NASA creates smart clothing to combat extreme heat: this is how Tour de France cyclists wear it.

During one of the most demanding and important competitions in sports, such as the Tour de France , cyclists depend not only on their preparation, nutrition, or their bikes, but external factors such as the weather can also be decisive. You may have never wondered where cyclists' jerseys come from, but you might be surprised to hear that, just a few years ago, they were made from a fabric originating in NASA laboratories.

In the 1980s, NASA was looking for a solution to help its astronauts withstand extreme temperature changes in space . To achieve this goal, it developed a technology based on phase-change materials, capable of absorbing or releasing heat depending on environmental conditions , as NASA reports. This innovation was never used, but it gave rise to a smart fabric called Outlast .

How Outlast fabric works

This material works thanks to microcapsules containing these phase-change substances, and when integrated into common fabrics, the result is a garment capable of dynamically adapting to heat or cold, regulating body temperature without the need for additional layers.

It was first used in everyday products like bedding, but it was at a trade show in Munich that French cycling clothing brand Ekoi discovered what this fabric could do. After testing it, they decided to incorporate it into their racing apparel , and in 2022, they launched their first Outlast collection for that year's Tour de France.

By achieving a more stable body temperature, cyclists have less need to unzip or change clothes, allowing them to maintain much better concentration . In addition to the jersey, the brand uses it in gloves and socks, and is currently working on thermal padding for helmets.

In this way, this fabric has become a solution that, in principle, was intended for astronauts , but has ended up reaching a sport as demanding as cycling and also products of daily use.