=
Running on bubbles
Nike Joyride Run Flyknit

Nike is never short of new technology that surprise us. After Nike Air and Nike React which we are now all familiar with, Joyride is the company’s latest proprietary innovation on cushioning system. Made of thousands of TPE beads, the new cushioning platform could offer a personalised underfoot experience with great impact absorption.

TPE is a copolymer of plastic and rubber and the TPE beads are placed within zonally-tuned pods, allowing them to expand in all directions to form personalised cushioning in every step or stride, something Nike refers to as multi-dimensional displacement. Each respective iteration of Nike Joyride has its special zonal-tuning according to performance needs. In an example quoted, the heel pod is bigger in a running shoe to absorb impact. Among the total 8000 TPE beads inside the shoe’s footbed, 50% of the beads will cover the heels and just 5% will cushion the toe. 

The technology can first be seen on the pictured Nike Joyride Run Flyknit, which is now available online to Nike members and will hit the store starting from 15 August. Other styles to follow will include Nike Joyride NSW, women’s-exclusive Nike Joyride NSW Optik and Nike Joyride Kids Nova.