Self-tying shoes (also known as self-lacing or power laces) are designed to automatically tighten once the user puts them on. Such types of "
smart shoes" were initially depicted in the 1989
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...
film ''
Back to the Future Part II
''Back to the Future Part II'' is a 1989 American science fiction film directed by Robert Zemeckis from a screenplay by Bob Gale and a story by both. It is the sequel to the 1985 film '' Back to the Future'' and the second installment in the ...
''.
Manufacturers
Nike
In April 2009,
Nike
Nike often refers to:
* Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory
* Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment
Nike may also refer to:
People
* Nike (name), a surname and feminine give ...
filed a patent for self-lacing shoes, with a design that bears a resemblance to those worn by Marty in the 1989 film ''
Back to the Future Part II
''Back to the Future Part II'' is a 1989 American science fiction film directed by Robert Zemeckis from a screenplay by Bob Gale and a story by both. It is the sequel to the 1985 film '' Back to the Future'' and the second installment in the ...
'', raising speculation among fans about a possible debut of self-lacing shoes. In 2014,
Tinker Hatfield, the designer of the original Nike shoes as depicted in ''Back to the Future Part II'', indicated that they would introduce shoes with power-lacing technology the following year, 2015. Fewer than 100 pairs of
Nike Mag
The Nike MAG is a limited-edition shoe created by Nike Inc. It is a replica of a shoe featured in the film ''Back to the Future Part II''. The Nike Mag was originally released for sale in 2011 and again in 2016. Both launches were in limited quan ...
s with power-lacing capabilities were made and sold through an online draw starting October 4, 2016, with all proceeds going to
the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
In March 2016, at a press event in New York, Nike unveiled its self-tying shoe to market, the
HyperAdapt 1.0, which is scheduled to hit store shelves in select Nike locations on November 28. The HyperAdapt does not have any real laces, but embedded actuators that, in tandem with pressure monitors, delicately conform the shoe's cushions to the foot's shape; once the user steps in, the heel will hit a sensor and the system will automatically tighten. The HyperAdapt also comes with two buttons on the side tighten and loose, so the user can adjust it to their preference. Nike CEO, Mark Parker, said comparing the self-lacing sneaker tech with
self driving car tech is a "good analogy" in terms of mainstream appeal. The company introduced a basketball version of HyperAdapt shoes called Adapt BB in 2019.
Puma
In November 2015,
Puma unveiled the Autodiscs, which features Puma's patented Disc closure system that uses a servo motor that powers a uniquely configured cable system designed to offer tunable support throughout the shoe. This prototype version features a micro USB cable to charge the on-board battery which powers the motor, but commercial version will have a charging plate included, so users won't have to worry about plugging the shoe to a power source. Puma has made 50 pairs of the Autodisc, with many of them reserved to athletes like
Usain Bolt
Usain St. Leo Bolt, , (; born 21 August 1986) is a retired Jamaican sprinter, widely considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time. He is the world record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4 × 100 metres relay.
An eight-ti ...
and
Rickie Fowler. By 2019, Puma had developed micro-motors to adjust the fit of a shoe from an
iPhone known as Fi.
Power Laces, LLC
In 2010, Blake Bevin, a self-described "science geek", created a prototype of self-lacing shoes, inspired by Marty's Nike MAG; once the user steps in, a sensor records the pressure of the foot on the sole and activates two servo motors, which apply tension to the laces, thus tightening the shoe. A touch-activated switch reverses the servos and loosens the laces. Bevin posted
DIY
"Do it yourself" ("DIY") is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things by oneself without the direct aid of professionals or certified experts. Academic research has described DIY as behaviors where "individuals use raw and sem ...
instructions on how to recreate the power laces technology on her website. Later, Bevin founded Power Laces, LLC started a Kickstarter project in order to fund the development of commercial version and successfully raised the pledged goal of $25,024.
Powerlace
Powerlace P-One shoes are able to lace up automatically based on the wearer's body weight. Once the shoes are on, the wearer presses their heel on the concealed disc linked to the laces by wires, and wearers can use a lever attached to the back of the shoe to release pressure and loosen the lace. In November 2014, the company started a kickstarter project to raise funds and sell the shoes.
Digitsole Smartshoe
The Canadian company Digitsole, which already sells smart soles, has unveiled a prototype of a smart sneaker. It is a self-tightening, heating, and shock-absorbing shoe with a USB connector and can be monitored via Bluetooth with a smartphone.
See also
*
Nike Mag
The Nike MAG is a limited-edition shoe created by Nike Inc. It is a replica of a shoe featured in the film ''Back to the Future Part II''. The Nike Mag was originally released for sale in 2011 and again in 2016. Both launches were in limited quan ...
References
External links
Power Laces Official WebsiteLight Up Shoes Official WebsitePowerlace Technology Official Website
{{Footwear
Shoes
Footwear
Back to the Future (franchise) technology