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Nike’s auto-laced future

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Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#81

Post by jarvuschris »

foreigner wrote: post #72
Invictus0 wrote: post #66

Autolacing is a fundamentally bad idea. It means that each step will be weighed down by a motor, battery, and radio that are used only for a second when you put on the shoe. It's like everyone forgot that Nike has been marketing lighter shoes since their inception.

This was my first thought as well. How is it the article doesn't mention weight at all? Still I imagine it wouldn't be that hard to move the weight out of the shoe. The shoe could expose a cord that you hook in to a separate machine to provide the force for tightening.

That loses one of the big benefit though: being able to take breaks from the tight lace and restore it easily on the go

I can't imagine the weight couldn't be cut down to the same order of magnitude you're looking at for a shoe with strong support anyway.

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#82

Post by ewokone »

Marsymars wrote: post #78
jessriedel wrote: post #67

Many modern snowboard boots have a pretty impressive ratchet system with steel laces that allows me to get a very tight fit easily (no yanking on laces required), with instant push-button release. https://www.burton.com/us/en/p/mens-burton-photon-boa-snowbo... It's unclear to me whether basketball shoes lack this system for good ergonomic/structural reasons or because of marketing/style/tradition.

There exist plenty of non-snowboard boots with the Boa system. For instance, Boa's running shoe category: https://www.boafit.com/category/run I've had some Boa snowboard boots, and they've been good, but I've transitioned to non-ratcheting/non-metal quicklace systems. I find them somewhat more durable and easier to make fine adjustments to, while being nearly as quick/easy to use.

Hey marsi, Which shoes did you transfer to?

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#84

Post by foreigner »

jarvuschris wrote: post #81
foreigner wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This was my first thought as well. How is it the article doesn't mention weight at all? Still I imagine it wouldn't be that hard to move the weight out of the shoe. The shoe could expose a cord that you hook in to a separate machine to provide the force for tightening.

That loses one of the big benefit though: being able to take breaks from the tight lace and restore it easily on the go I can't imagine the weight couldn't be cut down to the same order of magnitude you're looking at for a shoe with strong support anyway.

The application here is professional sports. In that context every tiny bit of weight matters. And they're not really "on the go" - they could just keep the machine on the sidelines.

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#85

Post by stinos »

Marsymars wrote: post #78
jessriedel wrote: post #67

Many modern snowboard boots have a pretty impressive ratchet system with steel laces that allows me to get a very tight fit easily (no yanking on laces required), with instant push-button release. https://www.burton.com/us/en/p/mens-burton-photon-boa-snowbo... It's unclear to me whether basketball shoes lack this system for good ergonomic/structural reasons or because of marketing/style/tradition.

There exist plenty of non-snowboard boots with the Boa system. For instance, Boa's running shoe category: https://www.boafit.com/category/run I've had some Boa snowboard boots, and they've been good, but I've transitioned to non-ratcheting/non-metal quicklace systems. I find them somewhat more durable and easier to make fine adjustments to, while being nearly as quick/easy to use.

easier to make fine adjustments to

Experienced the same. Boa is pretty good, but it seems to tighten almost uniformly along the length of the cable. Which is probably ideal if your boot has a perfect fit to your foot, but otherwise becomes a pain in the, eh, foot. I have problems with pressure on the top of my feet and with the boa system it seems there's either too much pressure there or not tight enough around the legs. Might be resolved by finding the proper fit but laces are really more forgiving when it comes to that.

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#86

Post by stinos »

icebraining wrote: post #75
emdowling wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you don’t like it, buy another pair of shoes! There are literally thousands of alternatives out there. No one is forcing you to buy this pair.

If you don't like Sir_Substance's comment, read another! There are literally thousands of alternative comments out there.

Difference being there really are literelly thousands of alternative comments, whereas there are definitely not thousands of alternative electronic autolacing systems :)

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#87

Post by gnarcoregrizz »

jarvuschris wrote: post #83

This would be awesome for casual runners too, not just pro/semi-pro basketball players. If you're doing distance training good and consistent lacing can be essential to your health

You want running shoes to be as light as possible. The book the sports gene went over how slender ankles (less weight on the feet) is a significant factor in running performance and potential. I don't think adding a motor and batteries to a runner's shoes will help them, unless they're looking to get more of a workout over the same period of time.

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#88

Post by Wowfunhappy »

I'm kind of disappointed you need to charge these. I was hoping the battery could charge itself via energy generated while walking, like those light up shoes children wear. Would that not have been practical?

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#89

Post by Wowfunhappy »

StavrosK wrote: post #35
TeMPOraL wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Autolacing in Back to the Future didn't require you to download vendor's app and connect to an account on vendor's service over the Internet. That would be my one and only criticism of this implementation. Beyond that, it's pure awesomeness, and I want a pair.

Also it didn't make the shoe useless when the battery went bad.

If the battery is high quality and a single charging cycle lasts a week, as claimed, I imagine the battery would last well past the usable life of the shoe.

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#90

Post by jasonwatkinspdx »

jessriedel wrote: post #67

Many modern snowboard boots have a pretty impressive ratchet system with steel laces that allows me to get a very tight fit easily (no yanking on laces required), with instant push-button release. https://www.burton.com/us/en/p/mens-burton-photon-boa-snowbo... It's unclear to me whether basketball shoes lack this system for good ergonomic/structural reasons or because of marketing/style/tradition.

Salomon sells cross trainers that use a cable system. I've had two pairs. Both broke within about 2 years.
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