Nike Self Tying Shoes – Ideal For The Lazy And The Obese?

Nike are quite well known for designing and manufacturing innovative sports shoes and sporting equipment and they’re also well known for creating things nobody really needs but everybody eventually wants. What’s more, a recent patent application by the sports manufacturing giant gives an indication of exactly where we’re at, as a race.

The self tying sports shoe is a bit of a misnomer really. If you don’t have the energy to tie up your laces or you’re too large to get your hands down there to do the job then there’s a good chance that a sports shoe isn’t what you’re really looking for and yet that’s precisely what Nike seemingly want to create.

When we first read about the self tying shoe we imagined laces that mysteriously, magically even, laced around themselves doing the whole bunny ears and tree thing without thei ntervention of human hands in any way. The reality, though, is both less exciting and more realistic.

On pressing a switch towards the rear of the shoe, the straps within essentially tighten (constrict may not be the best choice of word from a marketing point of view) around the foot so there’s neither sight nor sound of a lace. This does, of course, mean that there needs to be a motor inside the shoe and some kind of power source.

Regarding the power source we think there must be some way to create energy, let’s call it pedpower, as the owner walks and this energy can be stored and used to tighten and slacken the shoe at will – we don’t have a patent for that yet so feel free to jump in any time you like Nike.

Would you buy self tying shoes?

Has Nike gone a little far with this one?

Will they ever see the light of day?

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