Last Updated on 6 months by Maya Jayaram
Sports shoes are a crucial tool for every athlete as they work in tandem with the athlete to enhance their athletic performance and prevent injuries. A good sports shoe provides the right amount of flexibility and cushioning along with optimal traction for maximum efficiency.
As sports shoes are intended to be used for high-intensity sports activities, they also need to be durable to withstand rigorous wear and tear. Additionally, according to current fashion requirements, sports shoes should be aesthetically pleasing and stylish.
In this blog, we will discuss the latest trends in sports shoes and their significance for both athletes and enthusiasts alike.
Lightweight & Breathable Design
The top requirement in a modern sports shoe is to be lightweight and constructed with a breathable material. This is predominantly driven by demand from athletes for footwear that improves both agility and responsiveness.
In a quest to provide optimal breathability and ventilation, modern-day sports shoes are being designed with cutting-edge fabrics, for instance, knitted or meshed or flexible uppers, and foams. The incorporation of these materials gives dual benefits as it enhances the breathability of the shoe keeping the foot cool and dry and further reduces the overall shoe weight and therefore improves athletic performance.
Manufacturers in the sports shoe world are also heavily focusing on incorporating improved shoe construction processes to produce these lightweight sports shoes. Cold cement is the modern shoe manufacturing process that allows the bonding of the upper component to the sole of the shoe owing to low temperatures. It permits the use of cutting-edge lightweight plastic, knitted, flexible and mesh materials.
These lightweight sports shoes not only improve performance by enhancing agility, and speed but also reduce foot fatigue.
Sustainable Materials
The sports shoe market is shifting focus towards sustainable materials to meet the growing demand from the eco-conscious end consumer. It is a trend that is here to stay and will only grow in the long term. A recent survey by YouGov stated that 39% of consumers across different markets were willing to pay a markup on sustainably manufactured sports gear.
The use of eco-friendly materials has increased primarily driven by the increasing awareness among consumers of the wider environmental impact caused by daily choices. Customers prefer shoes produced from recycled and organic materials; or bio-based substitutes.
Leading players in the sports shoe market are addressing new and emerging needs by introducing sustainable materials and manufacturing processes and optimizing their supply chain when planning the production of modern-day sports shoes. Producers aim to minimize their carbon footprint and reduce the waste generated to appeal to the new age customer.
This change has led to multiple sustainable sports shoe options for the environmentally aware end consumer.
Tailor to Personalize with Technology
A growing trend towards customization and personalization of sports shoes is also observed in the ever-evolving sports shoe industry and is becoming quite popular with the new age customer. Several brands are offering customers the option to tailor their sports shoes by choosing their preferred colours and materials. There is also an opportunity to add names and/or numbers to further personalize their purchase. Personalised shoes allow the customer to flaunt their style and offers perfect fit leading to optimal for each buyer.
With the advent of new technologies like 3D printing, the sports shoe market is well-equipped to offer high levels of personalisation. 3D printing enables quick prototyping and customization in sports shoes with sensors to further improve performance. These smart shoes with embedded sensors can analyse the athlete’s running style, measure strain, track fitness, count steps, navigate GPS and offer suggestions. The personal data collected can also help avoid injuries.
The future of the sports shoe world is exciting as with the advancements in sports gear technology with cutting-edge biomechanical analysis tech available, sports shoe manufacturers can use insights from the data to create smart sports shoes.
Smart sports shoes
Smart sports shoes are customised to each athlete’s biomechanical profile. By analysing their walk, foot strike patterns, balance and pressure distribution, manufacturers can design shoes to give maximum comfort and reduce injuries.
Several companies, for instance, Nike’s Nike Adapt and Under Armour’s connected HOVR shoes, have recently launched smart shoes that can sync with smartphone apps, have Bluetooth connectivity and offer athletes real-time data with insights.
Versatile Cross-training Sports Shoes
Cross-training sports shoes are versatile as they are designed to be used for a variety of functional activities.
The end customer with a modern active lifestyle is seeking for multi-functional sports shoes that meet not only meet basic performance parameters but are also fashionable so that they can seamlessly transition from a day out to a cafe to a long weekend hiking trip. Consumers today want shoe that can be styled and used for multiple activities that they perform in a day.
Some features that make a sports shoe versatile are multi-directional traction and flexible shoe soles.
Thread for Footwear
Polyester embroidery thread is commonly used for decorative stitching in shoes.
There are few threads which offer outstanding abrasion resistance and are treated with a special lubricant. One thread which falls under this category is nylon sewing thread
Final Thoughts
As we walked through the latest sports shoe trends, one thing is crystal clear, the realm of the sports shoe market is constantly innovating and evolving. Be it lightweight modern sports shoes that improve athletic performance to environment-friendly sustainable fabrics that are the preferred choice of eco-conscious new-age consumers, the manufacturers are always innovating to meet the shift in demand.
The popular and growing trend of personalising sports shoes is not only empowering athletes so that they can find their ideal fit but also offering them insights from the data collected so that they can make necessary changes to enhance their performance.
Sports shoes equipped with the latest tech, for instance, embedded sensors are truly revolutionising performance training by offering smart suggestions and valuable insights that can also prevent injuries.
Sports shoes with a versatile design are the new gen customer’s favourite as they can be used for various needs of the modern busy lifestyle where people hit the gym in the morning, go hiking with friends in the afternoon and then take a stroll in the night. Such shoes can fit most of these activities.
As a buyer, it is important to be aware of the latest trends so that you can make the most of your purchase by optimising performance, getting desired comfort, and including sustainability in the choices you make. These innovations in the sports shoe market can not only elevate your athletic performance but also give you a fashionable look while you are killing it at your sport.
