Clothing Line Looks to Save Lives on the Ice

We all know hockey is a dangerous sport, what with all the smashing and the fighting and the flying sticks. And while the sport can take its toll on the body, it can also be life-threatening. At any given time 12 players can be roaming the ice, which means 24 super-sharp blades are also moving around out there. While the chances of someone going full-on Happy Gilmore and attacking a player with a skate, slips and falls and tumbles can always happen. One wrong move could spell trouble. One company is hoping to keep players safe from skate cuts with a line of high-tech clothing.

Base360, Inc, a Canadian manufacturer of sports apparel, makes specialized shirts and pants to help prevent severe cuts on the ice. Their line of compression shirts and pants come with added layers of Kevlar-enforced material around high-risk areas like the calf, ankle, and wrist. This added layer helps protect against cuts to major veins and arteries, while still providing the movement and range of motion needed for competition on the ice.

Base360 has recently paired with the fabric company Garmatex, and now offers CoolSkin technology in their apparel. CoolSkin is designed to offer a high rate of moisture wicking and evaporation to help keep a player drier. Bact-Out technology is also incorporated to help prevent odor and keep fabric integrity. This is a good move by Base360, as adding technologies that players are already looking for in hockey apparel on top of an added level of protection from skate-related injuries really helps set them apart.

Every year, a good deal of professional hockey players have to be treated for skate lacerations. Extrapolate that out to all the minor-league, youth programs, and recreation leagues in existence, and that’s a lot of possible injuries. While hockey will certainly never be a 100%-safe sport, taking measures to prevent severe and possibly fatal injuries is always a welcome one.

(Header photo via Paul L Dineen)