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DRY AEROFLOW: Fabric to support performance in hot conditions

In recent years, average temperatures around the world have been increasing due to global warming. In the sporting arena, athletes have been more and more unable to perform to their very best due to heat-related issues such as body temperature elevation and dehydration. To avoid such issues, it is important to increase heat dissipation using the body’s natural temperature regulation mechanism - perspiration - to disperse heat as sweat dries.
Previous sportswear fabrics assisted athletes’ performance through improving breathability and moisture wicking ability. However, when the body is producing large volumes of perspiration, these fabrics lose the ability to wick it away, even becoming unable to disperse the perspiration they have taken in. In addition, the formation of a sweat film on the fabric surface reduces breathability, leading to wearer discomfort as the fabric soaked with sweat dries slowly and heat becomes trapped within the garment.
Faced with these issues, Mizuno set about developing a fabric to increase heat dissipation via perspiration and assist athletes’ performance, “DRY AEROFLOW.”

1.DRY AEROFLOW functional concept

DRY AEROFLOW ensures breathability by preventing the formation of a sweat film, even when the body is producing large volumes of perspiration. At the same time,DRY AEROFLOW also assists performance by improving the cooling effect and wearer comfort. It does so by promoting the evaporation of perspiration on the skin and therefore increasing heat dissipation via perspiration.
A feature of DRY AEROFLOW is the use around the fabric mesh and in other areas of hydrophobic and water-repellent material which channels moisture away and restricts water retention. This feature works to further maintain breathability by wicking moisture such as perspiration to the outside of the fabric. In addition, the incorporation of moisture-absorbent materials into the fabric bolsters the absorption and dispersal of sweat and improves evaporation of perspiration on the skin (patents obtained in Japan and six other countries).

2.Evaluation of breathability performance while damp

The breathability of DRY AEROFLOW has been scientifically evaluated.
In order to simulate the dampness of clothing when large volumes of perspiration are being produced, DRY AEROFLOW and Mizuno’s previous fabric were immersed in a tank for a set length of time. Their respective breathability performance was then measured.
The comparative results showed that - while the two fabrics had similar breathability while dry - even when damp, DRY AEROFLOW demonstrated similar breathability to the previous fabric while dry. Based on this evaluation, it can be concluded that DRY AEROFLOW maintains high breathability.

3.Scientific evaluation of the relationship between DRY AEROFLOW and exercise performance through collaborative research

We conducted a joint research with Professor Hiroshi Hasegawa of Hiroshima University to scientifically evaluate what benefits the breathability of DRY AEROFLOW brings to athletes producing large volumes of perspiration.
Among 16 college soccer players, eight wore clothing made from the previous fabric and eight wore garments made from DRY AEROFLOW when playing a mini game. The dehydration rate was measured by calculation from the rate of body weight change. The results showed that the dehydration rate when wearing DRY AEROFLOW was approximately 0.5% lower. It is believed that stamina is adversely affected by a dehydration rate of 2% or more, and explosive performance by a rate of 3% or more. A difference of around 0.5% over an exercise session lasting a little over one hour is likely to be highly significant.
Based on these results, it can be concluded that DRY AEROFLOW restricts the increase in dehydration rate, by doing so lowers the risk of athletes suffering heat-related issues, and ultimately assists them in performing at their best.

We have also launched a range of fabrics which further enhance the functionality of DRY AEROFLOW. These include “DRY AEROFLOW COOLER,” which has a cooling effect added, and “DRY AEROFLOW RAPID,” which - in addition to retaining the function to quickly wick away perspiration on the fabric - has greater infrared blocking features. DRY AEROFLOW was worn in competition by Japanese representative athletes in several disciplines at the global tournament held in Tokyo in 2021. In addition, DRY AEROFLOW RAPID will be worn in competition by Japanese athletes in several disciplines at the tournament to be held in Paris in 2024.

By continuing to offer better sporting goods such as DRY AEROFLOW, we aim to assist athletes’ performance, supporting sporting activities.