The future is here. Or at least next year. Remember when Nike showed off a pair of self-lacing sneakers a while back? Inspired by the iconic time travel flick Back to the Future, the kicks automatically fasten to the wearer's feet for a snug fit.
Nike has since been hard at work trying to get them off the prototype phase, and the company has officially announced that a pair of HyperAdapt sneakers, as they're called, is coming next year.
Self-Lacing Nike HyperAdapt Shoes
The Marty McFly kicks are going to retail for $350 when it arrives in 2019, and although that's a pretty penny, this is still all relatively new technology. Think of smartphones, new iterations of which cost a fortune but then go on to slim down in price over time. That's assuming, of course, self-lacing shoes catch on and don't just remain a gimmick.
Nike made the announcement during its quarterly earnings call, in which executives revealed plans for an "Adaptive" performance basketball shoe in 2019 that will cost around $350. The company's wording is a bit vague at the moment, but it's safe to assume it's referring to the HyperAdapt self-fitting technology it showed off a couple of years ago.
However, this technology will likely be cheaper and lighter, and perhaps more aesthetically fit for athletes than the 2015 Nike Mag.
Nike FastFit Technology
This past September, Nike released the Jordan XXXIII, which sort of gives an idea on how the self-lacing shoes could work. Those kicks feature a technology called FastFit, a tightening system that activates by tugging a strap on the forefoot. That means it's not completely automatic, obviously. Yet still highly impressive for what's essentially an early version of technology that's bound to improve in the long run.
"We have a smart shoe designed for the perfect FIT and it's a major step in advancing and connecting our digital transformation to product," said CEO Mark Parker.
As for a specific release date, CFO Andy Campion mentioned a spring timeframe for the launch of a "HyperAdapt in basketball." If that goes as planned, it means sneakerheads are getting both the self-lacing kicks and Nike's next-generation Air Max 720 in the span of a season. Their pockets won't be too happy about that.
In any case, do you think self-lacing sneakers are the future of shoe technology? Do you think they'll catch on and eventually sell more cheaply? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound them off in the comments section below!
