Nike Adapt BB
01__Inside Story:__ A layer of Flyknit fabric hides an upper made of Quadfit mesh, a dense textile that handles quick lateral movements without overstretching. And that material is snugged tight not by conventional laces but by high-tensile parachute cord. Don’t be fooled by the low cut; your foot isn’t going anywhere.
02__Control Freak:__ Press the luminescent buttons to adjust the fit, or use your phone: Nike’s Adapt app lets you tweak each shoe and save settings for any situation— taut for the game, more relaxed for off the court. You can even change the lights’ colors to match your uniform better.
03__Brains and Brawn__: A waterproof module in the footbed holds a Bluetooth-connected drivetrain that can exert enough force on the laces to lift 30 pounds. The battery lasts 10 to 20 days and is Qi-compatible for wireless charging.
04__Take Flight__: Nike basketball shoes have long history of iconography and Easter eggs. The Adapt BB chooses as its central metaphor a butterfly’s metamorphosis: the dots tracing back from the iconic swoosh (and echoed on the midsole and tongue) are supposed to suggest a monarch’s wings, and there’s even a tiny butterfly tucked into the tread under the big toe.
05__Back Lash__: The Adapt BB’s lacing isn’t isolated to the top of the foot; a second zone surrounds the heel to lock in fit from the front and back simultaneously.
06The end result is a high-end shoe for a high-end athlete—one able to help support the split-second changes of direction, explosive takeoffs, and thunderous landings endemic to the sport. *—P.R.*
