No power laces
http://gizmodo.com/5838503/the-nike-air-mag-aka-the-back-to-the-future-shoes-are-real-and-theyre-gloriousEver since Back to the Future Part II came out and tickled my fanciful soul with the Nike Air Mag, I've been waiting to get my hands on a pair. They're finally real and oh my god they're so dreaaamy.
The upper of the shoe is made of reinforced mesh. The outer sole is lined with LED panels that'll light up just like all futuristic shoes imagined in the 80's should (we're not talking corny LA Gear shoes here, people). The Air Mag is rechargeable and will stay lit for 5 hours. There's also a electroluminescent Nike logo in the strap. It's pretty much the exact replica of the pair of shoes Marty McFly famously wore with a few slight tweaks to add more support and comfort.
Here's the great news about the Back to the Future Nikes: they're being made for a great cause as the proceeds will go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation in the hopes of finding a cure for Parkinson's disease.
The less good news? Well, in the larger scope of things, there isn't any bad news. Parkinson's is a terrible disease and benefiting the search for a cure is always a good thing. For sneakerheads looking to score the shoe of their lifetime though, the Air Mags is going to be really hard to come by as only 1500 pairs will be made. Even harder is that each pair will be put up for auction on eBay. The auction starts tonight at 11:30 EST at nikemag.eBay.com.
Full size
Crushing the far-fetched dream of wearing 2015 technology on your feet though, the shoes won't be power lacing. That's okay! Everything else about the shoe is as beautiful as when I first fell in love with it. And who knows what'll happen when it's actually 2015? Michael J. Fox is slated to be on Letterman tonight, so we'll all see the official unveiling there.
They're just a pair of shoes, yes, but they might as well be Doc Brown and a DeLorean with a Flux Capacitor—I feel like a kid all over again. I can't wait to put them on.
