The Evolution of Nike Free
Nike celebrates 10 years of the Nike Free. A sneaker that has made a lasting impact on the way we run.
Since forming the company in 1964, Nike Co-founder Bill Bowerman expressed that his search for the ideal sneaker was one that acted as a “second skin for the foot”.
Humans naturally ran barefoot for thousands of years, however the positive impact it had on an athlete’s performance wasn’t recognised until the 21st century. The Nike design team extensively researched the concept of barefoot running and explored how this could be applied to a pair of sneakers. Pressure mapping and motion capture were used to document the nuances of barefoot running and its impact on athletes’ feet, hips and legs. The challenge was discovering how these results could be translated into a running sneaker.
Launched in 2004 the Nike Free aimed to mimic the qualities of running barefoot on grass. The sneaker was developed to allow athletes (or anyone’s) natural abilities to shine, using technology that promoted the natural movement of their feet. The Free focuses on enhancing the concept of natural motion. As described by Nike “natural motion is an athlete’s natural born movement. It is a movement signature unique to each individual.”
Professional athletes such as basketball great Kobe Bryant, and Kenyan athletes Eunice Suma and Micah Koga have turned to the innovative trainers to maximise the freedom and expression of their natural motion. The technology has also been applied to shoes used by athletes training on NASA’s Mars Simulation Yard.
Today Nike celebrates the milestone and offers an extensive insight into the history of the Free; its technology; and place in sport culture and history.
www.nikeinc.com/news/inside-access-natural-motion-and-nike-free
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