The "Ultimate TNG" we are introducing this time is the culmination of the Ultimate series that OLENO has been developing ever since.
It was finally completed after more than two years of development, and was based on the unique ideas of Hirokazu Nishimura, one of Japan's leading trail runners.
- Profile of Nishimura Hirokazu: A trail runner born on February 6, 1982 and currently living in Shiga Prefecture.
In high school, he was a member of the club for going home, and at Shiga University, he was a member of the photography club, but at the age of 28, he started trail running at the invitation of a senior at work. His first race at LAKESMAGAZINE.JP was the OSJ Shiga Kogen Trail 50K in July 2010, where he placed in the 100th place, but three months later, he won his first race at the Columbia Ultra Trail Marathon in Kijimadaira. Since then, he has achieved top-class results in Japan, including two consecutive victories at the Shinetsu Gogaku Trail Running Race 110K (2018, 2019) and the IZU TRAIL Journey (2019) . He also continues to be successful, winning the UTMF (Ultra-Trail Mount Fuji) in 2022.
These socks for trail running, marathons, and road running have been carefully designed to help you run longer and faster . We recommend them to anyone who is striving for victory.
[Recommended for]
- For those who run long races and long distances
- Those who want ease of putting on and taking off
- Those whose soles get numb easily
- Those who are concerned about peeling skin
- Those who do not like excessive pressure or compression
Let me quickly explain more about Ultimate TNG.
By combining materials, water absorption and quick drying performance are improved to the maximum.
At the time, Ultimate TNG was being developed with long trail runs, such as 100 miles, in mind, and we were looking to use functionality to cover the various issues that arise when running long distances.
The biggest problem that Nishimura mentioned when running long distances on long trails was that the skin on the soles of the feet became mushy . If you run in the same socks for a long time, the soles of your feet will inevitably become sweaty and soggy.
Once the skin becomes soft, it becomes more and more vulnerable to friction, and the skin peels off. (The formation of blisters and calluses on the soles of the feet is basically caused by sweaty feet.)
You can change your socks several times during the walk to prevent your feet from getting too sweaty.
- Once it gets soggy, it won't go back to normal for a while.
- Every time you change shoes, you lose time.
In the midst of all this, we asked Nishimura to try on the TNG on numerous occasions, and after repeated test runs and revisions, we were able to successfully maximize the water absorption and quick-drying properties of the shoes, significantly reducing foot sweat .
From here on, I will be talking a little more technically, but ULTIMATE TNG is made by combining a special polyester material with an irregular cross section and polypropylene in a unique way. This allows it to exhibit different performance than conventional sports socks made of cotton and acrylic materials .
To put it simply, polypropylene is an extremely light, water-repellent material. It does not absorb water or sweat well (it has low hydrophilicity) , so it repels sweat and water from the surface instead of soaking into the fibers. By repelling sweat, it evaporates without soaking into the fibers themselves, so it dries quickly and does not get stuffy, and it dries quickly even if it gets wet. This makes it a good material for long-term wear such as hiking and trail running.
In addition to this polypropylene, a special polyester material is used to further enhance the water absorption and quick-drying properties.
With conventional polyester, moisture does not penetrate into the fibers, and the moisture content within the fibers is close to 0. Therefore, when water or sweat comes into contact with the fabric, it immediately diffuses and evaporates, making it excellent for quick-drying, but it has almost no water absorption performance, and a lot of moisture remains, which causes it to become stuffy .
However, the polyester used this time has a special irregular cross-section, meaning that there are areas where moisture cannot get in and areas where it can. Therefore, in addition to the conventional function of diffusing and evaporating moisture , it has the new function of firmly absorbing water and sweat to reduce humidity inside the socks .
This special polyester material provides incredible moisture absorption and quick-drying power (test data available), resulting in sports socks that don't get stuffy easily.
To be honest, you may not need this level of moisture absorption and quick drying performance for short distance trail runs or full marathons, but if you don't want to suffer from foot problems, I would definitely recommend trying it out. Of course, if you sweat a lot, the moisture absorption and quick drying performance may not be enough.
Unique 3D design provides outstanding fit
It is not widely known, but the finish and performance of socks can change dramatically depending on the knitting method. People often ask, "Are they made automatically by machine?", but it actually takes a very complicated process and many people's hands to make one pair of socks.
I've digressed, but Ultimate TNG makes full use of the knitting techniques we have cultivated over the 70 years since our founding, and pursues a fit that only OLENO can provide .
I think it's easier to understand if you see the image rather than reading the text, so I've attached the image.
When knitting socks, we use a technique known as 3D design, which allows us to knit the socks to fit the three-dimensional shape of the foot, resulting in a better fit than the traditional 2D (flat) method of knitting fabric and then forming it into a tube.
This manufacturing method makes it possible to pack a variety of features into one pair of shoes. It creates areas that reduce pressure and incorporates support functions used in insoles, such as arch support and heel hold functions in the soles of the feet, which bear the weight.
This type of design (3D design) provides excellent fit and support to protect your feet from injury , even during intense activities such as trail running and mountain climbing.
Equipped with the "super grip" that is synonymous with OLENO products
Like the ASO and SHR from the Ultimate Series, the soles are made of non-slip silicone rubber, giving them an ultra-grip performance that sets them apart from other sports socks.
Here is a comparison video to show how much grip there is.
(The experiment was conducted to see if the socks would slip on an incline, and was compared to regular sports socks.)
Thanks to the grip of the newly designed silicone rubber, it prevents slippage inside the shoe, even on steep downhill slopes, and prevents power loss . It is also effective in preventing injuries, and many people say that it has improved the problem of blackening of toenails, which is a common occurrence on the trail . (By preventing slippage inside the shoe, it is less likely that your toes will hit the toe of the shoe.)
TNG's strength proven by actual combat
Finally, Ultimate TNG is a sock that has been commercialized after actual competition. Trail runner Hirokazu Nishimura, who cooperated with the development of this product, wore the socks in various competitions as a test.
As a result of the verification, the TNG prototype won the 2022 UTMF, followed by the 2022 Hiei 50 Mile , which was a fantastic result.
Of course, the influence of Hirokazu Nishimura's talent is a big factor, but in the interview, he shared his thoughts about the appeal and merits of TNG. (I've included a video for your reference.)
This concludes my introduction to Ultimate TNG.
This is the culmination of the Ultimate Series, which took approximately two years to develop, to enable people to run longer and faster in trail running and long marathons.
It has sweat-absorbing and quick-drying properties that reduce sweatiness to the utmost, high durability that makes it difficult to tear even during intense active situations, and grip, light weight, and thinness that allow it to be completely integrated with the shoe, making it a worthy culmination of the series.
I am often asked if it is for trail running only, but it is of course perfect for people who run or walk long distances, such as for citizen marathons and trekking. It is also highly recommended for wearing in hot weather, as it has high water absorption and quick drying properties. (Please note that it does not provide protection from the cold.)
[Product Information]
Size: 23-29
Regular price: ¥3,300 JPY
Composition: 34% polyester, 29% polypropylene, 20% wool, 13% nylon, 4% polyurethane
MADE IN: Koryo-cho, the town of socks in Nara Prefecture
