Consultancy
Expertise helps adidas develop stay-cool clothes
Clients
adidas
Expertise
Environmental ergonomics
Our environmental ergonomic experts undertook a Consultancy Project for adidas to investigate sweating patterns in athletes. The team created a body map of sweating patterns using the University’s specialist facilities and a unique technique.
They used panels made from a super-absorbent fabric capable of holding liquid of up to 20 times its own weight. Athletes exercised in the laboratory while wearing the special panels before they were removed and weighed to accurately measure the amount of sweat produced in the different areas of the body.
Tests were held in the Environmental Ergonomics Research Centre's climatic chambers, an environment capable of producing temperatures ranging from minus 30 to +50 degrees C.
Impact
- adidas has used the body mapping research to further develop its range of stay-cool sports clothes, using mesh inserts, for example, in areas of high heat and sweat production.