Sometimes, simple is best.
HexPad technology is named that way because of the hexagon-shaped pads in the material. Simple. Its impact and scope in the six years of its existence, however, have been remarkable.
Its roots are in a 2004 trade show in Europe, but what came of it is now a multimillion-dollar industry servicing a vast array of sports and creating a whole new category of sports equipment called Protective Apparel.
Yes, McDavid Inc.’s HexPad technology has spawned all of that.
So what is it?
It’s padding bonded to fabric — shirts, shorts, etc. Football players can use it for extra protection under their padding or in lieu of certain pads, most commonly hip and tailbone padding.
“They are hexagon-shaped athletic foam pads, so they nest easy together,” said Rey Corpuz, director of sales and marketing for McDavid Inc. “They are bonded right to the fabric. If you wore a compression short back in the day for football, it would be a compression short with pockets in it. So you had to shove the pads in. After the game, you had to pull all of the pads out.”
HexPad use spread to basketball when, as the story goes, Shaquille O’Neal, then a star player for the Miami Heat, suffered a deep thigh bruise. The Heat and Miami Dolphins trainers were good friends. Asked for ideas on how to help O’Neal play but still protect the injured thigh, the HexPad shorts were suggested. Not only did it work for O’Neal, he’s been a customer ever since.
“We actually just made up a half-dozen shorts for Shaquille for this season,” Corpuz said.
Shaq is not alone.
McDavid Inc.’s HexPad apparel is endorsed by Heat guard Dwyane Wade and Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno. Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow wore HexPad wraparound thigh pads in addition to the traditional thigh pads while starring at the University of Florida so that he would be protected, no matter where he was hit.
“It’s very lightweight and very effective,” Corpuz said. “Because they are independent pads, they move with the fabric. Air flows through them. It allows the player to move freely, so it increases the performance. It protects the player. And after the fact it’s fully washable. Anyone from young kids that play athletics all the way up to the pro ranks wear this product.”
And it’s caught on in many other sports. HexPad apparel is used in soccer, handball, rugby, ski and snowboard sports. Colorado-based Sports Authority is planning to put HexPad apparel in its stores next month. McDavid Inc. is looking to get into or increase its presence in lacrosse, hockey, mixed martial arts, motocross and mountain biking as well. Outside of sports, the protective gear has been used by stuntmen and stuntwomen, as well as actors such as Angelina Jolie (“Salt”), and Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle (“Iron Man 2”), who do some of their own stunts.
“There’s more things we can do with it,” Corpuz said. “But for the most part, if it’s working we’re not messing with it.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
