ISPO 2012 Highlights – Ashley Gray tells us about his first time visit
Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
So ISPO 2012 done! It was a first time for me. Certainly an event to check out just for the sheer scale of the Munich venue and the surprising amount of brands that seem to exist and be able to spend big on some very flashy stands but have still yet to break through into the UK. Primarily a rendezvous for sales and distributers, the more technical amongst us are left to look a bit closer beyond the enthusiastic fluorescent extreme vibe and numerous renditions of artificial fur but there were a few golden nuggets to be had.
In the meantime it was also interesting to get out on the other side and see how products are actually being presented to buyers and consumers at such an event. Ultimately something that all researchers need to keep an eye on to ensure what they are working on is in demand!
Stand outs for me… The SmarTube by Blue Desert, simply on personal experience having had a couple of refillable bladder systems that have deteriorated after the struggle to keep clean, the ability to switch in your old but more fresh bottles of water or any drink is very appealing and convenient. Blue Desert also have a range of other neat bottle attachments to keep hydration handy!
As an ex swimmer, Powerbreather also caught my eye. Snorkels have now become more common place on the poolside to allow swimmers to focus on their technique without the complication of breathing. Where this product takes the lead is its balanced design around the head which should make the feeling of use more natural. They also claim the valve allows only fresh air to be inhaled along with no water! To strengthen the product even more it would be great to see smaller diameter tubes to minimize drag resistance and make it a little less cumbersome.
Finally, those that know me well, know that magnets make me a little bit excited! So there maybe some bias in this final product but if you use a helmet for your sport you can see exactly why it comes in useful. With the Fidlock there’s no more fiddling trying to buckle up, the magnets automatically orientate the buckle and then hold it securely with a one-way mechanism. To open the buckle just slide it out-Simple!
Article by Ash Gray
This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 at 4:45 pm and is filed under Ash Gray, Extreme sports, Featured, Running, Snowsports, Snowsports, Sports Business, Sports Technology Videos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
