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Smart Textiles

Far Infrared fabric lowers pulse rate, improves performance

Swiss high-tech textiles developer Schoeller technologies has launched a new fabric range called ‘energear’ which uses Far Infrared Rays to ensure that energy radiated by the body is recovered to positively affect performance capacity and wellbeing. The technology has applications in sports and outdoor, in the work environment and in day to day life and runners are said to have reported lower pulse rates and improved performance whilst wearing garments ma

23rd July 2010

Innovation in Textiles
 |  Friedrichshafen

Sports/​Outdoor

FIR emitting lava stoneSwiss high-tech textiles developer Schoeller technologies has launched a new fabric range called ‘energear’ which uses Far Infrared Rays to ensure that energy radiated by the body is recovered to positively affect performance capacity and wellbeing.

The technology has applications in sports and outdoor, in the work environment and in day to day life and runners are said to have reported lower pulse rates and improved performance whilst wearing garments made from the fabric.

Energear, the latest Schoeller technology which has a mineral matrix built-in to the fabric, is based on ancient knowledge about the capacity of certain minerals to reflect back Far Infrared Rays, ensuring that the energy radiated by the body is recovered. Experienced mountain runner Alan Miller is said to be delighted by the latest Schoeller technology :

“Early in the morning, still half asleep, I pulled on the energear jacket. I was immediately embraced by a pleasant feeling and even before I set out for my usual running trail I was wide awake and full of energy.”

Miller is apparently not the only one fascinated by the positive effects of the energear fabric. Schoeller says that numerous other testers report that their pulse rates remain lower during strenuous activity and their performance is tangibly improved.

Increased oxygen levels in the blood

 “The reflection of the FIRs promotes blood circulation and increased oxygen levels in the blood. This additional energy has many positive effects on the body, such as performance enhancement and prevention of premature fatigue, as well as improved regeneration,” Schoeller’s Dagmar Signer says.

“In addition, shorter warm-up phases are sufficient and overall there is an increase in concentration and wellbeing. Such fabric features as breathability, weather protection and elasticity are retained.

In testing, people in an active aerobic phase displayed an increase of air intake with a lower pulse rate thanks to energear, resulting in enhanced performance and lower lactic acid buildup. Therefore, energear makes particularly good sense in terms of physical performance and stamina,” Ms. Signer adds.

Schoeller’s energear technology can be combined with various Schoeller fabrics, with such functions as elasticity, weatherproofing or moisture management. Energear is available as Schoeller-WB-400 in fluffy soft-shell jacket weights or as a Schoeller-WB-formula with even greater wind and weather protection, as well as in light Schoeller-dynamic pants weights or as super-comfortable Schoeller-dryskin fabric for pants and jackets.

The application options and areas of use for energear fabrics are similarly diverse; from clothing for biking and mountain sports to trekking and hiking, for motorcycling, skiing and winter sports and in work wear and military wear as well as city wear and street wear.

Far Infrared Rays

Far Infrared Rays are a component of infrared rays. The sun, certain types of stones and minerals and living beings all radiate FIRs. Far Infrared Rays and their therapeutic properties have been studied and used in China and Japan for many years. The human body also radiates FIRs. They are said to have a number of positive effects on energetic processes in the human body. They are experienced as a pleasant, slight warmth and better circulation and also as enhanced performance and general wellbeing.

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