For years, women\u2019s ski clothing and equipment was marketed to women but not specifically designed for them – smaller, softer versions of men\u2019s gear, just with more traditionally feminine colours. \u00a0However brands such as the Austrian player Blizzard<\/strong> have grown their sales strongly by targeting women with entirely new offerings. In 2016, their women-specific ski \u2018Blizzard Pearl\u2019 was the number one selling ski in the US, outselling 1,200 other models both in units and dollars sold. In the same year, the UK winter sports retail market recorded an 8% rise in female specific skis (down 11% in unisex) and a 5% increase in women\u2019s boots (down 3% for unisex).<\/p>\n Women\u2019s skis <\/strong>are lighter and the mounting point for the binding is further forward, which makes them easier to steer. And women\u2019s ski boots have very specific requirements, because women have narrower ankles, and their calves tend to attach lower than on men, which requires a completely different design.<\/p>\n CYCLING<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n In 2002, the US brand Specialized<\/strong> launched the world\u2019s first women-specific road bike. It was just a different frame; now we are seeing more customized offerings, on parts such as forks, gears, seats and springs. And only recently, the sport has started to embrace the idea of women-specific clothing. Traditional cycling kits (which are tight) have traditionally been designed for men. The British cycling clothing brand Victor & Leap<\/strong>, launched in 2015, sensed an opportunity: \u201cWhen it comes to women\u2019s cycling clothing, \u2018pink it and shrink it\u2019 is the received wisdom,\u201d explains its founder Rose Goldman. \u201cI\u2019m here to change that, to make clothes that actually make women look and feel good on a bike. Now we are seeing dedicated women\u2019s offerings from others, such as the high-end British cycling clothing brand Rapha<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Women need bike frames<\/strong> with a shorter reach and taller stack, or front end. Now manufacturers are making other adjustments, such as alignments to the forks and springs. The innovations continue.<\/p>\n HIKING \/ OUTDOOR<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n In 2012, Columbia Sportswear<\/strong> released one of the first outdoor clothing lines specifically for women, based on a consumer research project. Since then, a number of rival brands have entered the market, including the sporting giants Adidas<\/strong> and Nike<\/strong>. \u201cOur women\u2019s business is one of the categories that we\u2019re supercharging and putting more resources against, with the greatest potential for growth and highest returns,\u201d says Amy Montagne, vice president and general manager of Global Nike Women\u2019s.<\/p>\n Women\u2019s hiking gear <\/strong>now fits the female form, thanks to adjusted pocket placements and hem lengths. For footwear: a new heel-cup, arch shape, and toe splay. (A woman\u2019s heel cup needs to be narrower, which creates more stability when you walk, while a wider toe splay helps prevent blisters and increases comfort.) Another big difference is that women feel the cold more – the Columbia team created their \u2018Omni-Heat Reflective\u2019 technology, which features a breathable space blanket\u2013like insulation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The traditionally male-orientated sporting goods market is positioning itself for growth in women-specific products. Brands in the Outdoor space especially…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":10040,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3799],"tags":[],"news-event-type":[],"dealtype":[],"class_list":["post-5858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sector-en-product-nieuws-nl","ps-consumer-nl"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n<\/div>\n
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