On November 22, 1989, the world was introduced to Nike’s self-tying high top sneakers worn by Marty McFly in ‘Back to the Future Part II’. On October 15, 2015, the fictional shoes were made a reality when Tinker Hatfield bestowed the very first pair of real-life Nike Mags with self-tying laces to Michael J. Fox, with additional pairs being made to benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation and their Parkinson’s Disease research. But now it appears that the shoe company is ready to apply this technology to products meant for the world at large and not just ‘Back to the Future’ enthusiasts.
Earlier last week, Nike released a trailer touting the release of the Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 later this year. Though they may not resemble the iconic Nike Mag from Robert Zemeckis’ seminal time travel tale, the technology is still just a cool. Check out the shoe in action in the video below courtesy of Nike.com:
Advertised as “the first performance vehicle for Nike’s latest platform breakthrough, adaptive lacing”, the HyperAdapt 1.0 utilizes a sensor found in the heel that will activate and automatically tighten when the wearer slips their foot into the shoe. But what exactly are the practical applications of a shoe that ties itself? Designer Hatfield speculates that this could be beneficial to athletes as it would provide tailored-to-the-moment custom fit for the rigorous activity someone may be going through:
“It is amazing to consider a shoe that senses what the body needs in real-time. That eliminates a multitude of distractions, including mental attrition, and thus truly benefits performance. Wouldn’t it be great if a shoe, in the future, could sense when you needed to have it tighter or looser? Could it take you even tighter than you’d normally go if it senses you really need extra snugness in a quick maneuver? That’s where we’re headed. In the future, product will come alive.”
The Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 is another perfect example of science fiction inspiring the real world and making life easier. Personally, I’d rather have my own replicas of the shoes from ‘Back to the Future’, but the fact that these even exist is still pretty cool. And if you’d like to get your hands on a pair for yourself, Nike+ members will be able to snag theirs during the 2016 holiday season.
What do you think about Nike finally releasing self-tying shoes to consumers? Are you surprised to see such an iconic part of the ‘Back to the Future’ trilogy come to life? And how far do you think we are from getting those hoverboards? Sound off in the comments.
