New Auto Lacing Basketball Sneaker Launched By Nike
The self lacing basketball sneaker was teased earlier this month by Nike, but now the Adapt BB has been officially released. Stepping up its game from its predecessor, the HyperAdapt 1.0, this sneaker is made for practicality for players, changing the tightness of laces for when a players feet might swell throughout a game, while also retailing at half the price.
By Claire ConcannonJan. 16 2019, Published 3:45 p.m. ET
The self lacing basketball sneaker was teased earlier this month by Nike, but now the Adapt BB has been officially released. Stepping up its game from its predecessor, the HyperAdapt 1.0, this sneaker is made for practicality for players, changing the tightness of laces for when a players feet might swell throughout a game, while also retailing at half the price.
A Nike Adapt smartphone app will control the customized fit sneaker. The app can store pre-programed specifics that will increase and loosen lockdown during specific in-game moments such as timeouts and even pregame warm-ups. In unison with FitAdapt, the new name for the self-lacing tech, the Adapt app will continuously be tweaked and improved with firmware updates according to Sole Collector.
Speaking about the Adapt sneaker, Nike VP Creative Director of Innovation Eric Avar said “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.” To ensure the sneakers were fit for pro athletes they endured many trials by Nike including making sure it could withstand 30,000 impact pulses at 786 pounds of pressure, 2,900 lacing cycles (tight to loose), 5,000 left to right cycles, 40,000 presses of the midsole button, temperatures up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, being doused with nearly 80 gallons of water in a three-minute period, and 300 miles of running according to Sole Collector.
Nike Inc.
Apart from the new app technology, Nike describes the sneaker as being made with ‘high tenacity’ Flyknit upper outer with QuadFit mesh on the shoe’s inner shell along with Cushlon foam in the midsole. Boston native Jayson Tatum was chosen as a representative by Nike to roll out the new Adapt sneaker “Being one of the first athletes to wear the shoe and being picked as a representative of the future of Nike basketball means a lot,” he said. “That the app allows the ability to put the shoe on and touch the button, change the colors, see the percentage on the battery…it’s just cool.” Tatum will be the first player to debut the shoe in-game during tonight’s contest with the Toronto Raptors.
The new Nike Adapt BB will be launched in February for $350.
