Nike unveils latest lightweight products

Nike Inc announced its latest series of lightweight performance products yesterday in New York at the Nike Olympics Innovation Summit.

Joined by athletic greats, President and CEO Mark Parker unveiled his company's innovations which include Nike Flyknit footwear, the Nike Hyper Elite basketball uniform and NIKE Lunarlon footwear.

Highlighting Nike's Flyknit technology, Mr Parker said it "redefines the idea of running footwear: Lightweight and virtually seamless".

The Nike Pro TurboSpeed suit was also introduced at the event which, as the company boasts, is its lightest, fastest track uniform ever. "Based on wind tunnel data, it is up to .023 seconds faster over 100m than our previous track uniform", said a company spokesperson.

Similar suits, made with approximately 82 per cent recycled polyester fabric, will also be used by athletes from the USA, Russia, Germany, and China for international competitions.

Mr Parker was joined by athletic greats like 10-time Olympic medal winner Carl Lewis, Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets and 2008 USAB team), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever and USAB team member in 2004 and 2008), Carmelita Jeter (current 100m World Champion and the fastest woman on earth today), Walter Dix (World Championship silver medalist) and Anastasiya Kapachinskaya (Russian sprinter and 400m Bronze Medalist).

Nike technology and products:

Nike Flyknit: With all the structure and support knitted in, the Nike Flyknit Racer's upper and tongue weigh 34 grams. The whole shoe weighs 160g for a size 9. This is 19 per cent lighter than the Nike Zoom Streak 3, a shoe worn by first, second and third place athletes in the men's marathon at the 2011 World Championships.

The Nike Flyknit Trainer+, which is meant for everyday use, weighs 220 grams.

Nike Zoom Spikes: Includes the Nike Zoom Superfly R4 and Nike Zoom Victory Elite spikes. Uniting superior fit, protection and NIKE's Flywire technology that loosens or tightens with the natural motion of the foot to help provide support and stability, these shoes help prepare athletes for performance with a focus on speed.

Nike Hyper Elite Basketball Uniform: Unveiled in USA Basketball colors, the Nike Hyper Elite shorts weigh five ounces while the NIKE authentic basketball jersey, NIKE's lightest jersey ever, features a breathable and durable design with striking Nike Aerographics visual design.

The men's jersey is made of approximately 96 per cent polyester fabric derived from recycled plastic bottles while the short is 100 per cent recycled polyester fabric.

The uniform will be worn by national basketball teams including USA, China, and Brazil in addition to teams attempting to qualify.

Nike Hyperdunk: Part of a pack of four shoes (including running, men's training and women's training), this shoe is part of the Nike Lunarlon Collection.

Re-engineered NIKE Lunarlon foam is 30 per cent lighter than Phylon (the standard foam used in sports shoe midsoles), and is designed to vary in density, being thicker where required for stability, but softer for absorbing impact in key areas.

The uppers of the Nike Hyperdunk feature the most advanced version of NIKE Flywire, which uses high-strength cables constructed from a thin core encased in a flexible woven sheath.

These responsive cables are loose when at rest and dynamic in motion, tensing to help stabilize the foot as required.

The Lunarlon Collection and Nike Basketball products will be available in Singapore from June 29 while Nike Flyknit footwear will be available from July 27, 2012.