Nothing revives a weary nerd quite like wearable technology.
At the end of a day saturated in Back To The Future Part II nostalgia, when even the most diehard fans of the 1989 film showed signs of BTTF II fatigue, Michael J. Fox emerged on the Internet in a new-and-improved pair of Marty McFly’s self-lacing, light-up Nike sneakers.
Fox tweeted a picture of himself in Nike’s long-awaited “Back to the Future” kicks, writing, “This is real. This is today. Coming Spring 2016.”
Nike confirmed to The Daily Beast that that, in addition to those on Michael J. Fox’s feet, the “first pair” is in New York City, though the shoe company declined to specify where, leaving millions of nerds fantasizing about them being behind a bulletproof glass case.
For now, Nike seems determined to keep us guessing. A press release announcing the 2015 Nike Mag’s arrival was short on specifics about the limited edition shoe beyond its “‘power laces’” and ability to sense “the wearer’s motion to provide adaptive on-demand comfort and support.”
The shoe was designed by Tinker Hatfield, who collaborated with Nike on the original pair worn in Back to the Future II. More details can be expected to trickle out in the spring of 2016.
According to Nike’s patent, the new shoes can sense the wearer’s weight. The “power laces” laces tighten accordingly when someone slips into a pair.
It appears that only a select few wealthy supernerds will be lucky enough to bring home the 2015 Nike Mag—presumably not to wear but to smell, pet, polish, and sleep with—since the shoe will be sold at auction “with all proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research,” according to the release.
The 2015 Nike Mag is an update on a 2011 limited-edition version, which didn’t have self-lacing technology. (These, too, were designed by Hatfield).
Sales from all 1,500 pairs released went to Fox’s Foundation, several of which are available on eBay today for a cool $15,000.