[HN Gopher] Project Amplify: Powered footwear for running and wa...
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Project Amplify: Powered footwear for running and walking
Author : justinmayer
Score : 32 points
Date : 2025-10-25 20:35 UTC (2 hours ago)
(HTM) web link (about.nike.com)
(TXT) w3m dump (about.nike.com)
| SilverElfin wrote:
| I don't get the point. Maybe there's a therapy angle? But
| otherwise if someone wanted to go faster they could go to a bike,
| e-bike, or car.
| sega_sai wrote:
| I assume there is a military angle here.
| mewpmewp2 wrote:
| I would like to have something like this if it helped me with
| e.g. shin splints, or similar, because I really love running,
| but I tend to overdo it and I don't have any other options than
| asphalt to run on. Not sure if this one would be good for shin
| splits though. I guess this could potentially just be a fun
| thing to run a bit faster, but that alone wouldn't be worth it
| for me. But if it allowed me to balance where the strain goes,
| then yeah.
| onion2k wrote:
| I want to see a competitive sports event like the Olympics
| where this sort of technology is allowed.
| tavavex wrote:
| I wish that existed too. Not just an event to see how far the
| human body can be pushed naturally, but also another one to
| see how far it can be pushed, period. There would still need
| to be regulation to ensure that people didn't actively harm
| themselves (like extreme doping or something), but other
| augmentations like exoskeletons and such would be allowed.
| ThrowawayR2 wrote:
| Might be good for the last mile commuting problem, where people
| need a way to get from their home to a bus stop that is a mile
| or two away. A bicycle is not a good solution because then you
| have to take it on to the bus and to your destination.
| treis wrote:
| Lots of people walk long ways for different reasons. I'm very
| dubious that this will ever be a thing but there's definitely a
| market.
| tavavex wrote:
| Bikes and cars are modes of transport. They're optimal for
| getting around at high speeds, but when you don't need them,
| you need to leave them somewhere, they're large and not very
| convenient. On the other hand, these are shoes. You put them on
| in the morning and can wear them anywhere outside, they're not
| separate things you need to handle. I can definitely see demand
| for this from people who walk all day long for their jobs
| (warehouse workers, military, etc) or hikers/runners who want
| to stretch their endurance over a larger distance.
| chaostheory wrote:
| I see this more applicable to the military and law enforcement,
| but yes also for the elderly and disabled. Yeah, the opening
| line with "athletes" doesn't make sense.
|
| There are already powered leg augmentations on the market for
| $3-5k, but these are much smaller.
| jayd16 wrote:
| What about a hike just on the edge of your ability?
| ajkjk wrote:
| It sounds fun tbh (not to mention all the potential medical
| uses)
| bix6 wrote:
| Wild! Looks like it pulls your heel up so reduces energy
| requirement of each up stroke? Seems like it would need to be
| super light to offset carrying more mass?
| jvdvegt wrote:
| I'd like such technology very much, as I lack about 80% of my
| calf muscles due to an auto immune disease. I can't walk without
| a (non powered) exo skeleton, and perhaps with these I can walk
| stairs again.
| ternus wrote:
| Wow, that's awful. Have you looked into the existing powered
| exoskeletons? Or are those too hip/thigh focused to help?
| arjie wrote:
| I'm a huge fan of "slightly better walking/running" kind of tech.
| Unfortunately, current technology lends itself to devices that
| are slightly too heavy. I have a pair of Shift Moonwalkers[0]
| that I was hoping would fulfill that role.
|
| A motorcycle accident interrupted my fitness program and it took
| quite a lot of work to get back to where I am. During that period
| there were many times when I was (minorly) injured repeatedly
| since all my muscles were just not strong enough to do things and
| I wasn't disciplined about them.
|
| I picked up some persistent tendinitis that is just healing with
| some physiotherapy. Things like this aren't terribly limiting in
| life but the primary problem is that a lot of the stuff you have
| to do is rest the appropriate body part! And to rest it, you need
| to not do things. I don't want to not do things. I want to do
| things while resting the appropriate part of my body.
|
| And I bet as I get older, all this stuff will catch up. So
| anything that will extend mobility to my elderly years (still far
| away) is great. If I do the right things, my body will function
| well into my 80s and if the tech is there hopefully I'll walk
| around with my grandkids. All in all, I'm hoping that material
| science in batteries, motors, and frames and product design all
| do a big leap in this in the next 40 years. The market is likely
| there with our aging population.
|
| 0: Here's an example of me using them after I got used to them
| https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qc5PKbJ3tq4
| mrcwinn wrote:
| I'm going to be ripped once the powered arms do my lifting for
| me.
| bigmattystyles wrote:
| Come to think of it, why is Superman muscular?
| ChrisArchitect wrote:
| Related:
|
| _Nike 's plans to put the swoosh back into its sales_
|
| https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/oct/23/just-redo-it-i...
| PuissantSheep wrote:
| For those of you who don't "see the point" of a device like this,
| what you are failing to see is your own personal use case.
|
| The use cases I can see for others are "anyone who might find
| this useful or fun". To me, that means
|
| 1) people with medically compromised joints who would like to
| engage in experiences that their bodies don't currently allow.
|
| 2) people who want to challenge themselves by making these joint
| additions add more resistance.
|
| 3) people who want more strength and/or power for any reason.
| "Fun" is a valid use case.
|
| These joint enhancements exist for hips, knees, and with this,
| now ankles. The logical end for this is a powered exoskeleton
| (and, after that, power armor).
| knowitnone3 wrote:
| "designed to help everyday athletes* go a little bit faster and
| farther" When is the last time an athlete said I'm looking to go
| a little faster and farther with the aid of a powered device?
| Their target market is all wrong. This would be great if aimed
| towards low mobility users.
| jayd16 wrote:
| I'm sure it's science fiction right now but a pair of shoes that
| could teach you to do a kick flip would be pretty amazing.
|
| Pair with some power gloves to catch your fall and maybe I can
| learn to skateboard as my mid life crisis activity down the road.
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