Nike published a guide on 5 November 2026 setting out what each of the four Nike FIT technologies is built to do. FIT stands for Functional Innovative Technologies and was first introduced in 1991. According to the brand, Dri-FIT is there to keep athletes dry, Aero-FIT to keep them cool, Therma-FIT to keep them warm and Storm-FIT to protect them from the weather.
How the Nike FIT technologies work together
The guide uses running as its example, because heat, sweat, wind and rain can all change within a single mile. Nike calls the result a "system of dress", with each garment engineered for a specific activity, and says the system has developed through athlete testing, material innovation and sport science research. The guide also includes a video with Alexa Manos-Gully, Senior Director of Apparel Materials Design.
What is Nike Dri-FIT
Dri-FIT moves sweat away from the skin and spreads it across the surface of the fabric, so that it evaporates more quickly. Each garment targets the high-sweat zones of its activity, and the brand points to short runs, treadmill sessions, speed workouts and long efforts as typical uses. The material also appears outside running: CASAWI reported a Dri-FIT jersey in the Palace and Nike collection for the England men's national football team.
What is Nike Aero-FIT
Nike introduced Aero-FIT in October 2025, saying it channels more than double the airflow of its older athletic apparel. The announcement placed its debut in the 2026 football kits of Nike federations, and four running styles followed in fall 2026.
Mesh zones sit at the body's hottest points and form channels that carry air through the garment and close to the skin, which speeds up the evaporation of sweat. Nike sport scientists chose their position using heat mapping and motion data from wear-testing at the Nike Sport Research Lab, along with computational design. The brand describes Aero-FIT as its first elite performance apparel made from 100 percent textile waste, turned into polyester yarn through chemical recycling. Its running page sums up the difference between the two technologies in one line: "Dri-FIT moves sweat away. Aero-FIT moves air toward your skin".
What is Nike Therma-FIT
Therma-FIT is designed for cold-weather workouts, when clothing that feels warm at the start can become too hot as effort rises. It uses insulating materials and tailored design to retain warmth while letting excess heat and moisture escape, without relying on bulk alone. Nike tests it with athletes, including in the climate chambers of the Sport Research Lab, to map how the body responds during movement. It runs across base layers, midlayers and jackets, so pieces can be combined according to the activity and the weather. CASAWI has covered it in the Sherpa pieces of the Nike and SKIMS fall outerwear and in the Therma-FIT Air Milano jacket, which came before the Nike ACG collection for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
What is Nike Storm-FIT
Storm-FIT deals with wind and rain. It uses woven barriers, coatings and laminated constructions to block wind and water while letting excess heat and moisture escape. All Storm-FIT garments are windproof, and their water protection ranges from water-resistant to waterproof. According to the brand, its designers adjust each piece to balance protection, breathability and freedom of movement.
Eric Grischott
Born in Groningen in 1991, Eric Grischott is a linguist with a deep-rooted passion for art, music, and fashion. His academic journey led him to graduate in languages, further enriching his linguistic prowess. His thirst for knowledge and cultural immersion took him abroad, where he gained invaluable experience and insights. Eric’s linguistic expertise is not confined to just theory. He has honed his skills in French and German through specialized DELF and DELE courses, demonstrating his commitment to mastering these languages. His passions extend beyond languages, encompassing the creative realms of art, the rhythmic world of music, and the dynamic sphere of fashion.
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