Nike’s futuristic trainers plagued by bugs
Got your new must-have Adapt trainers yet? If you have then you may be a little puzzled with the accompanying app.
Nike’s eye-wateringly expensive trainer, retailing in some shops at £309.25 is styled as a self-lacing basketball shoe, promising a back-to-the-future experience for all. And for that bling look the lights on the shoe can be customised.
Adapt were originally designed for basketball players to help athletes track their performance and improve their game but are marketed now for all those wanna-be Marty McFly’s.
According to Nike the electronics built into the shoe are powered by a Qi charging mat and the whole trainer is controlled by an Android or iOS app. So far, so futuristic.
Amazingly, your feet actually change shape when you put stress on them particularly during sporting activities. For instance, your foot size can vary by up to half a shoe size.
These changes can impact on the blood flow to the foot. Hence, the tech inside the shoe meaning you can adjust the shoe for different moments during sport.
But it seems there have been some teething problems. Buyers of the shoe have reported being unable to connect the app to the shoe, both right and left or, in some cases, not at all.
The app has less functionality than the iOS app and the first software update for the shoe threw an error while updating, bricking the right shoe. Needs serious work. Can’t believe Nike put out a product that just feels rushed or unfinished. Support has been useless thus far.
- Asa Domolky: User Review, Google Play Store
Obviously, in such a shoe, getting the app connected properly is absolutely vital. Without it you have a very expensive trainer that you can’t lace. The tensile strength of the underfoot lacing is, according to Nike, able to pull 32 pounds of force to keep the foot secure throughout the movement that takes place.
Nike has promised the ‘first continually updated performance product.’ This they say is due to the ‘near symbiotic relationship between the shoe’s digital app and opt-in firmware updates.’
Now if they can just solve the problem of hoverboards then we are truly Back to the Future.
Image: Nike