New Nikes are No Shoe-In for St. Mary’s Students

By: Helen Hudson

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Nike has taken us one step closer to the future with its newest product, “self-tying” shoes. While Nikes are easily spotted walking down the St. Mary’s halls, students aren’t sure if these new Nikes will be a hit.

     Nike has taken us one step closer to the future with its newest product, “self-tying” shoes. While Nikes are easily spotted walking down the St. Mary’s halls, students aren’t sure if these new Nikes will be a hit.
    The battery-powered sneakers, the HyperAdapt 1.0, can be recharged using a magnetic adaptor that connects to the bottom of the shoes. They take three hours to fully charge, and their battery life is expected to last about two weeks, with colored LED lights on the sides indicating how much power remains.  
     These self-tying shoes do not actually tie on their own. Sensors inside the shoes can tell when they’re being worn, and a “lace engine” controls nylon bands that tighten around the foot. Wearers adjust the laces simply by pressing the “+” button to tighten them and the “-“ button to loosen them. The shoes are more than a high-tech novelty; they were designed to allow athletes to make instant fit adjustments.
     Despite their futuristic appeal, St. Mary’s girls don’t agree if the self-tying Nikes are for them. Lillian Bannister (9) said, “I would not purchase them because I like when my shoes are untied.” On the other hand, Alex Fogelman (9) said,“I like them, but they’re different.”  
      Obtaining the sneakers may prove to be a challenge. According to a tweet by Nike spokeswoman Heidi Burgett, “HyperAdapt 1.0 will be available in the U.S. at select Nike retail locations. Appointments to experience & purchase begin 11.28.16.” The cost has not yet been announced, but experts anticipate a high price tag.
​    Time will tell if St. Mary’s students embrace the HyperAdapt shoes as innovative, or dismiss them as inconvenient.