Nike launches paralympic shoes
US sportswear brand Nike has released its first shoe for runners with no
feet. The Nike Sole has all the elements of a normal running shoe. Stripped down to the key component amputees need most and using
recycled materials, carbon fibre and a “flex-run” blade, the lightweight
sole features a three-part layered system to make a sole.
These layers are designed to provide traction, comfort and support, adding the feeling of a real shoe onto the prosthetic leg to improve track performances.
The sole attachment also contains nine nylon tabs and a rubber leash that hooks and grips on to the running blade, giving users the ability to run firmly on the ground but also easily slide the sole on and off their blades. The new shoe was designed in conjunction with Sarah Reinertsen, a paralympic athlete who has has set world records in nearly every distance from 100m to the Ironman triathlon.
According to Nike the minimalistic design aims to be “both stylish and more functional for amputee athletes”.
A spokesman said: “Previously, runners resorted to buying a regular pair of sneakers and mangled them entirely by slicing the bottom soles off then manually attaching it to the blade with glue, 'hook and loop' or duct tape. Nike hopes that by focusing on the user than the product, the design will serve the small but new market whose needs were never addressed to date.”
Nike innovation director Tobie Hatfield said: “The Sarah Sole project is a special one for Nike. The Nike Sole is a shining example of our passion and commitment to serve athletes and provide them the solutions they need to achieve their goals – we’re always listening to the voice of every athlete."
