Nike and Hyperice are Making a Boot That Does Your Pre-Workout Warm-Up For You

We all know how important it is to do a proper warm-up and cool-down before and after a solid workout, not only to avoid injury, but as a means of maximising gains. Well, footwear giant Nike knows it as well, and is working on boots (and a vest) that will do it for you.

The novel idea comes by way of a partnership with workout recovery-tech company Hyperice, which has its own line of products that aim to reduce the impact training can have on high-performance athletes.

“Recovery is an important part of any athlete’s journey, but we’re hearing from athletes that this concept of ‘pre-covery’ is equally as important,” Tobie Hatfield, senior director at Nike Athlete Innovation, said.

“The footwear and vest that we’ve developed with Hyperice help get the body ready for activity, whether you’re playing for a title or you’re on your feet a lot at work.”

So what do they actually do?

The boot is a high-top shoe that offers dynamic air-compression technology to massage and heat up the feet and ankles before a workout. The level of heat and compression can be altered with a set of buttons built into the shoe, which also hides a battery to power these impressive features.

All the tech on display here does come with a pretty major cost: they aren’t the most fashionable things on the planet. They kind of look like something Marty McFly would have worn in Back to the Future, but without the retro-futurism to make it fun.

In saying that they’re clearly marketed as a performance product, not fashion, so that’s an easy pass.

The Nike x Hyperice vest is also focused on aiding athletes in their warm-up and recovery, but does so by being able to “instantly” cool or heat the body to an optimum temperature. It uses thermoelectric coolers constructed of thermal modules with sensors that autonomously monitor the body’s temperature, alongside an air bladder paired with a pressure sensor which will adjust the vest to your body “for added comfort”.

The idea of a vest that literally conforms to your body shape might actually be something from Back to the Future, now that I think about it.

And while the boot and vest don’t have a release date, with development still ongoing, the brands have worked with some high-profile athletes to test the concept.

Los-Angeles Lakers’ superstar LeBron James tried the products, and came away impressed.

“Taking care of my body has always been an important part of my preparation as a basketball player. That commitment is what has allowed me to maintain a high level of play for more than 21 years now,” James said. “From the moment I tried the Nike x Hyperice boot and vest while they were still in development more than a year ago, I knew they were going to change the game for athlete’s warm-up and recovery.”

Golfer Tom Kim also said that he could “tell the difference immediately” when using the boot before a workout.

“I’m so much lighter on my feet after wearing the (boot) in the morning,” Kim said.

When are they releasing?

While this is all very impressive, it’s worth repeating that there is no release date as of yet, and, if Hyperice’s other products are anything to go by, these products will be very expensive.

A similar product made by Hyperice, the Normatec 3 Legs, sell for AUD$1,499.95. They don’t use batteries or heat your legs in any way, and aren’t made by Nike, so we can expect the Nike x Hyperice boots to be quite a bit pricier. In saying that, can you put a price on a faster recovery?