The Innovation and Technology of Nike’s HyperAdapt (Assignment - A3)

Max Jiménez

Prof. Roundtree

FMX 211

October 15, 2018

The Innovation and Technology of Nike’s HyperAdapt

            Footwear has been around for centuries and is a major component of our day-to-day wear. Traditionally, shoes have been made from leather, wood or canvas, but in the 2010s, as a result of material innovations rubber, plastics, and other chemical-derived materials have been increasingly prevalent in the production of sneakers and athletic wear. In this paper I will highlight a 21st century innovation that are in the beginning stages of production, and in several years may be mass-marketed and change the way that sneakers are made and worn. This company makes up a large percentage of worldwide footwear sales and is at the forefront for innovation in terms of pioneering new technologies to be worn by the masses.

            The technology that I will explain is Nike’s HyperAdapt. For a hefty retail  price of $720, you can purchase a sneaker that is a first-of-its-kind. These self-lacing shoes combine an intricate motor, sophisticated pressure technology, and unique materials. This contributes to the evolution of wearable, embedded technology as it moves from smartphones, into wristwatches and now into everyday wear. This is a major innovation in the technology space for footwear because there are a ton of obstacles that the designers and engineers of the HyperAdapt have to overcome. This is because a sneaker isn’t the easiest place to embed an electronic lacing engine. There is limited space, moisture from sweat, and the normal impacts of walking and running.

            The technology that influenced the research and development of the shoe had never even existed in real life before the HyperAdapt’s debut last year. Although it had never come to fruition, decades prior Nike’s idea had made an appearance on the big screen, in Robert Zemeckis’s Back to the Future Part II, where the protagonist Marty McFly debuted this concept with the “Nike Mag”. The original design had features that have since carried over to the HyperAdapt, such as light-up panels throughout the shoe and, of course, self-fastening laces.

Over 15 years later, an online petition that asked for the return of the shoes caught the attention of Jordan Brand designer Tinker Hatfield. With the help of Tiffany Beers, they began to build the Nike Mag from scratch. They worked on the shoes for approximately six years and had to restart about three times. After thousands of hours of work, the shoes were a perfect replica of the 1989 Nike Mag. This early model could not withstand any serious physical activity as a result of its component’s low durability. Nike’s engineers worked to improve the durability of the motor functions immensely so that the 2017 HyperAdapt could outperform its predecessor in this area.

In conclusion, I believe that this “self-lacing” motor technology can help influence new approaches to technological advances for footwear in the future. These advances could be especially helpful to people that struggle with everyday tasks, whether it be due to disability or old age. One thing that will have to change in the future is the price, as it may not be easy to manufacture systems as complex as the HyperAdapt’s without a high cost for consumers. Just as when the original “flat-screen” TVs debuted and lowered in price over the past decade as the technology became easier to produce, I believe that Nike will be able to lower the cost over time as they can perfect the design of a “self-lacing” shoe. In the end, this innovation could lead to the discovery of alternatives to the technology that we have on our feet, in terms of the materials and presence or absence of a small, complex circuit in the sole of shoes we may wear every day.

Works Cited

Bain, Marc. “How Nike's Self-Lacing Shoe Was Created, in Six Questions.” Quartz, Quartz, 21 May 2018, qz.com/1277555/how-nikes-self-lacing-shoe-was-created-in-six-questions/.

Bench, Telind. “Nike HyperAdapt Teardown: The Future Is Now (in Pieces, on Our Workbench).” Mindtribe, 31 May 2018, mindtribe.com/2017/02/nike-HyperAdapt-teardown/.

Chin, Mallory. “UPDATE: Original 1989 Nike MAG From 'Back to the Future II' Has Sold.” HYPEBEAST, hypebeast.com/2018/7/original-nike-mag-back-to-the-future-ii-shoe-auction.