With the booming development of the sports shoe market, athletes' increasing demand for professional performance has driven sports brands to extend their material technologies from midsoles to uppers. This article presents upper technologies from 9 renowned sports brands, listed in no particular order for informational purposes only.
I. Nike
Core Technology: Flyknit
Officially launched in 2012, Flyknit technology weaves yarns or TPU threads into a one-piece upper, offering soft fit, lightweight breathability, and excellent support. Its innovation lies in achieving zero material waste through precision weaving technology, with single uppers weighing as little as 30 grams.
Key Technology Comparison
| Technology | Features | Representative Products |
| Engineered Mesh | Balanced breathability and support through precision weaving | Air Max 2014 |
| Flywire | Steel cable-inspired high-strength nylon fibers | Hyperdunk basketball shoes |
II. Adidas
Core Technology: PrimeKnit
PrimeKnit is Adidas' one-piece knitted upper technology, combining single yarn with TPU and TPE materials to provide lightweight, breathable, and highly adaptive fit, while offering water resistance and durability.
Breathability Technology Matrix
ClimaCool: 360° 全方位 breathable mesh design
Climachill: Cooling yarn with metal cooling points
Celermesh: Ultra-light breathable mesh structure (used in Adios Pro 2)
III. Zhongqiao Sports
1. Bird's Nest Programmable Upper
Launched in Q2 2024, this node bonding technology upper eliminates traditional weaving intersections, enabling data-programmed design for zonal support and breathability balance with more porous structure in non-support areas.
2. Kung Si PRO Technology
Integrating 55% PEBA yarn, tear strength increased by 16%, with adaptive fit adjustment based on running tension for foot-shoe unity balance.
IV. Anta
1. String Technology
Silkworm cocoon-inspired three-layer structure (skin-friendly layer/reinforcement layer/protection layer) using single TPU yarn wrapping, increasing strength by 260% while reducing weight by 57%.
2. Other Core Technologies
V. Li-Ning
1. Boom Fiber
Using the same PEBA raw material as Boom midsoles, melted and drawn into lightweight yarn with 35% better breathability than MONO yarn and 17% lighter than hair strands.
2. COOL SHELL
Achieves efficient cooling through Ice Fibe cooling yarn and physical structure optimization, focusing on solving foot temperature rise during exercise.
VI. Xtep
1. Tough Yarn Frame Upper
Jacquard mesh three-layer composite structure (wear-resistant/support/skin-friendly layers), weighing 245g (size 42), dynamically adapting to foot shape.
2. Wind Ventilation Technology
Dual-layer Jacquard technology with 0.3mm micro-hole precision distribution, 38% improved breathability, and 12 air guide channels in arch area for air convection.
VII. Peak
1. 3D Printed Upper
Using TPU yarn fused deposition modeling, single shoe weight as low as 197g (size 42.5), with patterns generated based on foot pressure data.
2. Tai Chi Yarn
Integrating P4U non-Newtonian fluid material, soft when static and supportive when dynamically stressed, more skin-friendly than traditional elastic threads.
VIII. 361°
1. Zen Weaving Technology
TPU and TPEE yarn warp-weft interweaving, achieving strength and toughness balance for breathable and supportive upper material.
2. Carbon Fiber Technology
Composite yarn containing carbon fiber, using recycled CO2 for yarn production, reducing chemical additives while enhancing rebound and reducing weight.
IX. Erke
1. Breathing Mesh 3.0
0.2mm ultra-thin monofilament mesh with bionic gill laser punching, achieving 0.08g/cm³/h breathability, with CoolMax® lining for rapid moisture diffusion.
2. Reflective Rubber Printing Fabric
Base layer + outer film + glass bead reflective layer, balancing night running safety with stain resistance and durability.
