FIT Sport Design Awards Announce Top Gear & Apparel Winners 2025
May 22, 2025The FIT Sport Design Awards have honored the most forward-thinking innovations in sports design this year, including a catamaran-style kayak, advanced supportive tights enhancing movement and recovery, and the bike saddle addressing the common discomfort associated with standard bike seats.
The FIT Sport Design Awards, now in its third and most dynamic edition, has officially unveiled the winners for 2025. Celebrating innovation and sustainable design in sports, this year’s competition attracted standout entries from over 20 countries across 45 categories. From breakthrough footwear to visionary apparel and next-gen equipment, the awards highlight a global community of designers, creators, and brands reshaping the future of sports.
Taking home the title of Sport Gear Design of the Year, the Kamarán Kayak by lead designer Walter Sidler is a striking example of how portability and safety can be combined. Manufactured by Kamarán Kayaks and already available on the market, this inflatable, catamaran-style kayak redefines ease of transport and stability. Weighing just 7kg and folding into a single compact bag, it can be stored in a closet or the trunk of a car, making it an ideal companion for spontaneous outdoor adventures. Its unique bottomless structure avoids water accumulation, while the widened base offers enhanced stability even for beginners.
Kamarán Kayak, Kamarán. Photo: Adrián Abalay.
In the Sport Apparel Design of the Year category, the award goes to the Stoko Supportive Tight, developed by Joel Maerz and the design team at Stoko Design Inc. Trusted by both medical professionals and athletes, the tight integrates 30 meters of high-strength Dyneema® cables into a sleek compression knit, offering discreet, medical-grade knee support. With its use of flatbed knitting technology and custom-adjustable support for each leg via dual waistband dials, the garment adapts to the user’s needs throughout the day, whether in high-impact sports or everyday life. Manufactured by MAS – Matrix and available commercially, it marks a significant step forward in wearable performance support.
Stoko Supportive Tight, Stoko Design Inc.
Emerging talents were also celebrated. Behzad Rashidizadeh from Carleton University received the Emerging Sport Gear Designer of the Year award for the René Adjustable Width Bike Saddle, a prototype addressing the common discomfort associated with standard bike seats by allowing width adjustments to match individual sit bone measurements. Meanwhile, John Helf from the University of Oregon was named Emerging Sport Apparel Designer of the Year for elevé, a ballet training shoe featuring adjustable elastic straps and 3D-printed TPU components to assist novice dancers in learning proper form.
Some of the other winners include standout innovations like the GOLF-GRIP™ TRΛINING ΛID by Treed Equipment (UK), the T360 Boxing Glove by Hayabusa Fightwear (Canada), and the Symbio Runner by Life Fitness (UK). In the cycling category, entries such as the Overade LIFE light helmet (France), Gravel Tire CRUSHER K1274 by Kenda Rubber (Taiwan), and OSSBY GEO by Anima Design (Spain) impressed the jury. The awards also spotlighted Adidas CCS Originals for their Utility Puffylette, Berghaus for their Zonal Adapt Technology, and Stoko Design for the Supportive Tight, proving that even the biggest players in sportswear and equipment continue to push the boundaries of innovation, performance, and design.
René Adjustable Width Bike Saddle, Carleton University – Behzad Rashidizadeh. // elevé, University of Oregon – John Helf.
Reflecting on the success of the third edition, Astrid Hébert, Co-Founder and Director of the 3C Awards, shared:
“Each year, I’m blown away by the talent, passion, and innovation that pour into the FIT Sport Design Awards. What started as an ambitious idea has grown into a platform that truly celebrates the designers and brands shaping the future of sport. I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come, and even prouder of the incredible community we’ve built around performance, purpose, and creativity. This third edition has been our strongest yet, and I can’t wait to see how these bold ideas continue to inspire the next generation.”
The winners were selected by an international jury of top professionals shaping the future of sport and performance design. Among them were Angela Medlin, founder of Faas Design Collab and design director based in the United States; Samantha Taylor, founder of The Good Factory; Noreen Naroo Pucci, chief product officer at Merrell; Karl Askill, print and graphic design manager at Gymshark; Charles Johnson, Principal & Design Innovation Leader of Driven By Charles and Thiago Bazzi, product developer at Arc’teryx Equipment in Canada. They were joined by many more experts from globally recognized companies including POC, Decathlon, Mountain Hardwear, and Pantone, ensuring a diverse and forward-thinking selection process.
These innovative designs represent the best of sports gear and apparel design, as well as a commitment to sustainability and accessibility in the industry. To learn more about the winners and their designs, visit the FIT Sport Design Awards website – fitdesignawards.com. Congratulations to all of the winners and participants for their contributions to the sports industry and their dedication to innovation.