This Smart Fitness Clothing Tracks Workouts Without The Clunkiness Of Wearables
Image via Prevayl
Fitness wearables come most often in the form of wristbands or watches, but UK-based startup Prevayl is taking things to the next level with smartwear: gym gear that can track your performance.
“We have found a way to track what the human body is capable of that sets Prevayl apart from clunky wearables and ordinary workout gear,” the company declares. And this comes in the form of clothing that might just outsmart us humans.
The company specializes in fitness clothing, mainly tops and sports bras, incorporated with a tiny sensor to track the wearer’s statistics, which can be accessed through a well-integrated smartphone app.
This tiny sensor is capable of tracking things like temperature, breathing rate, energy expenditure, and can even give a clinical-grade ECG.
Image via Prevayl
With all this biometric data fed into the app, the user can then benefit from personalized recommendations tailored after every workout—from training advice to reminders to take a rest day. All this will also come with an exclusive members-only community online.
Image via Prevayl
Although it looks like a regular sports shirt from afar, Engadget writes during a test of the shirt that an elastic band across the chest of the clothing pieces plays host to conductive sensors. The main sensor is located in a small pocket on the front of the shirt, so it can be removed before chucking the garment into the wash.
The company has stated that its designs are “style-led,” with its products created entirely in-house. According to founder Adam Crofts, the head office has entire machines and technicians dedicated to stitching the clothing.
In an interview with the news outlet, Crofts states that the ECG unit and other biometric data capturing sources were validated in collaboration with the University of Salford.
Image via Prevayl
For testing, professional athletes were recruited first. The next stage will see regular gymgoers contributing their data for the team to work with. The company states that it’s dedicated to capturing the most accurate data, which explains the sensors being placed not just on the wearer’s wrist.
Currently, Prevayl’s products are still relatively new to the market and are set for a UK release first. A spokesperson for the company has shared with Engadget that the US will be its next priority. As of writing, the online community is not yet live.
The sensor itself is priced at £60 (US$80), while a starter kit that includes a tank top alongside it will cost £120 (US$161). More information about the sportswear can be found on Prevayl’s website, alongside information on its innovative patents.
[via Engadget, images via Prevayl]
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