Equipment, gear, or accessories used in the athletic disciplines or extreme sports, known as parkour and freerunning, are the focus of this part of our web guide.
Parkour are separate sports, but they have the same roots and share several foundational principles. Both sports focus on efficient movement through an environment, utilizing jumps, vaults, and other dynamic maneuvers to overcome obstacles. Practitioners of both disciplines must develop similar skills, such as strength, agility, balance, and spatial awareness.
However, parkour and freerunning differ in their philosophies and aesthetics. Parkour prioritizes efficiency and practicality of movement, emphasizing getting from one place to another as quickly and directly as possible. Freerunning, on the other hand, emphasizes creativity and self-expression, incorporating acrobatic and stylistic elements into the movements. This distinction influences the mindset and approach of practitioners, as well as the types of gear and accessories they require.
Both parkour and freerunning depend heavily on physical abilities, but specific equipment and gear play a significant role in ensuring safety, performance, and comfort.
Quality footwear is the most critical piece of gear for both parkour and freerunning. Practitioners need shoes that provide excellent grip, cushioning, and flexibility. Lightweight running shoes or specially designed parkour shoes with durable soles and good shock absorption are preferred. The primary difference in footwear choices arises from individual preferences and specific movement styles rather than the sport itself.
Comfortable and flexible clothing is also essential. Both parkour and freerunning athletes typically wear loose-fitting t-shirts, hoodies, and joggers. Breathable, sweat-wicking fabrics are favored to keep the practitioner cool and dry. Some practitioners may opt for compression gear to provide additional muscle support and reduce fatigue, although this is more common among freerunners.
While protective gear is not mandatory for parkour and freerunning, it can be helpful, particularly for beginners. Wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow pads can help prevent injuries during practice and training sessions, while gloves designed for parkour can provide enhanced grip and protect the hands from abrasions.
Practitioners who train in urban environments often carry a small backpack to store personal items, water, and snacks.
Practitioners may use specialized equipment for training. This might include bars, boxes, and walls designed for parkour practice.
Smart watches and fitness trackers might be used to help monitor performance, track progress, and set training goals.
Although neither parkour nor freerunning is heavily demanding as far as specialized equipment or gear is concerned, these are some of the products that may be used in these sports.
Manufacturers and retailers producing or making parkour and freerunning products are appropriate topics for this category. Websites featuring reviews or comparisons of parkour or freerunning products might also be found here.
Recommended Resources
APK is a Virginia-based organization created to promote the sport of parkour in the United States. The organization offers training, events, and a community for parkour enthusiasts. Its online shopping area offers school parkour programs, parkour and gymnastics gyms, home training equipment, and parkour kits and rigs. Gift cards and branded merchandise, such as t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and a water bottle, are also available. Online shopping and contact data are enabled.
https://store.americanparkour.com/
Manufactured in the United States, the Integrated Obstacle System is a type of portable parkour equipment designed to be adaptable, stable, and durable. The equipment can be reconfigured daily, sort of like a parkour LEGO set, allowing for versatile training solutions. A variety of suggested packages are suggested, each shown in a standard 40x40 foot space video showcasing one of the possible setups, all of them modular. Other products include a Pop Up Parkour, designed to be quickly setup.
https://www.integratedobstacles.com/
Take Flight is a shoe and clothing company founded in Portland, Oregon. Its goal is to produce Parkour shoes and clothing. Its online catalog features its line of parkour and freerunning shoes and insoles, pants, hoodies, tee-shirts, and tank tops, including closeout items. Its affiliate program is featured on the website. Other resources include logos, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, contacts for general inquiries, its affiliate program, becoming a retailer, and media inquiries.
https://www.tkflt.com/
The World Freerunning Parkour Federation (WFPF) is an international federation or organization established in 2007 to bring together patrons of parkour and freerunning. Its official store offers men's, women's, youth's, and kid's apparel, gear, and other merchandise. Its online catalog includes packages as well as single items, such as t-shirts, hoodies, caps, beanies, parkour pants, pillows, towels, and several types of wristbands. Links to the WFPF organization and academy are included.
https://wfpfparkourgear.com/
