Nike Makes ‘Back To The Future’ Footwear A Reality

Cue the Huey Lewis and grab your hoverboard, because the future is finally here … almost.

Twenty-seven years after their fictional “debut” (of sorts) in “Back to the Future Part II” (or, only one year, if you take into account the fact that the film is set in 2015), Nike is set to release self-lacing sneakers into the real world.

TechCrunch reports that the sneaker giant — having first teased the product in a video featuring Michael J. Fox on Back To The Future Day this past October — unveiled the HyperAdapt 1.0 at its Innovation Summit earlier this week, with the power-laced shoes (which Nike calls adaptive lacing) scheduled to reach the consumer market in time for the 2016 holiday season.

More than a sneaker, the company is touting the technology in this new shoe as an “entire new platform for sneakers,” shares the outlet.

The self-tying shoes are being touted as a way to reduce a common athlete concern — distraction — saving the wearer time by automatically tightening the laces to their foot as they step into the shoe.

“Your heel will hit a sensor, and the system will automatically tighten,” Tiffany Beers, the project’s technical lead, explained to TechCrunch. “Then, there are two buttons on the side to tighten and loosen. You can adjust it until it’s perfect.”

Although pricing for the HyperAdapt 1.0, which is slated to be released in three colors, hasn’t been announced yet, the company told TechCrunch it will only be available for sale to members of Nike+, the brand’s new all-in-one product and events app.