Put to the Test

Words by Like the Wind — photography by NEDAO

It’s almost inevitable for athletes to encounter difficulties during a run. Running, after all, is a sport centred around problem solving: runners are always navigating issues presented by weather, nutrition, mental and physical fatigue — and many other little nuisances that make the sport as much of a puzzle as it is a pleasure.

Some problems, though — like blisters and chafing from ill-fitting or improperly-made apparel, carrying around the extra weight of a bulky waterproof jacket, or sweat stains showing in awkward places on running tights — would be better not experienced at all. These kinds of arbitrary problems are what inspired Tommy Tang to start NEDAO nearly 10 years ago.

NEDAO is a Shanghai-based apparel company that, in the last decade, has established itself within Asia as a brand deeply committed to solving real challenges faced by runners. The brand has built its reputation through innovative products that are designed and continually improved based on real-world testing and direct feedback from runners and athletes. Tommy, a passionate runner who had previously worked in merchandising and men’s apparel, started the brand after dealing with persistent blisters. Back in 2016, he couldn’t find a product that solved his issues, so he decided to take matters into his own hands. He began looking for innovative materials, working with factories and testing Japanese manufacturing machines that could produce more advanced socks. The final design used compression and a five-finger toe construction.

Developing a five-toe sock was not nearly as simple as it may seem: the development cycle, manufacturing complexity and machine requirements were unusually high. Each pair of socks takes around 40 minutes to produce, while most standard socks take about five minutes. Because of the specifications, they can only be made on a very limited number of specialized machines worldwide.

Tommy became the socks’ first product tester, applying a rigorous, real-world testing process that relied on feedback from Tommy, his close colleagues and eventually elite runners. After more than a year of development, revisions and incorporating testers’ feedback — during which the design changed exactly 23 times — NEDAO officially launched the sock and founded NEDAO in 2017. These specially engineered running socks set the foundation for NEDAO’s ethos: solving real problems for runners through innovative, tested designs.

Now, NEDAO’s high-performance products extend far beyond blister-preventing socks. The company makes ultra-light, waterproof jackets using advanced Japanese fabrics, inspired by Tommy’s own experiences carrying heavy, impractical rain jackets during long runs and trail races where waterproof gear is required. NEDAO also makes performance tights and shorts with built-in, 360-degree waistband pockets for carrying phones, gels and other essentials, eliminating the need for an extra bag or belt. For certain products, such as the Velocity X Half-Length Running Tights Pro, the brand has also incorporated sweat-concealing fabrics that visibly reduce sweat-mark prominence, even with lighter-coloured materials.

“When we run, we encounter problems,” Tommy says. “So we ask ourselves, how do we make something that helps us run easier and better? By asking ourselves that question, we built a full product line. We don’t create things based on trends — we make products to solve problems.”

Unlike mass-market running brands that often start with trends or colour palettes, NEDAO begins every product with a problem statement: blisters, heavy mandatory gear, nowhere to carry a phone or gels. That engineering mindset led to products like socks refined through 20 test rounds, a 3.5oz waterproof jacket born from a bulky race shell and sweat-invisible tights designed specifically for the heat and humidity of places like Shanghai and Singapore.

Tommy and the NEDAO team know that helping runners starts with listening to their experiences and feedback, which is why the company’s product testing process is so rigorous. From the earliest prototype stage through development, real-world testing takes place.

Tommy personally tests every product first, followed by colleagues who are experienced long-distance runners. Testing then expands to a broader group, including pro athletes and influencers, who use products in demanding conditions like ultra marathons and multi-day races. Most products must be tested in at least a full marathon or a 50km trail race before being approved for sale. Even after release, NEDAO continues collecting feedback and upgrades products annually based on testers’ insights.

Unlike some larger brands that rely on lab testing or professional athletes alone, NEDAO’s testers include everyday runners, serious amateurs, colleagues and elites — people who encounter the same challenges as the brand’s customers.

Coral Qu, one of NEDAO’s testers, is a pioneer of endurance sports in China. She holds the world record for the fastest female ascent of Muztagh Ata without supplemental oxygen; founded the country’s first youth trail running race series; and produces and hosts China’s first outdoor talk show. She became the first Chinese woman to finish the Tor des Géants in 2014 and the first Chinese woman to complete both UTMB and UTMB in the same season in 2015. During UTMB, rocky, muddy terrain turned Coral’s socks into sandpaper: blisters formed all over the soles of her feet, some as big as coins. Every step felt like stepping on needles.

“Those blisters really traumatized me,” she says. “I tried many [sock] brands, but nothing truly worked.”

Until she tried NEDAO’s socks, which she says were a lifesaver for her feet.

“The arch support is extremely stable and secure,” she explains. “And the most incredible part is the breathability. In the past, my socks would get so wet I could almost wring water out of them, and blisters were basically guaranteed. But my NEDAO socks are still surprisingly dry after long runs.”

Elite marathon runner Dean Williamson is one of NEDAO’s sponsored athletes, but before that, he was a tester for the brand. After seeing a friend racing in a NEDAO vest and noticing how lightweight it looked, he reached out on Instagram. The brand sent him a vest to test and he was immediately struck by how open the team was to feedback and how seriously they took real-world use. His vest weighed just 1oz — a design he says is unmatched — and the heavily perforated fabric felt like wearing nothing at all, even on hot days. Over marathon distance, he says, it makes a noticeable difference.

“Athlete testing is crucial because no amount of lab testing can replicate full marathon training blocks or race-day conditions,” Dean says. “It’s only through repeated real-world use that small but important details show themselves. When brands genuinely listen to athletes and act on that feedback, the end product is noticeably better and that athlete-led approach is something NEDAO does very well.”

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