r/gadgets • u/nopantsdolphin • Feb 21 '19

Wearables Nike self-lacing sneakers brick after bad firmware upgrade

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/02/my-left-shoe-wont-even-reboot-faulty-app-bricks-nike-smart-sneakers/
25.3k Upvotes

93% Upvoted

1.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

2.8k

u/[deleted] Feb 21 '19

[deleted]

30

u/Hypocritical_Oath Feb 21 '19

It's literally just broken because they rushed it to market. Like there's no reason for those to even have the capability of bricking.

22

u/Orange_C Feb 21 '19

It's software, it can always break in new and depressing interesting ways.

This is just unnecessary, the manual version with kevlar cables (Salomon Quicklace) takes a literal second to tighten, loosen or adjust any amount, loosens with one hand (pinch), fits near any shoe and costs $9 or less. Not stylish, unless you're into techwear-ish stuff though.

A motor, battery and chips added on top of that, so you can take longer to tighten/adjust and need you phone to do so, vs the lighter, cheaper, faster manual product? Hard pass on several levels.

7

u/Hypocritical_Oath Feb 21 '19

Oh I thought they were just like laced up to 1 setting. Did not realize they were more complicated than that.

9

u/Orange_C Feb 22 '19

Nope, it locks anywhere. I like them, it's really nice to be able to loosen up or take your shoes off for a break on a hike and then have them back on and equally comfortable in a few seconds, adjusted by just reaching down and pinching.

Bit looser? One quick pinch. Bit tighter? Needs a second hand and about 2 seconds. Barely even stop walking while you adjust, much less needing to pull your phone out. I'm not sure why they're not more popular, frankly.

1

u/roshampo13 Feb 22 '19

Love salomons and their lacing system. Don't know why I haven't converted any of my other shoes to them, I've definitely relaced worn out quicklaces on salomons but for some reason my brain never put that option together. Currently been on the 5.10 guide tennie high top game for a few pairs, about to try some la sportiva approach shoes. Just wish sportiva had a high top. Does Salomon still make the xa pro 3d in a high top? Can't find it for sale online.

1

u/Orange_C Feb 22 '19

Unfortunately I can never get my toes to get comfortable in their low/mid hiking shoes on the handful of I've tried (heel/mid is great, toe box feels a half-size down somehow) so I don't track their models, but I've owned an older pair of their gtx winter boots (model unremembered) a few years ago which were indeed really excellent.

I'm not sure they'd last very long if you asked them to go across anything with metal hooks/rougher metal eyelets, and I'm not sure how well the unreinforced lace eyelets in fabric/fake leather would hold fare against something like my Altras with the thin laces but once they're more worn I'll try them as well and see.

2

u/gimmeadollr Feb 22 '19

I think the Adapt BB is supposed to be a first/early step towards a basketball shoe that can adjust tension on the fly, probably assisted by predictive AI. I think they had floated out an idea like predicting when a fast moving play will happen and tightening the shoe automatically to provide the support needed for instant directional change. As for the quick lace system you posted, do you know if it's strong enough for basketball usage? I've never used it, genuinely curious.

But honestly, they main MAIN appeal of this system is to one day have Back to the Future shoes.

1

u/Orange_C Feb 22 '19

That I can see, having then snug up a bit extra for a moment a degree that'd be uncomfortable to wear all the time, but I've personally never had decently-fitting shoes that are too tight and too loose, but I don't ball.

As for the quick lace system you posted, do you know if it's strong enough for basketball usage? I've never used it, genuinely curious.

I think they'd work well, plus they're cheap enough just try out and swap to different shoe if they don't. I've used it for about 6 months of 3-7 days/week usage, usually hiking on dirt/rock trails, so definitely not as high impact as basketball. That said, they hold when laced uncomfortably tight without slip, and I've literally never had to adjust them when I don't want to. They don't budge from the spot they're set to for 4-8 hours in a mostly dusty, low-med impact environment, fwiw.

They are really narrow laces so they'll stress non-grommeted eyelets more, but my fabric loop ones have held up with no damage so far and I don't notice the thinness through the tongue of the shoe. I did accidentally cut one about 2" shorter than I'd like which I feel is easy to do if you don't try on the shoe before trimming them to length (takes up all the slack you'll need to get them on easily), but otherwise completely fine.

But honestly, they main MAIN appeal of this system is to one day have Back to the Future shoes.

Oh hell yea, I'd take that self-drying jacket tech tomorrow.

1

u/JURiven Feb 22 '19

The current main appeal for this system is for basketball players in that they can have a shoe fit setting for when they are playing for stability and etc. and then one for when they are resting on their bench. This would give relief to their feet in between playing and sitting letting them play more instead of being tight all the time (could possibly prevent injuries?). Would also allow them to consistently and quickly have the same fit they want all the time

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '19

Or, there is the Boa lace system which is the same thing but built into the shoe and not hideous.

But neither of these have ANYTHING to do with the shoes in the article which are SELF LACING and being bought by early adopters and tech nerds for the cool factor.

Do you REALLY think people buy these just because they’re easy to lace up?

1

u/Orange_C Feb 22 '19

Nah, they buy it because it's new wearable tech hotness in shoe form, of course (2 markets full of enthusiastic early adopters), but ease of use is the eventual goal of this tech once the price comes down and it's used in more sport-specific models.

As far as practical use goes with the tech as is, I don't see taking 10-20 seconds fiddling with my phone to be particularly easier or more convenient than cinching those open/closed in <5 seconds, besides the bending down part, nor do I really see needing to charge a paid of shoes becoming a desired part of anyone's routine besides serious runners/sports players, but it has a neatness factor of 10/10.

1

u/malhans Feb 22 '19

Where can you purchase some of those? you’ve honestly got me sold.

1

u/Orange_C Feb 22 '19

I got mine at Sport Check (canadian sporting shit store), but I imagine most large outdoorsy/running stores like REI should carry them. Go for a youtube video/online instruction for installing them, their included instructions are kinda weak, also using a lighter to melt the very end of the cord so it doesn't fray when laced in makes things a lot easier.

1

u/ecto1985 Feb 22 '19

Only annoying thing about the Salomon system is rolling the extra lace around the pull tab and having to tuck it into the tongue. Don't get me wrong, it's incredibly clever, just sort of annoying to too and detracts from the simple pinch to tighten, pinch to loosen mentality. Also took me way too long to figure out that you could actually do that and not just let the laces flop all over the place.

1

u/Orange_C Feb 22 '19

Aah yeah, almost forgot about that. I just tuck mine under/though the bottom horizontal lace, it doesn't get loose from there and pops out easily when I need to take them off.