Inspired by the footwear sported by Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future 2, Nike has been working on a real-world version of self-lacing sneakers. Following a prototype which was revealed to Fox back in October 2015, the Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 will finally be available to the public in November.
That confirmation comes from Nike’s PR director Heidi Burgett who tweets that the Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 will go on sale at “select US retail locations” on November 28. Those interested can also schedule appointments to “experience and purchase” as well.
With the shoes now having an official release date, there is also more information about how the futuristic sneaker technology works. A feature by Wired explains that the HyperAdapt 1.0 uses an internal cable system, in conjunction with a pressure sensor in the sole of each shoe and “an algorithmic pressure equation” to ‘self-lace’ accordingly. The fit can also be adjusted with buttons that feature on the shoes.
Moreover, an LED light in the sole will light up whenever the laces are adjusting. This light will also come into play when the shoe’s battery is low – though with the HyperAdapts offering approximately two weeks of battery life from a three hour charge, it’s unlikely that the low battery light will go off very often.
No price for the Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 has been announced yet, but the Wired piece suggests that a “high price tag” is likely.
