We never actually got those crazy self-lacing shoes from Back to the Future and, from the looks of things, we never will. What we’re getting in its place, however, is the Nike HyperAdapt 1.0, a self-lacing shoe that works a bit (okay, a lot) differently than the fictional sneakers from the movie.
Instead of traditional laces that look like they’re being tied with an invisible hand, the shoes have integrated, non-removable laces that tighten and loosen electronically. Nike is calling it “adaptive lacing,” which means kind of like those shoes in Back to the Future, but not quite.
The Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 has actual electronics integrated into the shoe, which control the movement of the laces, saving you from having to manually do the fit adjustments. As soon as you slip into the shoe, a heel sensor will activate the tightening mechanism, prompting the laces to cinch up. Two buttons on the side allow you to loosen and tighten the default fit in small increments, making it easy to enact micro-adjustments on the fly. That’s right, no more taking a minute or two off to readjust your laces – just a couple of button pushes and you can find the perfect fit.
A rechargeable battery is integrated into the midsole to power the lacing mechanism, which can hold at least two weeks’ worth of charge. Nike claims this is the first iteration of their self-lacing design, with future versions aiming towards more autonomous function.
Ready for self-lacing shoes? No pricing has been announced, but the Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 will hit select locations starting November 28.