Nike’s latest sports shoe may seem a bit unorthodox, but the hands-free design can be a game changer, both for those in a hurry to get out the door and for athletes with disabilities for whom a conventional system of laces, zippers or fasteners are problematic. .
The Nike GO FlyEase will only be available in limited quantities to Nike members by invitation from February 15, and then later this year to everyone else. If you can buy a pair, you will get $ 120 back.
“If you design for the extreme needs, then you unlock benefits for everyone,” explains Paralympic athlete Sarah Reinertsen, who was involved in the design of the FlyEase. “If a shoe works for someone who does not have hands, it will work for people who have two hands.”
The method of taking off the shoe may seem familiar to those of us who do not treat our ordinary running shoes with the utmost respect – to press the heel of one shoe with the toes of the other foot. With everyday shoes, it would be bad for the material, which stretches the sole and breaks down the back over time.
However, the FlyEase is designed specifically for this treatment, thanks to the flexible sole that bends in the middle when not in use, but folds back immediately when a foot is pressed in thanks to the strap on the outside. You can see an early prototype with a torn shoe and a surgical tube in the video below.
We expect the demand for the first invitation to come first, in part because the $ 120 price tag is competitive with midsize shoes. If the Nike GO FlyEase offers an equally enjoyable experience once they are up and running, the company may find it difficult to keep these shoes in stock once the invitation period is over.