Track and field equipment
Probably it is hard to come across a collection of sports equipments, having as many varied items, under any single head, as the collection of track and field equipments. And, of course, this is not without any reason. The event itself encompasses a variety of sporting activities.
One can shop for Track and Field equipments either by brands or by events. Equipments that have an overlapped usage in various events are generally listed under a separate category (e.g. Timing equipment). Starting from the core equipment for a particular event, anything and everything that is associated with that activity (e.g. benches, megaphones / bull horns, start pistols, shoes, apparel, First Aid equipment, books, video etc.) find their way into the list of equipments under that category.
COMMON CATEGORIES OF TRACK AND FIELD EQUIPMENT
Here is a fairly comprehensive list of track and field equipment, with an insight into what all one can find under those categories:
• In-ground equipment: Includes those equipments, which are installed in or on the ground, like Hammer or Discuss cage / circle, Shot Put Toe board, Pole vault box, etc.
• Timing and measuring equipment: From simple stopwatches and stopwatches with printers to track meet timers, interval timers and fully automatic timing systems, measuring tapes, measuring wheels etc. are available under this category.
• Athletic facility equipment: Field Marking Stripers, Goalposts, Turf Armor, Wall padding, Fence Top Protection, Floor covers, etc. are available under this category
• Sprints and hurdles equipment: Hurdle carts, various types of hurdles (e.g. Starting Blocks, Championship hurdles, Rocker hurdles, Steeplechase hurdles, Training hurdles, Relay Batons etc.) are found under this category.
• Cross-Country equipment: Cross-country markers, line markers, canopies, Cross country timing kits, mile markers etc. are found under this category.
• Jumping equipment: Equipment most essential to various types of jumping events (e.g. Long jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, and Pole Vault etc.) can be found under this category. Important equipment that can be found under this category are: Long Jump / Triple Jump take-off systems, High jump pits and shelters, Crossbars for High Jump and Pole Vault, Pole Vault Poles, Pole Vault Boxes, Shoes meant specifically for these activities, etc.
• Throwing equipment: Equipment used in Hammer Throw, Javelin Throw, Shot Put and Discus Throw events are sold under this category. The equipments that you can find under this category are: Discus Circles, Discus Cages, Shot and Discus Carriers, Hammer Wires and Handles, Training equipment for Throw events etc.
• Triathlon equipment: The very nature of the event, which combines swimming, cycling and running, has led to the development of a specialized line of equipment keeping the needs of tri-athletes (mainly, the transition from one event to the next) in mind. Aerodynamically designed cycles, special line of clothing to take care of wet and dry conditions are found under this category.
• Shoes and apparel: Shoes designed specifically for various track and field events come under this category. E.g. Distance Running Shoes, Long and Triple Jump Shoes, Hammer Throw shoes, Javelin Throw Shoes, Track and Field Training Shoes etc.
• Training equipment: This line of equipments is in turn grouped into different categories ( E.g. Speed and Agility equipment, Balance and stabilization equipment, Plyometric equipment, Stretching equipment etc,) based on end-result that can be achieved by using that equipment.
• First Aid Equipment: Injuries are part and parcel of Track and Field events. So, First Aid equipments are as essential to Track and Field events as are the core equipments. Heat Packs, Cold Packs, Athletic Tape Underwraps, etc. can be found under this category.
WHAT IS IN A NAME-DARE NOT SAY THAT!
Wear and tear associated with any Track and Field equipment is enormous. Most of the equipments have to withstand huge amounts of pressure during their usage. A lot of research w.r.t. the material of construction, design, precision, etc. need to be undertaken to assure accuracy and durability of the equipment in question. And this is no mean task! It demands a long term commitment from the manufacturer to achieve that kind of quality, strictly adhering to national and international standards. Reputation is not something that comes off-hand to any manufacturer; they need to build it brick by brick. So, the big names in the market would have strived hard to be what they are today.
Well, just peep into manufacturer?s websites; you will find them replete with lists of Olympians and world champions who have DONE IT- with the help of their equipment. And, for the end-user, the name itself is an assurance; and sometimes, the name is everything! Truly so, indeed; because there is so much of technology going into the making of these equipments, that a non-technical common sportsperson may get lost while trying to understand them. Another reason for relying heavily on reputed brands while shopping for Track and Field equipments is the price-tag they come with! They definitely do not come easy.
Brands that are well-placed in the market of Track and Field equipments are:
• Seiko
• Accusplit
• Kettle Bells
• UCS / Spirit
• Nordic
• Skypole
• Pacer
• Rocket
• Fannon
• Gill
• Stackhouse
Reputed brands that offer apparel and shoes for Track and Field events are:
• Adidas
• Nike
• Asics
• Reebok
Manufacturers of Track and Field equipment have their product line so designed as to cater to all levels of sporting enthusiasts, right from High School athletes to athletes competing at International level. The availability of quality equipment right from the base level is something that needs to be appreciated, as it has a direct bearing on the performance and development of the athlete.
WHERE TO LOOK FOR TRACK AND FIELD EQUIPMENT ON THE WEB?
Manufacturer?s websites are the best places to look for Track and Field equipments. These websites also contain a fair deal of technical information about the products they are offering. In case you are not very familiar with brand names, dealer?s websites do provide good deal of information on various brands running in the market. A distinct advantage that one has, while browsing through dealer?s websites is the choice that it offers, in terms of brands. You can find all big names under one roof.
End of Season sales announced by all major dealers often offers best bargains. Close-out Stocks, Discounted merchandise finding their way into the clearing shelves allow the user to have his cake and eat it too!!
Apart from individual users, institutional users are a major chunk of customers of Track and Field equipments. Manufacturers and dealers too have various offers spread out to attract such large scale buyers. Value packs / Economy packs are some such packages that prove to be beneficial on a long run. There are many dealer websites that allow comparison of prices offered by different brands.
With an ocean of choice spread out before them, today?s athletes have everything to better their performance every time they set their foot on the track.
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