equation 4/3 Flex Skin wetsuit is made with recycled tires and fishing nets, and offers exceptional stretch capacity for maximum mobility in the water. According to the com- pany, the eco-material has five times the stretch compared to traditional neoprene. Comfort zones incorporated into the design of the wetsuit make for easier range of motion. Title Nine: Hike Essential This Spring a legacy product gets an update, and a new performance tight debuts for Fall. Like all Title Nine products, the revamped Camber Short and new Crash Tight are made and tested by women, for women. The Clamber 5" Short features a proprietary fabric designed to be abrasion resistant while also offering stretch and a DWR finish. With two front pockets, two secured back pockets and a comfortable elastic waist with snap closure, the Clamber 5" Shorts are the perfect wear-all-day, ready-for-adventure apparel piece. The Crash Tight is constructed with Polartec Power Stretch fabric that is 90 percent recycled polyester. Tightly knitted on the outside and fleeced on the inside, the tights can pull double duty as a midlayer or an outer layer on cold days. Adventure-ready accents like a hidden, zippered pocket and reflective hits in the inside hem make the Crash Tight essential for when the tempera- tures drop. n Above, Picture's eco-friendly and stretchy EICOprene Equation 4/3 Flex Skin wetsuit offers the same performance as conventional neoprene but is made from a mix of 70% limestone and 30% recycled tires. Below Left, Falke's RU Trail sock has sport-specific support for protection while running on uneven surfaces with anatomical padding for enhanced comfort and fit. Right, Pearl Izumi Prospect Tech Sweatshirt levels up casual performance with technical fleece (97% recycled poly) and abrasion-resistant panels on forearms. • IN THE STUDIO

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