etting fi t is good for you, but it’s not necessarily great
for the planet. Gyms, swimming pools and health clubs
are power-hungry places, while the gear we wear to
train can also be a big drain on the planet’s resources.
But times are changing, and some innovative fi tness tech
pioneers are proving it’s possible to take care of the planet while
we take care of business. Here’s some of the most exciting eco-
friendly fi tness gear that shows those gains can be green.G
WordsKieran AlgerSUSTAINABLE GAINS
Save the planet while you sweat with
the latest in eco-friendly fitness tech
ADIDAS FUTURECRAFT LOOP
Price and release date TBC, adidas.comYour average gym trainers and running
shoes aren’t about to make Sir David
Attenborough dish out gold stars for your
eco-friendly effort. They have a relatively
short lifespan – particularly if you’reEco impact +++++
Practicality +++++
Design +++++
Performance +++++bashing them four to fi ve times a week –
and because they’re made from a variety
of complex materials, they’re hard to break
down and recycle. It’s a depressing double
whammy that means millions of tattered
trainers wind up in landfi ll or the incinerators
every year.
But adidas thinks its found the answer:
the fi rst ever fully recyclable running shoe
that’s made to be remade from the outset.
Every piece of the adidas Loop is made
from 100% recyclable TPU, a versatile plastic
that’s spun to yarn, knitted, moulded and
then clean-fused – that means no glue – to
a wedge of classic adidas Boost foam. The
result is a shoe that looks like any other
but when it dies can be reincarnated into a
brand-new product. An eco-win for sure...
but how does it perform?IN THE LOOP
For a start, they run just like traditional
running shoes. The Boost foam sole provides
exactly the same ride underfoot as you
get from a pair of UltraBoosts. The main
difference is in the fi t of the more structured,thicker upper that feel less welcoming
than a soft PrimeKnit. However, what you
lose in cosiness you get back in support.
The fi rm TPU knit works with some harder
plastic sections cunningly designed into
the classic Three Stripes on each side of
the Loop, for added stability.
You’ll sacrifi ce a bit in the weight
department, though, as this isn't the
lightest shoe, nor is it as breathable as
trainers with classic knitted uppers. On
the fl ipside, you get serious durability and
that all-white styling looks the part, too.
A limited run of the Loop will be
available at the end of 2020, but expect
to see this TPU eco tech used across the
adidas sports shoes range way before
the sea levels rise and Norfolk sinks
beneath the waves.BEST BUY
TECH TALK