Nike has released Adapt BB, a new self-lacing, app-controlled basketball sneaker. The shoe’s power-lacing system can be adjusted manually via buttons on the shoe or through the FitAdapt mobile app that accompanies the sneaker.
According to Nike, a basketball player’s foot can expand almost a half-size during play due to swelling, which could ultimately affect their comfort and ease of movement on the court. With Nike Adapt, players can use their smartphones to input customized settings for how they want the shoes to fit at different points during a game. For example, during a timeout, a player could automatically loosen the shoe, before tightening it up as the game restarts.
“We picked basketball as the first sport for Nike Adapt intentionally because of the demands that athletes put on their shoes,” said Eric Avar, Nike VP Creative Director of Innovation, in a Nike news release. “During a normal basketball game the athlete’s foot changes and the ability to quickly change your fit by loosening your shoe to increase blood flow and then tighten again for performance is a key element that we believe will improve the athlete’s experience.”
A built-in motor and gear train in the Nike Adapt BB adjusts the tension of the shoe. Nike says the shoe’s underfoot lacing system is able to pull 32 pounds of force (roughly equivalent to the energy needed to pull a standard parachute cord) to prevent any sort of in-game movement from disrupting a player’s desired fit.
The shoe also features LED lights, and users can change the color of the light with the mobile app. Boston Celtics forward and Nike brand ambassador Jayson Tatum will be the first NBA player to wear the Adapt BB shoe during tonight’s game against the Toronto Raptors. The shoe is available for pre-order on Nike’s website for $350.
SportTechie Takeaway
Since Nike’s new shoe is digitally intertwined with a mobile app, the retail company has the luxury of being able to launch future updates that would add new features to the shoe. For instance, Nike says it is working on a way to give NBA players different tightness settings for warm-ups before games, and they’ll be able to opt-in to these updates as they become available.