Nike just announced a self-lacing shoe called the HyperAdapt 1.0, bringing to life the dream that sneaker fans have shared since Back to the Future II premiered almost 30 years ago.
When you step into the HyperAdapt 1.0 your heel hits a sensor that automatically tightens the laces, according to the Nike website. Wearers can adjust the tightness of the fit with buttons on either side of the shoe.
Nike did make real-life versions of the self-lacing Air Mag sneakers from Back to the Future, and the company spent years teasing the public about them, but the company never intended them for the mass market. Late last year Nike gave a pair to Michael J. Fox, and even announced plans to sell them in extremely limited quantities, but that seemed to be the end of it all.
Now we have the HyperAdapt 1.0, which shares the same tech that Nike used in those commemorative Air Mags, but comes in a much more consumer-ready form factor. It will actually be sold to regular customers this year, though you'll only be able to buy a pair if you're a member of the company's fitness portal, Nike+. They will be available during the holiday season in three colors, according to Nike.
While the adaptive laces on the HyperAdapt 1.0 can be manually controlled, Nike is hinting that much more automatic versions of the technology could be seen in the future. Nike shoe designer Tinker Hatfield says in a statement that sneaker could eventually sense when you need a tighter or looser fit and adjust on the fly. "That’s where we’re headed," he says
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