We have previously written about wearable technology and football on the blog. Wearables are becoming more popular in football. Professionals have long used wearable smart technology to gauge performance. Now, amateurs and youth footballers are able to use some wearables that fit into their budgets. One of the latest entrants to wearable technology is the Gatorade Gx Sweat Patch.

The Gx Sweat Patch is quite unique and could make it even more possible for amateur and youth players to track their performances. So, what is the Gatorade Gx Sweat Patch?

What is the Gatorade Gx Sweat Patch?

The Gx Sweat Patch is paired with Gatorade’s new Gx app. The patch stores a player’s “sweat data” and displays health recommendations via the smartphone app. Players place the patch on their arm before training or games. As a player moves around, the patch collects sweat and routes it through two channels. Non-toxic colour dyes on the patch show your sweat results.

After training, players can use the Gatorade Gx Sweat Patch app to scan the patch on their arm. The app will then display the player’s health results and recommendations.

The Sweat Patch is available on the Gatorade website for a mere $24.99 (US). Players will receive two patches. The problem is that the patch can be used just once. Due to the expense of the patches, it is recommended that they are used for intense training.

Now, the patch and app don’t tell a player how far or how fast they have run. What it does show is the player’s hydration levels. The patch aims to optimise a player’s performance by measuring the body’s sweat loss. The app is then able to recommend the amount of fluids the player should drink to maintain peak performance.

According, Gatorade, hydration and sweat are key to athletic performance and now athletes will know more about how much to drink for hydration using the patch and app.