Located in Kobe, Japan, the Institute of Sport Science is ASICS' primary research and development facility.
Housed inside the state-of-the-art ISS is a range of industry-leading equipment like a biomechanics lab, artificial climate chamber, an indoor running track spanning 350 metres, and a space where ASICS' famous egg-drop test was conceived, and primarily used to test ASICS GEL cushioning by dropping an egg onto a 30 millimeter GEL pad from a height of 15 metres. As the brand's folklore tells us, the egg did not break, and this test served as the basis for the revolutionary GEL-KINSEI sneaker range, as well as later running models with the familiar GEL prefix.
The institute's top-line objective is the analysis of human form and movement – in line with ASICS' brand motto of commitment to a sound mind and a sound body – and subsequently to develop trademarked technologies including DUOMAX, FLUIDFIT, FLUIDRIDE, plus the facility's most recent technological achievement, GEL-QUANTUM INFINITY.
QUANTUM INFINITY is ASICS' first full-length heel-to-toe GEL cushioning unit, which features small gel nodes on the outsole for added grip, plus a gradient color scheme for a touch of flair. Highsnobiety was invited to visit the ISS for an introduction to some of the amazing tech inside the facility, and for a detailed look at how ASICS developed GEL and GEL-QUANTUM INFINITY.
Learn more about the ISS, here, and the ASICS GEL-QUANTUM INFINITY.
