The technology predicted in “Back to the Future II” finally comes to fruition with Nike self-lacing shoes.
“Back to the Future” footwear is finally today’s reality.
Nike recently unveiled its first pair of self-lacing shoes comparable to Marty McFly’s futuristic high tops in the 1989 movie “Back to the Future II.”
During an announcement at a company product showcase in New York, Nike said the HyperAdapt 1.0 shoes will hit stores later this year. The price per pair hasn’t been determined.
The shoes use battery-powered lacing that tightens automatically when the wearer steps into the shoe, reducing the risk of slipping and pressure created when laces aren’t correctly tied. To adjust the tightness, the wearer can push a button on the side of the shoe. Hold the button for two seconds and the shoe will loosen so the wearer can take it off.
After a couple of wears, the shoe will automatically adjust to a favorite setting. The 1.0 name suggests the shoe will be updated periodically to take advantage of the latest technological advances.
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The shoes reflect Nike’s commitment to technology and innovation as a way to develop new products that ultimately boost athletes’ performance (and Nike sales). The retailer owns more patents than any other sports apparel company, according to The Christian Science Monitor.
A Macquarie University study of Nike’s patent history found that the company received about 340 patents in 2012 and 540 in 2013. It received even more in 2014 and 2015 and has already processed more than 160 patents so far this year, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Over the past four decades, the Macquarie study found Nike has received more than 4,000 patents compared with about 1,000 combined for its top competitors, Under Armour, New Balance, Reebok and Adidas.
While a high-tech time-saver, self-lacing shoes aren’t without their drawbacks. Much like cell phones, they have to be charged. The battery lasts for about two weeks. And unlike shoes with traditional laces, you never know when self-lacing shoes could stop working.
Still, especially for “Back to the Future” fans, the shoes prove that even a decades-old idea can find its place in the present.
