Running Insight

DESTINATION RUN From Road Race To Road Trip (continued) 124 runninginsight.com © 2017 Formula4media LLC. The Cosmopolitan collection features articles with NanoSphere and 3XDry finishing technolo- gies. "The fabrics look fresh, don't require ironing and brands often tell us these fabrics are popular for travel wear," explains Kerns. 3XDry combines two functions in one textile—water and dirt repel- lency on the outside with quick dry moisture management inside that promotes natural cooling. NanoSphere repels water, oil and dirt with high abrasion resistance. Both technologies are appreciated for plane travel and car trips when keeping clothes clean can be a challenge. Versatility is a key attribute of Nilit's ATS collection. Molly Kremidas, global marketing team member for Nilit, describes ATS pieces as "travel-easy versatil- ity." She adds, "The garments look dressy, but behave functionally." Special air texturing creates soft yarns that are light and fluffy yet supple, and also easy care. ATS ny- lon yarns deliver a cotton-like feel, moisture management performance and dry fast. The yarn remains soft after multiple washings. Odor-resist technology is a natural for runners, whether on race day or during a road trip. Says Colleen Nipkow, NA marketing director for Polygiene: "Runners and travelers alike want to pack light and want items that they can rinse out, hang up, dry quickly, and look good." Polygiene, a chemical-free, odor control technology is expanding and diversifying end use applications. "It's not only what runners/travelers pack in their bags, but their packs, too," says Nipkow who mentions a new pack program with Montane. For 2018 Montane updated all trail running packs with Polygiene. As a sidenote: Each year Montane sponsors the Tor des Géants in Italy. Ultra-marathons are part of the growth in destination running, according to a Montane repre- sentative, saying that a Montane athlete took his family as a support crew for the event. Gore's new ShakeDry technol- ogy provides users on the run performance and lightweight pack-ability. The "constant bead- ing technology" doesn't allow the fabric to saturate and the thin profile promotes breathability. The tech is versatile for wear on fair weather days and performs in stormy conditions. Wearers don't experience the chill common with wetted out face fabric, and the fabric dries fast. Literally users can shake it dry. Take a look at the video on YouTube here: youtu.be/ Ttvyr2FVujc Blends Go the Distance Wool's unique properties go way beyond "it's warm." Especially with recent advances, creative collaborations, and innovative yarn blends that are being developed by companies like Global Merino and FiberVision's CoolVisions. "The interesting thing is that during athletic activities, no matter how effective the textile mechani- cally moves moisture as some point your going to be wet (from sweat)," explains Jose Fernandez, president, Global Merino. "Ultimately you need to understand what a fabric does when wet and how it behaves during levels of activities and environmental conditions." Wool retains insulating value when wet, but also absorbs moisture. Global Merino looks at the end use and addresses specific performance requirements and engineers a fabric that enhances athlete comfort. In the run market Fernandez sees resistance to wear- ing wool eroding and wool-specific brands having successes. "But we need to convert committed run- ners to performance enhancement achievable with wool," he states, and highlights advances like the technical ability to spin yarns that are lighter, and using finer wool strategically placed wool struc- tures to eliminate chafing. A recent collaboration between Global Merino and CoolVisions is in stride with the destination run movement. Called WoolVisions, the blend balances the exceptional functional features of each fiber. "WoolVisions is a really interest- ing blend with merino wool," says Fernandez, "CoolVisions polypropylene fiber is thermally a better match for merino than other synthetics, resulting in fabrics with better hydrophobic performance." CoolVisions, global sales/mar- keting manager, Susan Lynn, adds, "The attributes of these blends— lightweight, quick dry, odor- management—are ideal for the run market." WoolVisions from Global Merino is a 60Merino/40CV blend. When tested as a single jersey re- sults showed it wicked 50 percent faster than equivalent 100 percent wool, dried 40 percent faster and has significant enhanced odor- management, according to Lynn. WoolVisions was originally a spun yarn combining merino wool with CoolVisions staple. Last year, CoolVisions introduced a filament dyeable polypropylene produced in Asia, and Global Merino's newest knits combine the two yarns, fila- ment and the spun blend. However, a new program is being developed for customers that want filament out of the USA. It will be made available from Premiere Fibers in Ansonville, NC. n

• Cover