Nike Unveils Self Lacing HyperAdapt 1.0 Shoe

Nike has unveiled the Nike HyperAdapt 1.0, its new self lacing footwear or "adaptive lacing" as Nike is calling it. Nike has been working on the technology since 2013. The shoe will go on sale in time for the 2016 holidays.

The innovative footwear was designed by Tinker Hatfield and Tiffany Beers. The adaptive shoe system will tighten up immediately when your heel hits a sensor in the shoe. There are buttons for tightening or loosening the shoe.

Tiffany Beers, the technical lead of the project at Nike, says in a statement, "When you step in, your heel will hit a sensor and the system will automatically tighten. Then there are two buttons on the side to tighten and loosen. You can adjust it until it's perfect."

Hatfield says adaptive lacing has huge potential for athletes. Hatfield says in the Nike announcement, "It is amazing to consider a shoe that senses what the body needs in real-time. That eliminates a multitude of distractions, including mental attrition, and thus truly benefits performance."

The Nike HyperAdapt announcement follows last October's announcement about the Nike MAG shoes that more resemble the sneakers worn by Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future II. HyperAdapt is a more stylish and sneaker-like version of Nike's self lacing technology than the Nike MAG. Nike will make HyperAdapt available only to its Nike+ members when it releases the product for the 2016 holidays. It will be available in three different color styles. Pricing has not yet been announced.

Update 9-27-16: We now have a release date. Nike PR director Heidi Burgett says in a tweet that the HyperAdapt 1.0 will be available in the U.S. at select Nike retail locations on November 28. CNBC reports that shoes will be available exclusively for members of the Nike+ loyalty program.