Is ZigTech Reebok’s Only Weapon?

          When was the last time Reebok made a big wave in the sports world? They were once with the likes of Nike and Adidas when it came to apparel, but with their lack of innovation in the last few years, Reebok hasn’t been able to compete for a while.  Lately it seems as if they are trying to find their balance between creativity and quality when designing their shoes.

Reebok ZigTech

            It was their big reveal in 2010 of the ZigTech shoe that put Reebok on the map for their tennis shoe technology. Advertisements with great athletes such as Payton Manning, propelled their ZigTech shoe to the top of the charts. In the year that they came out with the ZigTech shoe, I don’t think I’ve ever seen more advertisement for any Reebok apparel in my whole life.  Every time I watched the sports channel on TV, it seemed as if at every other commercial break there was a new commercial for Reebok’s new shoe. Back in 2010, I was too one of the people mesmerized by this creative new shoe, so I bought myself a pair. Honestly, they were some of the comfiest shoes I’ve ever worn. Also with the way the ZigTech was incorporated onto the sole of the shoe it was a different feeling while walking, but it was a good different.

Adidas Springblade Drive

         Competing companies such as Adidas have tried to take Reebok’s thunder with the invention of their Springblade Drive Shoes. You can somewhat tell that Adidas got the idea for these shoes from Reebok’s ZigTech, because both shoes have an unconventional sole for the shoe. If I had to choose between the shoes based only on the design, I would go with Reebok’s ZigTech 90% of the time. Personally I think that Adidas Springblade Drive shoes are a little too far out there in creativity and look weird. I guess I am just waiting for Reebok to come out with a shoe that is somewhere in the middle of their ZigTech and Adidas Springblade Drive shoe that will take the world by storm like they did 4 years ago. I know Reebok has that creativity somewhere inside them, they just need to let it out and show that they aren’t a one hit wonder.

Images Courtesy of www.sneakernews.com

 

Headbands, Headbands, and more Headbands

           Headbands are a girl’s, and even some guys, best friend. When you’re outside playing your sport in a 20mph wind, with your hair whipping every which way, a headband tends to come in handy. They come in all shapes and sizes, and based on my personal experiences with headbands I feel like I can lead you in the right direction when it comes to finding the perfect one.

Under Armour Braided Headband

I’ve worn headbands of all different sorts, which include the likes of Under Armour, Nike, Adidas, the generic Target brand, and of course the good ol’ reliable Pre-Wrap. For me personally, the plain black head bands that I buy from Target seem to work the best with my hair type. But, for those of you who are looking at more name-brand athletic headbands with a pop of color, I can give you my opinion on which are the best.
Top on the list of my ranking of headbands would have to be Under Armour. One thing that I really like about their headbands, is that on the inside, they have a thin line of a sticky rubber that helps hold the headband in place on your head. Also Under Armour has some of the most innovative designs, including their most popular braided headband that comes in multiple color choices. Following up Under Armour on the headband list, is what I consider to be a tie between Nike and Adidas. Both brands create the original headband with the sticky rubber to keep it in place, but I feel like neither of the brands really reach the creativity that Under Armour has with their headbands. If I really had to narrow it down between Nike and Adidas on who was #2 and #3 on the ranking, I would have to say that Nike edges out Adidas with their newly popular “head-tie” headbands, which are more widely known as the Skylar Diggins Headbands.

I also wanted to point out another brand that has had good reviews on their headbands, which is Lululemon Athletica. Although I myself have never worn one of their headbands, many of my friends have and they seem to love them. The Lululemon headbands are a wider headband compartd to that of the skinnier headbands created by Nike and Adidas, and are very popular among the younger generation of athletes.

I hope my review on the numerous types of headbands out there has given you some insight on what you should look for. Remember you don’t always have to pay $20 just to get a nice set of headbands from a name-brand store, you can always just use some reliable Pre-Wrap from your local store for only $2 that will last you an entire season!

 

Image Courtesy of www.pinterest.com

 

 

Adidas Takes a Step in the Right Direction for Basketball Fashion

            Nike better watch their backs, because the student may surpass the teacher. In the past, Adidas has not been widely well known for their basketball gear. But, by acquiring star athletes such as Derrick Rose, Adidas has begun to head on the path of creating top selling basketball shoes to compete with basketball powerhouses such as Nike.

             The Crazy 8, the D Rose 773 III, and now the Crazy Light Boost. No longer, was Adidas creating the same boring design of basketball shoes that adorned their classic three stripes on the side of the shoe. Now they had incorporated more creativity into the shoe, not only in the design, but also in the technology. It all began with the Crazy Light 2.0 shoes, which were lightweight, breathable, and comfortable. That was when Adidas began to hit it big. I remember getting an Eastbay magazine around the time those shoes came out and I was thinking, “How in the world could an Adidas basketball shoe make the front cover of a sportswear magazine?” I mean, when I thought basketball shoes at the time, I always thought either Nike or Jordan, never Adidas. But, as I opened the magazine and saw athletes such as Derrick Rose supporting the advertisement of these shoes, I knew that Adidas was doing something right and wanted to learn more about their shoes.

Adidas Crazy Light Boost

            The iconic Crazy 8 design was both a fashion statement on and off the court. The D Rose 773 III were sleek and simple, perfect for any type of player. And now the Crazy Light Boost, a shoe that incorporates both the sleekness and simplicity of the D Rose 773 III and the creativity of the Crazy 8 design. The Crazy Light Boost have a similar shoe structure to that of Nike’s Hyperdunks. But, they set themselves apart from Nike’s headlining shoe because of the details. Their Boost technology used on the sole of the shoe, allows for a better cushion and a boost of energy with every step. I wouldn’t yet say that the Crazy Light Boost basketball shoes from Adidas is better than that of Nike’s iconic Hyperdunks since I haven’t had the opportunity to wear them, but I do think that the new Adidas shoe will give Nike a run for their money.

           Starting a little behind the eight ball in the beginning of the century in terms of their basketball gear, Adidas is finally ramping up to compete with the likes of basketball geniuses such as Nike and Jordan. Signing athletes from some of the top basketball leagues in the world has only helped their case. Adidas is finally up there with the elite when it comes to basketball, the question is if they can stay there or surpass the greats, by continuing to create bigger and better shoes?

 

Images Courtesy of www.sneakernews.com

Puma, Golf’s Newest Competitor

             When I think top golf brands, I think TaylorMade, Cobra, Callaway, and PING just to name a few. Then when I think of Puma, I think running, Usain Bolt, and Soccer. But, what do I think of a combo of both golf and Puma? I think, the beginning of modern golf fashion.

The past few years, Puma made a name for themselves when they landed a deal with top golfer Rickie Fowler. They didn’t just make their name as an up and coming golf brand. No, they put their stamp on the golf world when they came in with bold fashion statements. Golf is a classical sport. Players must wear collared shirts that are tucked into nice khaki dress pants and either a baseball type hat or a visor. As Rickie Fowler moved his ways up the rankings, he didn’t just make waves with his great play, but also took the golf world by storm with the new style he was bringing to the course. I feel like his signature piece of clothing that sets him apart from anyone else would be his flat-bill style hats that are rising in popularity among young people across the nation. With the help of Puma, Fowler is keeping with the classic rules of an appropriate dress code, but he is adding a modern twist that attracts the likes of young people, making golf a more desirable game for a younger generation of kids.

I really like how Puma has put their own stamp on the golf world. They didn’t just follow in the steps of all other top sports brands by keeping with the original design of golf clothing. Puma stepped outside the box, put themselves in their own category of golf style, and has made a big name for themselves in the golf world in only a few years. I can’t wait to see what new and bold ideas will be coming from Puma in the future years, but with the help of a young athlete like Fowler, I feel like anything is possible for Puma Golf.   

Under Armour: Best Place for Thermal Clothing

                 Under Armour’s Cold Gear has no competition. Nike tried to compete by creating their Pro-Combat series, but it doesn’t even compare. Under Amour says it themselves on their website, “Beware of Imposters.” Under Armour has held the monopoly on this type of product for years, even other sportswear powerhouses such as Nike can’t figure out the secret behind Under Armour’s success of a thick yet lightweight compression long sleeve shirt that can keep you warm for hours. I’ve been a fan of Under Armour’s Cold Gear thermal wear since day one. Living in Iowa and playing soccer into the middle of November and then starting the spring season in middle March, I know what it is like to play in freezing temperatures. I’ve even played a game while it was snowing out and it was Under Armour’s Cold Gear that kept me focused in on the game and not how I was freezing my you-know-what off.

Currently for club soccer, I wear a white, long sleeve half turtle neck thermal shirt which is part of Under Armour’s Cold Gear. Even though I’ve worn Under Armour since the beginning, I still have worn some of Nike’s Pro Combat gear here and there, so I’ve had experience with both. For high school soccer we are required to wear Nike gear which led me to buying a white long sleeve Nike Pro Combat thermal shirt, and from the minute I put it on I could already tell the difference. Even though Nike’s thermal shirt was a little more lightweight and it was somewhat shear, it in no way whatsoever kept me nearly as warm as I am in Under Armour’s thermal. With Under Armour, I like the material the shirt is made of because it the outside is smooth and the inside is warm and fuzzy, yet the shirt it not too thick like a jacket, which is what makes it more comfortable and warmer than Nike’s thermal shirt. The only complaint I would have about my Under Armour thermal shirt would be that sometimes the neck area can be constricting and I think part of the reason for that is because it is a turtle neck, which is something I don’t wear daily so it is a different feeling for me. Anyways, I would highly recommend buying Under Armour’s thermal Cold Gear over that of Nike’s Pro Combat thermal gear when having to deal with cold temperatures for a long period of time.

I really hope my review and experiences with both brands has helped you come to a more clear decision on what thermal gear may suit you best!

Are Trends in Basketball Beginning to Take Hold in Volleyball Fashion?

                 Many of my friends are avid volleyball players and aspire to one day play in college. Spending countless hours with them while hanging out and sometimes playing a little pick-up game in our backyards here and there has led me to hear the latest gossip in the volleyball world. From the ribbons all the way down to the kneepads, I learn all about what’s hot and what’s not. Lately as I have gone and watched a few of my friends’ games I have realized that a new trend in volleyball fashion has begun and it seems to have stemmed from volleyball’s sister sport: basketball.

In the past year Nike has revamped its original design of their volleyball shoes and taken an entirely new approach. But the thing about this new design approach, is that the new shoes resemble a basketball shoe. Nike’s Zoom Volley Hyperspike seems to take on the same type of design as the Nike Zoom Kobe Venomenon 4 basketball shoe. When I first saw my volleyball friends wearing the Nike Zoom Volley Hyperspike, I was confused as to why they would be wearing basketball shoes, when I know that companies such as Asics make great volleyball shoes. Then I realized that a majority of volleyball girls were wearing these new Nike shoes, so it must be the new trend in volleyball. I think that a reason for the similarity between the volleyball and basketball shoes can be attributed to the fact that in both basketball and volleyball ankle support is a big issue, so by creating shoes that use the same type of sport technology, it has led to a similar design.

 

 

Left: Nike Zoom Kobe Venomenon

Right: Nike Zoom Volley Hyperspike

 

 

 

Other trends that are also beginning to rise in popularity in the volleyball world that have also been seen in basketball, are the accessories worn by players. In basketball, wearing long socks up to your calves is like an unspoken rule of what MUST be worn during the game. For volleyball this rule seems to be taking hold. When I went to watch my friends play their high school volleyball match last week, I noticed how every player on the team wore matching black Nike Elite socks, which is a trend you see with basketball teams across the country. Another trend with accessories that is beginning to ignite in the volleyball world as well as basketball, is the “Skylar Diggins” headband. This headband is worn by and named after one of the best women’s basketball players of the past 5 years.  The “Skylar Diggins” headband has just began to gain popularity in the world of girls basketball and it seems as if almost simultaneously the same boost of popularity of the headband is happening in volleyball. I think that the reason for this heightened popularity of the headband in both sports is due to the fact that girl athletes want to be taken seriously; and how could that happen when you are wearing ribbons in your hair? This headband still provides the same functions of that of a ribbon, but gives an edgy more sophisticated look to the girl athlete.

I think it is interesting how trends that seem to be associated with a specific sport begin to take hold and grow into another, which has been seen here with basketball and volleyball. By no means am I trying to say that volleyball has copied what trends have occurred in basketball, I just think it is interesting that even though two sports may be completely different, there are still some similarities in what the athletes find to be the popular fashion trend in their particular sport.

Kevin Durant Pulled Between Under Armour and Nike in a Deal Worth Millions

             It was the deal of a lifetime for the kid who grew up having no idea he could make it this far. Kevin Durant, the 2014 NBA MVP, was offered with one of the biggest deals in sports history. Deciding to take the $300 million from Nike over Under Armour's $265-$285 million offer was possibly the best decision he ever made, besides the choice to play for OKC Thunder, my favorite team.

             Nike Basketball. They support Michael Jordan's clothing line, and have deals with top players in the world such as Lebron and Kobe. How could Durant not want to rejoin the company of such greats? But the first one to announce their offer was Under Armour and how could a $265-$285 million deal be met be anyone else? I didn't want him to choose Under Armour because they don't have the hype and ability to produce gear in basketball like Nike can. They don't have deals with big names of basketball like Nike does. I view Under Armour more as a clothing line, and not a leader in the sports shoe industry. With Nike, they have it all; the resources, the technology, and the prestige. Now I'm not saying that Under Armour isn't a good sportswear company, because I see them as part of the Top 3 sports companies worldwide, I just don't feel like they are as great in certain sports such as basketball. Now one day can Under Armour reach the gold standard of basketball that is Nike? Yes, but that day is not going to happen in 2014 with the likes of Kevin Durant. Under Armour needs to expand its basketball technology and resources and gain deals with the up and coming greats of basketball to get rolling in the right direction to one day reach and possibly surpass the powerhouse of Nike Basketball.
            In the end I feel like Kevin Durant made the decision that any player that understands the world of basketball would. Then with Nike topping Under Armour's offer with $300 million it was the icing on the cake. These past few years Durant has created one of the top clothing and shoe lines with Nike and  I'm excited to see what he has in store these up coming years!