Nike is stepping back to the future with its first ever mass-production, self-lacing shoe, the HyperAdapt 1.0.
The new shoe features self-tying laces and adjustment controls on the side of each shoe. When the shoe is put on, the heel activates a sensor that automatically tightens the sneaker. The controls allow the individual to adjust the tightness to their liking, according to Tiffany Beers, Senior Innovator at Nike in their blog post.
“The shoe translates deep research in digital, electrical and mechanical engineering into a product designed for movement,” they stated in the post. The brand looks at this new product as the first step into the future of shoes. “It makes feasible the once-fantastic concept of an automated, nearly symbiotic relationship between the foot and shoe” the company said. “The innovation solves another enduring athlete-equipment quandary” lead designer Tinker Hatfield began in the post, “the ability to make swift micro-adjustments”.
Nike’s goal is to create an entirely new platform for shoes where the fit adjusts according to the needs of the moment. The concept suggests a sneaker that would shift to a more snug fit when quickly changing direction and loosen when sitting still. The self-lacing technology is designed for athletes in order to limit the distraction of a loose or untied shoe.
Ever since Marty McFly stepped into his self-lacing shoes, this type of sneaker has been a dream for Nike and its consumers. In an interview with CNBC, Nike CEO Mark Parker said the technology has been in the works for over 30 years. Nike has spent that time working on designs, securing patents and developing prototypes.
On October 21, 2015, Michael J. Fox was given a pair of self-lacing shoes to match his Back to the Future Part II kicks. The internet lost its collective mind discussing the shoes, but with a price tag of over 10,000 dollars, they remained a out of reach for most consumers.
In the holiday season of 2016, the HyperAdapt 1.0 will be available for purchase exclusively on the Nike+ app available on iOS and Android. “Innovation at Nike is not about dreaming of tomorrow. It’s about accelerating toward it,” says lead designer Tinker Hatfield. “Sometimes, we deliver a reality before others have even begun to imagine it.”
