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Feature report 2009 | The Sport & Leisure Products Driven by

 

Written by Chin-Yan Lin, Sport & leisure section, FRT


 

Looking at the global market scale of products in sport and leisure industry shown in Figure 1, the USA market is the largest at approximately 30% and the Japanese market is the second largest at approximately 13% of the global market. The USA and Japanese markets together occupy approximately half of the global consumption on sports product. Other important markets include the 15 nations of EU that occupy approximately 24% of the global market, whereas Canada occupies approximately 2% and Asia occupies approximately 15%. In addition, the rest nations worldwide occupy a total of approximately 14% of the global market. Therefore, it is evident that the market of sport products has very high concentration.

Figure 1. Global market scale
Data source: Global Industry Analysis; IEK-IT IS project, ITRI

 

According to statistics of USA Industrial Fund for Outdoor Products (蝢嗅典撌交平粹), the global revenue of outdoor products in 2007 was USD 32 billion. Among them, the revenue of outdoor products in USA was approximately USD 7.8 billion; the revenue of outdoor products in Europe was approximately USD 5.8 billion and the revenue of outdoor products in Japan was approximately USD 1.6 billion. At the same time, the outdoor product industry has generated USD 88 billion of tax revenue and 65 million employments for the USA government per annum.
The major sport and leisure products driven by outdoor relaxation nowadays are now described as follows:

1. Mountain jogging shoes, rock climbing shoes, mountain climbing shoes, hiking paddle shoes and Protective Gears
Since the public has more leisure time for sport and world games such as rock climbing, mountain climbing, hiking and mountain jogging will increase in future, the rate of sport injury increases along with increased exercising hours for sport players. In view of this, the selection of comfortable sport shoes and protective geares has become the most important task of prevention during sport (shown in Figure 2, 3, 4 and 5).

(http://goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show11080915916406)
(http://Outdoor industry association/Huntshill Pineview)

To develop the outdoors products, one has to consider the professional uniqueness. Therefore, the manufacturers always actively dedicate in development of product and application of patent, which are orientated towards lightweight and increase of sport ability, as well as focusing on various requirements such as comfort, protection, human engineering and specific sport. The user's comfort is an important factor that will influence consumer's purchase. Therefore, comfort can be researched and developed from material, structure and human engineering. Among them, the purpose of designing protective gear is to prevent sport injury or protect the injured part.

This is an elastic protective gear that can partially limit the joint movement to achieve indirect protection for the joint by supplementary muscle contraction. The protective gear can limit movement of certain join, reduce skin friction or absorb the impact energy to achieve purpose of protection. Moreover, the most important design for skin-friendly protective gear is the fabric shown in Figure 3 with excellent moisture absorption, sweat dispersion and rapid drying.

The production and dispersion of sweat are important factors to comfort. When sweat appears between the skin and the protective gear, the wearer feels uncomfortable. The wetness, stickiness, coldness and attachment on the body will interfere the movement, and even cause loss of body temperature or heat stroke. Therefore, the ideal procedures to remove sweat rapidly and keep the body dry are as follows:
(1) Carry the sweat away from skin promptly so the surface of skin can be kept dry comfortably.
(2) Absorb the sweat promptly and leave them at the buffer area temporarily.
(3) Disperse and evaporate the sweat to exterior via body temperature and external weather.

Figure 6. The skin-friendly fabric
(http://www.everest.com.tw/_chinese/11_star_product)


The common materials for protective gears include knitted fabrics, foamed rubbers and the knitted fabrics are often mixed with spun wool, Lycra or other functional fibers. For example, the wool material is suitable to keep the joints warm in a room with air-condition; Lycra is suitable for elderly with fragile skin and the protective gear made with foamed rubbers can provide protection during sport. Therefore, the protective gear in future will head towards cooperation with hi-tech textile and composite material, e.g. the development of PET conductive silk with nano composite materials (PET憟蝐唾鞈芸餌) that combines with micro-electromechanical technology to provide the customers with thorough and complete products.

2. Backpacks, sleeping pads, sleeping bags,
outdoor sport suits and tents
The backpacks, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, outdoor sport suits and tents are shown as per Figure 7, 8, 9 and 10.


The appearance of outdoor sport products differ from the fashion since attention is required on environment of outdoor leisure activities, characteristics and theme of the material. Under situation of allowable structural strength, the manufacturers simplify the structure, change the material or reduce the weight by replacing the raw material with hollow material, application of plastics, carbon fibers or composite materials, as well as foamed materials with less density and change of weaving method. For example, the design of tent is mainly based on family requirements of multi-functions, light weight, weather proof, tent posts with high strength and simple structure, as well as appearance. The tear-resistant fiber material is adopted for the external tent, which can resist frost and water; the ventilated tear-resistant fabric is used for the internal tent. The aluminum alloys with aviation technology are adopted for the tent posts and nails to increase the strength and reduce the weight. In addition, the cross fixture system is used for building a tent with ease and speed, which effective transmits and shares the supporting force for maintaining the spacing between external and internal tent, as well as improving the functions of temperature and moisture insulation. In case of mountain climbing activity at high altitude, it is suggested to use tent with external and internal layer. The external tent shall have better performance in water-proofing and well ventilation is required for the internal tent (e.g. the Gore-Tex tent), so the inside of tent can be kept dry comfortably. It is better to reserve certain storage space at the front (rear) opening of the tent, which prevents rainwater or dew from wetting the bag or clothes. To address the green application of energy conservation, the solar technology can be used on the mountain tent, which promotes feasibility of solar tent via combination with electromechanical integration. Whether you are interested in mountain activity or scenery exploration, you will surely get mutual joy for the whole family via camping relaxation.

 

Figure 11. Solar tents
(http://dcaid.com/article/article.asp)

3. Bike bags, rafts and paddles
Since the cycling and rafting activities are very popular, the bike bags and paddles generated from them have always drawn lots of attentions (shown as per Figure 12, 13 and 14).

Figure 12. Paddles / Figure 13. Bike bag / Figure 14. Raft (http://Outdoor industry association/Huntshill Pineview)

4. Future trend of outdoor sport products
The integration of sport and leisure industries has become a new trend and the above mentioned indications have revealed that the sport and leisure industry has headed towards multi-dimensional development. In addition to the above description on protective gears and tents, the remaining products are summarized as follows:

-- Rock climbing shoes: The shoes have light weight and high strength cover for toes. Hard abrasion-resistant rubber with strong grip is adopted for the soles.
-- Mountain jogging shoes: The shoes have light weight, strong grip, abrasion resistant that prevents penetration, well ventilated external layer that prevent water spillage, durable material that absorbs moisture and disperses sweat, recyclable and decomposable foam material, shoe pads under human engineering, foam material for shock absorption and secure cover that prevents sprain.
-- Mountain climbing shoes: The shoes have electric heater for temperature control, warm lining that absorbs moisture and disperse sweat, soles with strong grip, light weight, recyclable and decomposable foam material, as well as abrasion resistant that prevents penetration and secure cover that prevents sprain.
-- Hiking paddle shoes: The shoes have water-resistant glue, excellent structure of water dispersion, well ventilated external layer for rapid drying, soles with strong grip and abrasion resistance, recyclable and decomposable foam material, shoe pads under human engineering, shock absorbent foam material and secure cover that prevents sprain.
-- Backpack: The bag has light weight, resistance to storm, solar electricity storage, well ventilated back and removable water bag and straw.
-- Sleeping pad for camping: The pad has light weight, well ventilated external layer that prevent water spillage, automatic inflator and small volume for ease of storage.
-- Sleeping bag: The bag has light weight, warm lining that absorbs moisture and disperse sweat, well ventilated external layer that prevent water spillage, small volume for ease of storage, removable and washable lining, as well as multi-functional storage space.
-- Outdoor sport suit: The suit is emphasized with environmental friendly Eco Design, natural material, durable material that absorbs moisture and disperses sweat, as well as the functional fabric that provides durability and convenience.
-- Bike bag: The bag has well ventilated external layer that prevent water spillage and small volume for ease of storage.
-- Paddles: The products have light weight carbon fibers, energy saving structure under human engineering and the anti-slip grip.
-- Rafts: The products have light weight, impact and abrasion resistant material, inner cabin that provides multi-functional storage, as well as ease of delivery, storage and assembly, which are designed according to different structure of water area.
It can be anticipated that application of hi-tech composite, carbon reducing and energy conserving materials on various sport products will be more extensive in future. At the same time, more advanced sport products will generate new market opportunities.