Nike flyease review
MY REVIEW OF THE NIKE AIR ZOOM PEGASUS 36 FLYEASE TRAINER
First introduced in 2015, Nike FlyEase is an easy-entry footwear system designed to help athletes put on and secure their shoes. This revolutionary adaptive technology has been especially welcomed by those with disabilities or injuries who are struggling to put on conventional tie-up trainers. Read on for my verdict of the groundbreaking Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36 FlyEase trainer and some styling inspo…
How it works…
Unlike your usual lace up trainer, there’s a zip closure on the inner side of the trainer which makes it incredibly easy to put on and take off. I can simply unzip the side of the shoe to open up the whole trainer, place my foot in, and then re-zip it to secure. The zip pull is secured onto the shoe with Velcro (as seen in the photo above). No-tie lacing is the future, people!
Instead of tightening the trainer with laces, there’s a toggle adjustment at the front which can be pulled to achieve your perfect fit. This whole process takes about 10 seconds and you can even do it one handed. For comparison, I’ve had a pair of Nike Free RN shoes for a few years and they are a bit of a faff to put on. But whatever your ability I genuinely recommend trying a pair... because life’s too short for laces.
The story behind the design…
This revolutionary technology was inspired by a letter from an American student with cerebral palsy sharing his dream of tying shoe laces independently. “At 16 years old, I am able to completely dress myself, but my parents still have to tie my shoes. As a teenager who is striving to become totally self-sufficient, I find this extremely frustrating and embarrassing,” Matthew Walzer wrote in his letter to Nike.
Designer Tobie Hatfield, who at the time had been working with Paralympians to tackle similar issues, got in touch with Walzer and started developing prototypes. He sent his first adaptive design to Walzer for testing in 2012 which lead to the creation of the FlyEase concept three years later. A big win for consumer rights!
What’s next for FlyEase…
The FlyEase technology is currently available on a number of different trainer models. Last year Nike launched their high-tech Air Zoom Pegasus 35 FlyEase trainers in the UK. A wraparound zip at back of the shoe connects to cables which tighten the laces—allowing the wearer to put on the shoe one handed. Nike’s stylish FlyEase assisted Air Max 90 also launched earlier this month.
With the 2020 Paralympics on the horizon, Nike recently announced a new partnership with Handsfree Labs Inc., a pioneer in hands-free footwear technology. The newest addition to the Nike clan is their Adapt LE 01 model which boasts a self-lacing system. App controlled, the fastening can be loosened or tightened from your phone without even bending down— a release date is yet to be announced.
As the global adaptive fashion market is set to reach a staggering $350 billion in the next three years, according to Coresight Research, Nike is clearly at the forefront of this inclusive movement with its FlyEase technology, which continues to evolve and produce new innovations.
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