Everyone from automakers to Stanford researchers have piled on the publicity bonanza that is, or was, Back to the Future Day. But true fanatics of the franchise holding out for something more authentic will be rejoicing in the announcement of legitimate, bona fide, self-lacing Nike Mag high-top sneakers, as worn by time-traveling hero Marty McFly. The sportswear giant has sent the very first pair to Michael J. Fox, with more to become available in spring of 2016.
Nike first revealed a real-life replica of the famous footwear back in 2011, when it created and auctioned off 1,500 pairs with the proceeds going directly to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Profits from the new model will be headed exactly the same way, and with one key design difference we reckon they might yield a slightly higher price tag.
The 2011 version didn't feature the self-lacing technology shown in Back to the Future Part II, but the new ones reportedly do. Known as power laces, Nike's newest kicks feature a "responsive system that senses the wearer's motion to provide adaptive on-demand comfort and support."
The shoes were delivered to Michael J. Fox along with a rather charming handwritten note from Nike shoe designer Tinker Hatfield stating, "as the first, most celebrated wearer of the Nike Air Mag we wanted you to be the first to receive a living pair."
For the rest of us, we'll need to wait until next year's auction for a wider release. But if the 2011 event that saw US$9.4 million raised is anything to go by, they won't be going cheaply.
Sources: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Nike
