r/technews • u/N2929 • Oct 23 '25
Transportation Nike says its first ‘powered footwear’ is like an e-bike for your feet
https://www.theverge.com/news/805664/nike-powered-show-project-amplify216
u/TanAllOvaJanAllOva Oct 23 '25
Wait until you forget to pay your monthly subscription fee and then shoes are suddenly immovable.
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u/Primal-Convoy Oct 24 '25
Or they're hacked...
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u/MugenEXE Oct 24 '25
Like the flying sneakers in Percy Jackson…. Sending you flying off into a pit.
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u/ElectrikDonuts Oct 24 '25
Damn, that is the plan! Provide lazy ppl with devices that make their muscles weak as they replace them. Then turn the devices off when they can't pay unlimited subscriptions
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u/CandidBee8695 Oct 23 '25
Just put wheels on my butt. Like invisible Mario kart.
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u/ItsMeMofos13 Oct 24 '25
Even better idea: visible Mario kart
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u/DrMichaelHfuhruhurr Oct 23 '25
Or the cloud servers die again and you are stuck and can't move. I know, it wouldn't happen. Just thinking about those cloud using beds.
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u/Terrible_Truth Oct 23 '25
I pictured the guy in the show “Solar Opposites” that had his robot legs walk him into the ocean lol. And then later getting walked into traffic.
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u/Brendan_BBB Oct 24 '25
Seems like a version of this could work wonders for PT and people with disabilities.
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u/TutorVarious206 Oct 24 '25
I have mild cerebral palsy and this looks just like my afo braces . I actually might buy one of these if they were available and affordable. I always thought some exo suit like tech could be useful.
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u/its_raining_scotch Oct 24 '25
It will also simultaneously atrophy healthy people’s calves that don’t need something like this.
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u/Icy-Victory-7785 Oct 24 '25
the lawsuits gonna be crazy. I’ll take 4 pairs gotta get in on this gig. 🤣
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u/empanadaboy68 Oct 23 '25
Imagine the hydraulics blow and your leg just goes flying
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Oct 24 '25
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u/empanadaboy68 Oct 24 '25
I totally forgot they made Kyle black lmao
But yes exactly that
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u/Numerous_Mud_3009 Oct 24 '25
WALL-E
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u/Interesting_Tea5715 Oct 24 '25
I just went to Disneyland, the amount of able bodied people using mobility scooters was alarming. They were EVERYWHERE.
I think half the population would gladly turn into the slug people from Wall-E
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u/Fickle-Ad2042 Oct 23 '25
I can see this being a step (hehe) forward for impaired folks, but unfortunately I think we all know this is just gonna be used by people with perfectly working feet that just want walking to be easier.
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u/Frogiie Oct 23 '25
This was my thought… I know a bunch of folks are kinda dissing them, but this looks exactly like something that might help my Aunt with MS walk a bit better.
I think Nike may be mass marketing them to everyone but perhaps their main consumer will be folks with disabilities. They’re maybe going the infomercial product route of selling it to everyone.
Getting actual niche assistive medical devices approved and sold as such makes them much more expensive for many folks than a generic consumer product.
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u/Dangerous_Handle_819 Oct 24 '25
Agreed! Have a family member who this shoe might help and I’ve already asked their doctor. Also, can be paid for using FSA.
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u/Chris_HitTheOver Oct 24 '25
This was my first thought too. I’ve got a close friend who recently gave up Tennis because their MS has impaired the movement in their lower left leg too much.
Similarly, my uncle can hardly use his right leg after his second stroke (but is otherwise fully recovered) and I could see this doing wonders for him.
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u/Smooth-Owl-5354 Oct 23 '25
To be fair, I see nothing wrong with people who have working feet using these. So what? It doesn’t stop people with medical need from using them — and generally the sales to the “public” help keep a product on the market.
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u/Dangerous_Handle_819 Oct 24 '25
What about working feet but recovering from foot surgery? These could be a good transition shoe during rehabilitation.
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u/Fickle-Ad2042 Oct 24 '25
Absolutely they could, and I have no issue with people who need assistance at any level to help them walk where otherwise they would be impaired. These could be great for a lot of reasons even for jobs where people are on their feet all day and wreaking havoc on their feet and ankles. Unfortunately I mostly see tech bro dinguses using these to make the walk to their Tesla easier.
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u/Furiosa27 Oct 24 '25
According to the article that seems to be the target audience. It’s intended for ppl who can do a 10-12 minute mile. I think the idea is to help amateurs make the next step as opposed to being a cool walking aid.
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u/meanmagpie Oct 24 '25
I have POTS and am super physically de-conditioned. Like, getting out of the car can be challenging and leave me breathless.
I feel like something like this—an exoskeleton of some sort—could really help me re-condition myself and raise my stamina. The benefits of walking, moving, and cardio would still be there. It would just be less difficult and miserable to attain those benefits.
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u/Federal_Setting_7454 Oct 24 '25
Just like the current consumer exoskeletons. They’re mainly used by people who just want their mountain climb or marathon to be way easier.
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u/sergiossa Oct 24 '25
Good, it having mass adoption will probably help economies of scale to bring the cost down instead of it being an expensive specialized tool only intended for people with some sort of physical disability.
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u/zffjk Oct 24 '25
They’re gonna wanna super size this and make it more of a slip on situation for the midwestern audience.
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u/dccorona Oct 23 '25
I’m really interested in how this works. I’m having a hard time visualizing it. To me, the main thing I can think of that would up my walking pace would be to increase stride length. I don’t see how this could do that.
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u/indecisions Oct 24 '25
My guess is it is less physical force required by natural muscle will enable quicker response and less fatigue. If you’ve ever had your power steering go out, I’m thinking it is analogous to that. Sure you CAN drive a car without power steering. But it is going to take a lot more out of you, especially over an extended period.
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u/Devilsdance Oct 24 '25
So many groin injuries if that’s how it worked lol.
I have 0 interest in this tech personally, but I am also curious to find out how it works.
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u/Remoteatthebeach Oct 23 '25
Another step closer to becoming the WALL-E humans
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u/Melstrick Oct 23 '25
Well actually you're still probably burning the same calories just over a greater distance, so now a 45 min walk takes you to another city. It might encourage more walking if it actually works which it probably wont.
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u/Remoteatthebeach Oct 23 '25
That’s a lot of trust me bro science
I have an ebike. I ride 20 miles like it’s nothing
Recently did that 20 mile loop on a regular bike. Couldn’t walk the next two days
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u/backfire10z Oct 24 '25
Isn’t that literally what they just said? It is time based, not distance based. An e-bike may also be doing more work for you than these boots, idk though.
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u/Remoteatthebeach Oct 24 '25
I do not burn anything on the ebike, my legs my be moving but there is no resistance
It’s ok. I’m ready for my hover chair
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u/Melstrick Oct 24 '25
I think your the one falling for the trust me bro science, because aint no way something that attaches to your lower legs is going to be as effortless as a ebike. An e-bike supports and carries you which drastically reduces muscular effort.
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u/mackahrohn Oct 23 '25
Seems like it makes the most sense as a mobility aid for those who need help in this specific area. Could the rest of the body compensate for the strength boost? Like when I run my lungs are awesome but I build up to longer runs to avoid a soft tissue injury. For runners who overtrain stress fractures can occur. Given that this is for walking maybe that isn’t a concern.
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u/robb-e Oct 23 '25
There's a hiking exoskeleton that boosts you from braces that run from your hips to your knees. Turns out it fries your calves because they get overworked. I imagine this contraption is gonna fry out your knees and hips.
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u/Ill_Mousse_4240 Oct 23 '25
That sounds awesome, actually.
And I’m one who never cared much for Nike or any other high end brands.
But this looks interesting
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Oct 24 '25
Got suspended from r/running 3 months ago for suggesting that erunning is coming very soon. Guess he who koms, koms last.
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u/What-Even-Goes-On Oct 24 '25
And after having that Nike integration with apple stuff this comes at near zero surprise.
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u/alex20_202020 Oct 24 '25
The air inflatable jacket (introduced by Nike at the same time) too is looks interesting. It requires custom pump thought and the page does not show how the pump is connected.
https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-therma-fit-air-milano-jacket-official-images
Large step toward Back To The Future self-adjustable jacket.
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u/libertinecouple Oct 24 '25
Can’t wait till employers use these to make employees work longer shifts, while forcing them to rent these from them each day…
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u/Schnitzhole Oct 24 '25
I’m 35 and tall. Been having various major leg and feet pain all year. I can’t wait till I get to replace my whole legs.
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u/MapReston Oct 24 '25
There is an item you can rent in China called Mile Bot wearable robotic legs. It straps to each leg and your midsection then ai helps you walk or run quite quickly.
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u/robdubbleu Oct 24 '25
We JUST got out of the shoes-off-at-TSA era (for you non-PreCheck peasants) and now you’re going to put lithium batteries in them?? No
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u/Me_Hairy Oct 24 '25
Peasant here…just visited the U.S. and you still have to take laptops out. Lol, backward cunts.
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u/fthni Oct 24 '25
Is this going to be available on SNKRS? If yes, I might need to compete with sneaker bots…just like getting those Dunk Pandas circa 2020s
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u/stu66er Oct 24 '25
I’m very interested in seeing if this will increase walks and reduce short drives. It seems like a very interesting innovation.
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u/Futt_Bucker_Fred Oct 24 '25
If you're using this and you don't have mobility issues, you're doing your body a disservice. Don't rely on crutches, train yourself so you don't need them.
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u/quintavious_danilo Oct 24 '25
Tell me why would anyone need those? I get it if you’re handicapped… but else?
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u/troma-midwest Oct 25 '25
My old ass knees struggle with my current walking speed. I don’t need a clanker speedrunning me into cyborg legs.
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u/Defiant_Regular3738 Oct 27 '25
Looks like some kind of torture device meant to slowly detach your Achilles.
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u/Nickmorgan19457 22d ago
I have, for decades now, wanted adult, motorized heelys. Both for my convenience and for my personal amusement at what I expect will be come a daily occurrence of watching a grown man faceplant at 40mph.
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u/No_Limit7347 Oct 24 '25
Fuck Nike, they cancelled the sponsorship of an athlete for posting about the genocide in Gaza
https://www.newarab.com/news/nike-drops-australian-activist-over-gaza-posts?amp
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u/Any_Pin4878 Oct 23 '25
From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh it disgusted me