# Carbon Fiber Athletic Gear Russell Athletic Football Shoulder Pads are Made from Boeing Leftovers By Meghan Young | Published 2014-09-03 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/football-shoulder-pads References: [theverge](http://www.theverge.com/2014/8/28/6079847/leftover-boeing-787-parts-are-becoming-football-shoulder-pads) & [carbontekshoulderpads](http://www.carbontekshoulderpads.com/) What do planes and football have in common? Well, until the birth of Russel Athletic's latest line of football shoulder pads, nothing. Yet someone was genius enough to strike up a partnership between the sports brand and [Boeing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/metal-credit-card), which has resulted in carbon fiber leftovers being used to make aerospace-grade equipment for players. Dubbed Carbontek, the football shoulder pads boasts superior strength-to-weight ratio that sets them apart from more traditional designs. Of course, the unparalleled protection comes at a hefty cost. As The Verge puts it, the [carbon fiber football shoulder pads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/carbon-fiber-mechanical-keyboard) will be "around the same cost as a coach ticket on an actual 787 [dreamliner]." Yet the safety this groundbreaking technology affords is priceless. Many will also be attracted to its [eco friendly initiative](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trainers-choice). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.0/10 - Popularity: 54% | Activity: 89% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Carbon Fiber Sports Gear:** The use of carbon fiber in sports gear is a growing trend that offers superior strength-to-weight ratio and unparalleled protection. - **Sustainable Athletic Equipment:** Eco-friendly initiatives in the sports industry are gaining traction, presenting opportunities for manufacturers to develop sustainable athletic equipment. - **Aerospace-inspired Sports Gear:** The application of aerospace technologies in developing sports gear offers opportunities for companies to create disruptive products with superior performance. ### Where This Applies - **Sports Equipment Manufacturing:** Sports equipment manufacturers have the opportunity to innovate by incorporating new materials and advanced technologies in product design. - **Aerospace and Defense Industry:** The aerospace and defense industry can expand its market by repurposing carbon fiber leftovers for sports gear, leading to environmentally sustainable solutions. - **Athletic Apparel Industry:** Athletic apparel companies can incorporate aerospace-inspired designs and materials, creating disruptive athletic gear with superior performance and protection. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Lightweight Helmet Liners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/helmet-liner.md) - [Connected Football Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wilson-qbx.md) - [Sustainable Sports Braces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sports-brace.md) - [Football Series Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/football-series.md) - [Carbon Fiber Subway Trains](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cetrovo-10-carbon-star-rapid-rail.md) - [Tactical Technical Fabric Pants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vollebak-carbon-fibre-dyneema-pants.md) - [Ultra-Flexible Knee Braces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/evs-sports.md) - [3D-Printed Sports Balls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wilson-sports-goods-co.md) - [Brain-Protecting Wearable Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brainprotecting-wearable-device.md)