Nike and Hyperice Team Up on Wearable Technology Focused on Athlete Recovery
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Nike and health technology company Hyperice have teamed up on two pieces of wearable technology focused on both athlete warm-up and recovery.
The tech Nike and Hyperice have created includes boots and a vest.
“Recovery is an important part of any athlete’s journey, but we’re hearing from athletes that this concept of ‘pre-covery’ is equally as important,” Tobie Hatfield, senior director of Nike athlete innovation, said in a statement. “The footwear and vest that we’ve developed with Hyperice help get the body ready for activity, whether you’re playing for a title or you’re on your feet a lot at work.”
Hyperice founder and president Anthony Katz added, “Since the inception of Hyperice, we have taken a lot of inspiration from Nike, from the care and innovation we put into our products to how we connect with the athlete. This collaboration is the culmination of years of work between our two brands to deliver innovative footwear and apparel for the athlete with the goal of enhancing their performance and recovery. And this is just the start.”
The boots, Nike explained in a statement, are a “wearable and mobile” high-top shoe that offers heat and dynamic air-compression massage for athlete feet and ankles. Nike stated the boots were created with a system of dual-air Normatec bladders that are bonded to warming elements that evenly distribute heat throughout the upper. This combination, according to Nike, was designed “to drive heat deep into the muscle and tissue in the foot and ankle, helping athletes move, perform and recover naturally much faster.”
Nike said athlete testers stated their feet and ankles feel freer and lighter “as if they’ve already completed their warm-up before actually starting their usual routine.”
Also, Nike stated athletes can “synchronize the heat and compression of both shoes with the press of a button” or “choose to run the left and right shoes individually.” There are three levels of compression and heat that are powered by a battery pack in each shoe’s insole.
As for the collaborative vest, Nike stated it uses thermoelectric coolers “that deliver instant heating and cooling without the need for ice or liquid,” which helps athletes “dial their body temperatures to their exact specifications during warm-ups and cool-downs.” It contains thermal modules with sensors that autonomously monitor and maintain body temperature, Nike explained, as well as an air bladder and pressure sensor within the vest that “adjusts to the body by pressing those thermal modules inward, enhancing comfort while also maximizing the effectiveness of the heating and cooling technology.”
“Taking care of my body has always been an important part of my preparation as a basketball player. That commitment is what has allowed me to maintain a high level of play for more than 21 years now,” NBA star LeBron James said in a statement. “From the moment I tried the Nike x Hyperice boots and vest while they were still in development more than a year ago, I knew they were going to change the game for athletes’ warm-up and recovery.”
No release info was provided, however Nike confirmed via statement that its boots and vest with Hyperice will drop “at a later date.”
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
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