Nike aiming for 2015 release of 'Back to the Future' self-lacing shoes

Chris Littmann

Nike aiming for 2015 release of 'Back to the Future' self-lacing shoes image

The year is just over a week old. Still no hoverboards. Still no Cubs World Series title. (Although, we think that will change later this year.) A hoverboard is in progress, but not readily available.

Are Nike's power lacing shoes from "Back to the Future 2" coming to a store near you? Iconic Nike designer Tinker Hatfield shared an encouraging update at the Agenda trade show on Jan. 6.

Hatfield was quoted in multiple reports as saying his team is working as hard as possible to get the shoes out to consumers and noted there are more than 11 months left in 2015. In other words, be patient, McFly.

 

Tinker Hatfield discusses design and his line of work at @nike #AgendaEmerge @groupy

A photo posted by Agenda Emerge (@agendaemerge) on

It's encouraging, although not overly revelatory. This has been Hatfield's stance for some time. Patent documents made the rounds on social media and multiple media outlets earlier this week, but those documents have been out since at least 2010.

Even if these things are ever available, don't expect them to come cheap. (Just look at this piece from Sole Collector about what people are willing to pay.)

Nike dropped a Air Mag-inspired Hyperdunk in 2008. (Kobe showed up to a release in a DeLorean!) In 2011, Nike auctioned 1,500 pairs of Air Mags, but the laces weren't self-lacing like in the movie. In total, the proceeds of those sales raised almost $5.7 million for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Chris Littmann