With the emergence of thick-soled shoes, running shoes have undergone a significant evolution. Behind the scenes, running tights have also seen major advancements.
In fact, even in elite races where running shorts were the staple, more athletes are opting for running tights.
So, what innovations are occurring in the field of running tights? We spoke with Masashi Kobayashi from ASICS Japan.
PROFILE
Masashi Kobayashi
ASICS Japan Corporation, Category Headquarters, APEQ Department, MD Team
Reasons for the Increasing Popularity of Running Tights
Recently, I've noticed that the rate of athletes and elite runners wearing running tights has been increasing in marathons and other races. What background do you think contributes to this?
First, running tights can be broadly divided into two types.
There are racing half-tights for elites and long tights that support beginners and intermediates aiming to complete a marathon.
I think you're referring to the half-tights, and as you mentioned, the wearing rate has increased over the past five years. Two backgrounds interconnect with this.
The first is that people seeking speed have become much more attuned. After thick-soled shoes were released in 2017, the impact of item specs on time has become more apparent.