South Africa’s players wore silver jackets during the anthems at their opening World Cup match that feature adidas’ new CLIMACOOL system, the manufacturer said. Adidas said the garments were developed to help teams manage summer heat during the tournament in North America.
Marc Makowski, senior vice president of adidas Innovation, said the company worked closely with clubs including Manchester United, Juventus and Arsenal to test and refine the system. He said input from players and medical staff informed the design and that the result offers measurable benefits to athletes.
Adidas said the CLIMACOOL package, originally developed for Formula 1 drivers, includes a cooling vest, an over-jacket and a cooling overshoe intended to be worn over cleats. South Africa did not have the overshoes on during the anthem presentation, the company noted.
The manufacturer provided performance figures for the garments, saying the combination of vest and jacket can lower core body temperature by as much as 0.5°C and skin temperature by 13°C. Adidas described the cooling overshoe as using a gel that can reduce foot temperature by 2°C within seven minutes.
Adidas added that the overshoe is designed to provide cooling without compromising foot sensitivity or dexterity required for dribbling, passing and shooting. The company also said other teams, including Spain and Germany, are set to use the system in coming days, and that the equipment is not yet available to the public.
