Nike says its first ‘powered footwear’ is like an e-bike for your feet

On Thursday, Nike announced Project Amplify, “the world’s first powered footwear system,” which it says isn’t intended for pros — in fact, quite the opposite. Much like e-bikes provide pedal assistance, Project Amplify uses a lightweight robotics system to boost running and walking speed.

Project Amplify resembles an ankle brace, with a motor, drive belt, and rechargeable battery concealed in a fairly svelte design. It’s aimed at “athletes” (anyone with a body, according to Nike) who are running at a roughly 10-to-12-minute mile pace. The product has been in development with over 400 athletes over the past several years and remains in testing, but Nike mentioned plans to bring it to consumers “in the coming years.”

Read more: [https://www.theverge.com/news/805664/nike-powered-show-project-amplify](https://www.theverge.com/news/805664/nike-powered-show-project-amplify)

I wonder how this will impact the recreational 5k culture. I want everyone’s legs checked so 50 year old Karen doesn’t pass me with assisted robot power!

If it gets people jogging outdoors, that’s good.

From working with others, particularly older people who didn’t jog (but who are often otherwise athletic), there are problems that come up repeatedly with impact (especially), form (generally), breathing, feet dragging or pronation, etc. A lot of those people end up back in the gym on something like an elliptical because of these frustrations, but they’d rather be outdoors — the motivation to do so is why they keep trying.

Reducing impact alone would be *huge*, and improving/guiding footstrike form is an obvious secondary possibility for a smart powered ankle exoskeleton. People then can breathe better, like they do on the elliptical, because they don’t have to think about this kind of thing. As others have noted, E-bikes for all their problems (trails, traffic, environment, costs) are getting many times more people biking, much much more frequently. And those same people, getting into a bit of shape and enjoying the outdoors, can end up taking up recreational biking and other sports as well.

So bikes aren’t for your feet then? Guess I’ve been using mine wrong.

“It’s aimed at “athletes” (anyone with a body, according to Nike) who are running at a roughly 10-to-12-minute mile pace. ”

10-12 minute miles is not an athletic pace. That’s a slow walk

Nifty. Reminds me of the recent video where the guy is in China and tries out that bionic device that assists in walking and running.

This thing on the other hand, looks like it’s gonna jerk off my calves.

i see lots of RSD ankle injuries from this, but hey muscles are old fashioned

amiright?