Nike’s self-lacing shoes to return in 2019 at half the price of the originals
Nike will release its 2nd generation self-lacing shoes next Spring according to the company’s Executive Vice President Andy Campion. While still pricey, they are set to sell for about half the price of the originals.
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A couple of years ago Nike launched the Hyperadapt 1.0 – a basketball shoe that automatically tightened its shoelaces when a sensor was activated in the heel. No-one has released anything similar since then, although Puma is said to be flirting with the technology. The German multinational company is planning on releasing a limited run of 30 self-tightening sneakers that users will be able to control via a smartphone app.
Amongst Nike’s goals for 2019 is the next generation Hyperactive 2.0. Apart from a rough release date, the only other info that is known is the price – $350.
“I’m excited to announce that in the new year we’ll launch a new adaptive performance platform in basketball at the $350 price point,” Nike’s CEO Mark Parker said during the company’s quarterly earnings meeting for Q2 of 2019.
“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.”
While still incredibly expensive for a pair of basketball shoes, it is much more affordable than the $720 price tag of the first generation. It is also much cheaper than the self-tying shoe worn by Marty McFly in the sci-fi sequel Back To The Future II which recently sold on eBay for a cool $92,100!
Although it was not meant to be an accurate depiction of what life would be like in 2015, the 1989 film did get lots of things right. Tablet computers, VR headsets, payment technology, biometric devices, video phones and personal drones have all become mainstream.
The self-lacing trainers were perhaps one of the weirdest predictions that came true. In fact, Nike’s shoes are an almost exact replica of the ones from the movie. Nearly three years later, the second generation shoes are about to hit the shops. It’s very possible we won’t see many people actually wearing Hyperactive 2.0, instead buying them for their collector value.
Now all we’re waiting for are flying cars and hoverboards that actually hover off the ground.
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