Project Amplify: Powered footwear for running and walking
39 comments
·October 25, 2025jvdvegt
zitterbewegung
I think something like this would suit you better. https://hypershell.tech/en-us
ewuhic
These are already common in China, and Nike will rip you off with the price for "western engineering".
Game_Ender
Can you link some? I can only find the hip exoskeletons.
foolswisdom
> Nike’s Project Amplify is the world’s first powered footwear system for running and walking,
So this is straight up false?
echelon
> These are already common in China
Link?
> and Nike will rip you off with the price for "western engineering".
It's the brand more than anything. Nike's brand commands a premium.
I've quite literally never seen a product like this on the market, so as far as I'm concerned if Nike is the first to Western market with the product, and they do a good job introducing it, it's their innovation.
It's like with Nintendo and Apple. They're quite frequently not the first to develop a technology, but they take things and popularize them. Digital cameras, motion control, touch screens, smartphones, tablet gaming devices, ...
arjie
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
intrasight
I am that older guy. For sure it catches up.
bix6
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?
jayd16
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.
PuissantSheep
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).
mmooss
> 1) people with medically compromised joints who would like to engage in experiences that their bodies don’t currently allow.
And medically compromised muscles, nervous systems, etc. I know someone in that situation who loves scooters. They say it's like flying - they finally can move at will, instead of the lifelong difficulty and pain of walking.
metabagel
It sounds great, but I’m skeptical that it will actually help without messing up the natural motion.
terribleperson
There is nothing natural about the motions of running in modern running shoes, and yet people learn. Getting the behavior right will be difficult, I'm sure, but not impossible.
egypturnash
Are there any actual videos of this, you know, in use? All I see is a bunch of 3d renders of it. There isn't even a picture of a Nike executive holding a prototype.
neilv
It's a start, but we're going to need a powered full exoskeleton, with armor, for fighting Nazis.
brcmthrowaway
Has anyone 3d printed something similar? Looks doable - motors and servos are really cheap on AliExpress
mrcwinn
I’m going to be ripped once the powered arms do my lifting for me.
bigmattystyles
Come to think of it, why is Superman muscular?
FooBarBizBazz
Pales in comparison to Soviet science ;-):
> the power comes from pistons that are filled with a fuel-air mixture, and fired by compression when the user puts his or her full body weight down into the boot
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_boots
https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/these-gas-powered-bo...
CaptainOfCoit
Seems to be these ones, and bunch of more videos in the description too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJvmAXCh6Ak
knowitnone3
"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.
5-
> an athlete said I'm looking to go a little faster and farther with the aid of a powered device
isn't that a time-honoured tradition at tour de france?
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.