Nike's New GO FlyEase Sneakers Let You Slip on Your Shoes 'Hands Free'

Nike's newest shoe is "easy on, easy off" for those who can't put their shoes on without assistance -- or cannot be bothered.

The latest sneakers not only ditch shoe laces, but allow the wearer to slip them on without using their hands.

The shoe giant unveiled its Nike Go FlyEase sneakers, which they are billing as a "hands-free shoe."

The sneaker features a hinge and a "tensioner" so the wearer can easily slip the shoe on and off. According to a demonstration of the shoes, you simply slide your feet in and push down with your heel to secure the shoe on to your foot. To remove the shoes, you hold down the back of the shoe with one foot while sliding the other out.

The hinge allows the sneaker to bend at an angle to easily slide your foot in place.

The idea behind the FlyEase technology was inspired by Matthew Walzer, who was born with cerebral palsy and wrote to Nike about creating a shoe he didn't need to tie.

Nike said it plans to build on the new Go FlyEase shoe's design and create more slip-on options in the future.

Go FlyEase is part of Nike's FlyEase line of running, soccer and basketball sneakers that are said to be easier to wear and fit feet better. Nike has been working on FlyEase innovations for about five years — including shoes that zip up the side and a pair with a pull-cord at the back to tighten the shoe around the heel.

"We have been using laces for a long time," Reinertsen said about Nike's decision to go without them. "But ... a lot of times [people] are trying to work around those laces, they're trying to use one foot to anchor the shoe and slip out. Laces are kind of a hassle. We wanted to make shoes easier for everybody."

A tension band snaps to help hold the Go FlyEase shoe closed, since there aren't any laces for tightening.

A Nike designer reached out to Walzer and started work on shoes that might fit his needs, according to a 2015 post by Nike detailing the history of FlyEase.

Nike says the sneakers will initially be available through invite before a wider consumer launch later this year.

Launching the new shoes on its website first also fits into Nike's (NKE) strategy of selling directly to consumers rather through third-party retailers. The company reported in December that its online sales soared 84% in its most recent quarter as people snapped up fitness and casual shoes.

February 04, 2021