You might have seen that numerous elite athletes within the weekend’s Olympic marathons, together with former Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, Olympic champion Sifan Hassan and bronze medallist Hellen Obiri, have been sporting uncommon headbands that look nearly like miniature photo voltaic panels. Actually, they have been profiting from some “cool” new wearable tech for athletes exercising in sizzling climate.
The headbands are made by the corporate Omius, and is available in varied configurations (there’s additionally a cap and a visor) and two colors, however all characteristic the 20 squares of graphite that present the cooling.
The graphite items contact the pores and skin straight and are held in place by a silicon grid. They operate by absorbing sweat, and their irregular surfaces tremendously enhance the quantity of floor space topic to sweat evaporation, which speeds cooling. (Evaporation of sweat is the physique’s mechanism for cooling it down.) The scarf weighs solely 50 grams (somewhat greater than an oz and a half), and require no freezing or charging. The cooling items proceed to supply cooling so long as wanted, so long as they keep moist and are topic to airflow (both outdoor, or from a fan if utilizing indoors). The items are reusable.
Be careful for the world record-holder 🫡
🇪🇹’s Tigist Assefa appears to be like in management as a lead group of 20 athletes goes via midway in 1:13:22.#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/WisAvMptiV
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 11, 2024
The Omius web site warns that the cooling items are fragile and ought to be washed, dealt with and saved with care. (It suggests treating them like an costly pair of sun shades.)
They’re additionally not low-cost. The scarf will set you again CDN $277.50; a cap incorporating the tech is $291.38, and a set of cooling items by itself is $124.08. Sure, they ship internationally, and little question they are going to be swamped with orders for the reason that weekend.
