Last year, we saw Nike release the Hyperboot, an actual shoe you can walk around in that incorporates Hyperice’s air compression tech, so it can massage your feet while you’re on the go. This time around, they’re partnering again for the Nike Air Zoom Hyperslide,
No, it’s not a compression boot this time around. Instead, they teamed up to make a pair of recovery slides. Like other slip-ons in the category, it’s designed to reduce foot fatigue, ease soreness, and minimize impact when walking across hard surfaces. Unlike them, it’s designed to work actively, incorporating heat and vibration to help relax the feet and boost recovery.
The Nike Air Zoom Hyperslide is a recovery slide that incorporates targeted heat and vibration delivery, allowing it to provide active recovery treatment on the go. The tech isn’t actually built into the footwear, though. Instead, there’s a pocket across the top strap that’s sized to accommodate a gadget that Nike is calling the Hyperslide Pod. From what we can tell, this is exactly the same device Hyperice is selling called the Venom Go, which can produce heat and vibration on contact. In this case, Nike made sure the Pod snaps snugly on the top strap of the slides, where it delivers heat and vibration to the top of the wearer’s foot.
The Pod can deliver three different levels of heat, with the highest at 117 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as three levels of vibrations. It runs in 15-minute recovery cycles, so it’s targeted specifically to generate scientifically-rested results. From what we remember, these are the exact same specs as the Venom Go, so we’re hoping you can use it like those accessories. As in, you can pair with Hyperice’s reusables stick-on pads for use across different parts of the body, which would make it a whole lot more useful. The device, by the way, comes with physical controls right on its body, so you don’t need to mess with an app to use this thing.
The Nike Air Zoom Hyperslide pairs the heat-and-vibration producing pod with a comfy slide made up of a low-profile, full-length Air Zoom sole that, the outfit claims, delivers soft, responsive comfort during wear. It’s pretty thick, so it should offer plenty of cushioning against hard surfaces, ensuring it cradles your feet and keeps it comfortable, whether you’re spending that recovery time cooling down at the gym, chilling at home, or taking a relaxing walk at the local park. The strap on top is adjustable, too, allowing you to dial the fit to your exact liking.
Why put the tech on a pair of recovery slides? According to the outfit, slides are incredibly common footwear among athletes, with many immediately taking off their shoes and switching into them after a grueling physical activity. This way, they get to incorporate the tech on the same shoes athletes wear to relax after workouts and competitions, allowing them to enjoy the active recovery tools without forcing them to change the habits they’re already comfortable with.
The Nike Air Zoom Hyperslide comes out September 29th. No pricing has been announced yet, but Hyperice’s version of those pods already cost $129 each and the shoes include two, so this will probably be pretty pricey.