A couple of weeks ago, I got the opportunity to check out a collaboratice release from one of my favorite brands in Nike and another rising favorite in Hyperice. My love for Nike dates all the way back to when I copped my first pair of hi-top Air Force Ones and a pair of black Cortez earned with money from my afterschool job at the Queens Public Library. So when I got the invitation I didn’t hesitate too much in saying yes. 

 

The event was the official reveal of the Hyperboot, a new innovative product regarded and described more as “a wearable and mobile footwear innovation” than just a shoe. Both companies have built their name on helping athletes at all levels to perform their best, with a concentrated focus on recovery and wellness. The Hyperboot is the result of the two companies’ work since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, as discussed during the talk with Hyperice CEO Anthony Katz and Nike Senior Director of Innovation Tobie Hatfield (if you remember those FIRE shoes that Michael Johnson wore when he won the gold medals in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games? That's all him. Plus he co-designed one of my ALL-TIME Nike faves, the Air Presto.)

 

I arrived at the event space as things were beginning to kick off, and the Hyperboots were arrayed in glass cases in the middle of the floor. My first reaction was to think of those Nikes that Marty McFly wore in Back To The Future 2, but I'd learn soon that this footwear was a lot more than a flashy show piece. 

 

I was greeted warmly by the Hyperice team and got a chance to be one of the first to try on the Hyperboot, as I talked with Kristian Pearson, Hyperice’s chief financial officer. I hit the salon at the back of the event space and slipped on the Hyperboot and was immediately taken by the ease of the fit and the way the shoe’s two air bladders immediately conformed to fit my feet and ankles. I wear a size 13, and it felt roomy and comfortable. (For men, they do run from size 6 to 16, and for women it’s size 7.5 - 17.5.)

 

As I utilized the control buttons on the heel clip for each shoe (the located on the interior of the heel) and felt the heat and the Normatec massage, I felt my face form a massive grin. It’s something that Hatfield would talk about as a goal that he and his team at Nike has: “We work on a smile. We always try to encourage a smile on the athlete with our product.” 

 

I marveled at how powerful but comfortable the warmup mode was, and the fact that when I stood up I was in perfect alignment. I have fallen arches, and I felt no discomfort moving around and walking in them. The HyperHeat technology ensures that the heat treats the Achilles and other calf and ankle tendons and muscles equally and directly. It personifies to what Katz said during the discussion in creating the warmup and recovery modes, and how athlete input was crucial: “Every athlete I know, the injury they’re most afraid of is the Achilles. It’s the longest to come back from in terms of recovery, so we wanted to focus on alleviating that stress with the Hyperboot.”

 

The Hyperboot is actually USB-powered, using a USB-C input. The battery, which is slimmed down from the one that’s normally in Hyperice’s Normatec compression leg massagers, is nestled safely within the sole. The charge time is 5 to 6 hours, and recovery sessions are usually 15 minutes if you’re using the heat and Normatec compression massage mode. But if you’re just using the massage element, the battery life can last up to 8 hours. And you can operate one foot or both if you wanted. It’s also HSA/FSA approved, so for those with medical conditions, they may be able to get a pair without too much complications. 

 

It’s also notable that Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and Olympic silver medalist Sha’Carri Richardson are the Nike x Hyperice athletes. It was highly interesting hearing Hatfield describe how Richardson tried out the Hyperboot during her warmup meets before last summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, and how happy they made her feel.He even talked about how she smiled broadly after wearing them for the first time.

 

I honestly felt revived after my Hyperboot session, and felt an improvement in my circulation overall to where I slept really well that night. The rest of the night, I got to speak to Katz and give him my honest feedback about the Hyperboot. And I also got to enjoy the signature cocktail of the evening - shoutout to the bartenders as well as the servers making sure we were all fed well.

 

You’re probably wondering about the price tag. It will run you $899 when it officially hits the market in North America on May 17th. I can honestly say that I see a pair of these in my future. Because imagine you going out to a show, or coming in from a long day of work, or completing an intense workout, and you get to put these on and zone out? Everyone deserves that kind of wellness. 

 

Learn more at Hyperice.