Under Armour has turned its innovation lens onto the ubiquitous backpack.
The Baltimore-based sports brand set out to redesign the accessory that has long been maligned for the weight and strain placed on shoulders after a long day of carrying around laptops, books and other essentials.
Now, after three years of research and development, the company is introducing the No Weigh Backpack. The product features UA Suspension straps, a patent-pending innovation that stretches and contracts in response to a person’s stride and shifting loads by redistributing weight across the shoulders and upper back. In third-party testing at an ergonomics laboratory, the newly designed system was found to reduce strain and minimize fatigue, Under Armour claimed.
“The athlete backpack is used more than almost anything else, but no one’s truly rethought it until now,” said Kyle Blakely, senior vice president of innovation, development and testing. “We treated it like a performance product, because that’s what it really is.”
“It doesn’t just feel lighter — it moves with you,” added Tobiah Taylor, director of accessories. “You’re not fighting the bag anymore.”
In addition to the new strap system, which includes adjusters and a floating sternum strap, the No Weigh Backpack offers breathable, moisture-wicking back panels, zippered pockets, ventilated compartments to keep sweaty gear away from other products, and offers an expandable 28-liter to 35-liter capacity.
Under Armour worked with young athletes in Baltimore city schools to test the prototypes of the new backpack. Several of the students will be featured in the launch campaign, which dropped Wednesday.
The No Weigh Backpack retails for $140 and is available to loyalty members now on the Under Armour website. It will be offered to the general public on Thursday.
The company said it plans to use the UA Suspension strap technology in other products in the future including duffels and travel bags.
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