Nike Readies Launch Of Self-Lacing Shoes

I’ll be there in a couple hours, my shoes are charging. And technically, the laces are only for show:

Nike has finally announced when it will begin selling its self-lacing sneakers inspired by the shoes worn by Michael J. Fox in Back to The Future II. According to a tweet from the company’s Heidi Burgett, the HyperAdapt 1.0 will be available for “experience & purchase” starting on the 28th of November, but only in select Nike locations in the US. Pricing is still unknown, but expect a “high price tag,” according to a Wired feature on the shoe’s development.

LEDs in the heel light up when the shoes are tightening and when it’s on low battery, and all the internal electronics mean that yes, you do have to charge these shoes. It takes three hours for a full charge and each charge last about two weeks, with Nike providing a magnetic clip-on charger similar to that used by Apple for the Apple Watch. It’s also worth noting that the thick nylon laces you see on the top of the sneaker are just “visual aids” — they tighten, but they’re not what’s keeping the shoe hugged to your foot.