Since the introduction of Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 in 2016, we’ve been waiting for a new model with self-lacing feature. It’s exciting to see the self-adjusting function has been given a new disguise with the latest Nike Adapt BB, a basketball shoe with added connectivity that can be digitally adjusted via the Nike Adapt smartphone app.

The advanced power-lacing system of the Nike Adapt BB uses a custom motor to sense the tension needed by the foot and adjusts accordingly to keep the foot snug. The underfoot lacing has a tensile strength for pulling 32 pounds of force, which is similar to the strength of a parachute cord, and is able to secure the foot throughout a range of movement. Wearer can adjust the fit easily and quickly by using buttons on the shoe or the Nike Adapt app. The shoes are charged wirelessly on the charging pad and each full charge should power the shoes for 10 to 20 days. In additional to adjusting the fitness of the shoe, the app also enable wearer to check the battery level as well as changing the colours of the lights.

Nike selected basketball as the first sport for Nike Adapt because of the demands athletes put on their shoes. For example, during a timeout, a player can loosen the shoe to increase blood flow before tightening it up as they re-enter the game for performance. Nike Adapt will clearly be branching into other sports, and with opt-in firmware updates it means more settings can be added to the same shoe in the future. This is just the beginning of it all.

Nike Adapt BB will be available in mid-February.