Nike: Sneakers that tie themselves
In mid-September, the sports brand Nike launches a sneaker that laces itself up. A motor built into the sole makes it possible.
Nike has already brought out a range of smart shoes and clothing. The sporting goods manufacturer's latest coup is the self-binding "Adapt Huarache" sneaker. This is visually reminiscent of the Huarache model, which was first launched in 1991 and already stood out back then with its eye-catching look.
This innovation is all about the inner values: the sneaker has a built-in motor that tightens the laces. This is located in the midsole of the shoe and can be controlled manually using two illuminated input buttons located outside the motor. As soon as you put the shoes on, the laces tighten automatically. It's no wonder that the idea for these Powerlaces came from the 1989 film "Back to the Future II", in which the lead actor Michael J. Fox wears futuristic kicks that tie themselves. It goes without saying that they are from Nike. Almost 30 years later, they are a reality. Incidentally, Nike's first self-tying trainers were launched on the brand back in 2015. Since then, the technology has been constantly developed further.
The new "Adapt" app allows you to tighten or loosen your laces depending on your daily activity. For example, if you sit behind your desk at the office all day and then work out, you can automatically tighten them via the touchscreen on your mobile phone or smartwatch. This makes it easier to switch between your presets. The only downside: you still have to put your trainers on yourself. Whether another 30 years will be enough to automatically put on sports shoes is still written in the stars.
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