SHOES AND CUSHIONING TECHNOLOGY: ALL KINDS OF CUSHIONING

Boost, Air, Gel, are just some of the cushioning technologies that make the sneakers on your feet so comfortable. Now most brands have changed their approach to ensure maximum comfort at all times and focus heavily on cushioning by investing in technology.

Once there was no real cushioning system in shoes. Previously, the midsole was made only of EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), an elastic material similar to rubber. But in the 1970s, Nike broke the mold by introducing Air technology. Asics launched Gel cushioning in 1980 and adidas introduced the Boost revolution in 2013. Since then, Under Armor, jordan dior, New Balance and many other brands have had to evolve to keep up with the times and innovations in the EVA midsole. creating their own amortizations.

Nike

Certainly the Swoosh offers the widest range in terms of cushioning. After introducing the Air unit , Nike also developed Zoom Air technology in 1995, which is a series of Air units interspersed with highly conductive nylon or polyester fibers. The great pro of the Air unit is not to lose reactivity but the big cons is the weight of the shoe, in fact to build a sneaker with Air technology it is necessary to have a solid and imposing structure which, consequently, adds weight to the silhouette. .

Finally we need to talk about the React midsole introduced in 2017 which offers reactive cushioning, just as the name suggests, and is made up of a base in TPE (thermoplastic elastomers). Initially designed for basketball, in 2018 it was adopted by the world of running by studying a perfect geometry for this type of sport. The great advantage of the React sole is its resistance over time , its ability to maintain a high level of cushioning and energy return despite wear.

The innovations are not finished, in fact we have also seen the Zoom X midsole on the shoes of marathon runners. Made of carbon fiber, this midsole allows you to reach your maximum speed.

Combining reactivity, lightness, comfort and resistance to temperatures , Adidas launched Boost technology in 2013 which marked a before and after in the field of cushioning. Several years later, this type of cushioning has gone from being exclusive to being applied to running shoes and, to date, also to lifestyle shoes such as the famous ZX 2K or Ultra BOOST .

But what is Boost? It all starts with the collaboration between Adidas and BASF, an international chemical company that has exploited a process typical of the automotive industry by fusing pellets together thanks to high-pressure steam. During this process, Matthias Amm (adidas running director) explains that the pieces of TPU are fused together to create small capsules that will form the midsole. The peculiarity of this material jordan dior is the high resistance to heat and cold and the incredible energy return it offers at every step. Not even remotely comparable to the EVA sole.

We could talk about a "cell" structure that helps distribute energy under the feet in an ideal and uniform way . The purpose of Boost technology is to help you run longer and more comfortably. Later, Boost evolved into Boost Light becoming the lightest foam midsole ever and with maximum energy return. Adidas also began to create colored midsoles instead of just white.

The German brand states that it will continue to focus on this type of technology and that Boost will continue to define the product line in the future thanks to both technical and aesthetic innovations.

Asics

Launched in 1986, Asics GEL is made of elastomers put together in a solid construction that gives it strength and stability. GEL technology has evolved 9 times since its debut by focusing on a higher shock absorption capacity, lower weight and greater resistance.

The peculiarity of this type of technology lies in the possibility of combining it with all types of materials and midsoles since it can be positioned in any area of ​​the base. GEL weighs roughly half the weight of a similar EVA sole and features 10% more resistance and 20% more absorbency.

Next, using nanofibers between the air bubbles, Asics created Flyte shopbelart Foam technology that increases resistance by an additional 20% in an even lighter midsole.  

Rumors say that a new transparent midsole inspired by the natural pads of the paws of dogs and cats will soon be available. We look forward to learning more.