Nike’s Project Amplify Debuts as a Battery-Powered Footwear System Aiming to Boost Everyday Mobility

Nike introduced Project Amplify, an experimental footwear platform that pairs conventional-looking shoes with motorized, 3D-printed leg shells to actively propel the wearer forward. The system integrates a carbon-fiber shoe plate, calf-mounted titanium shells, sensors and on-board electronics, and is controlled through a smartphone app with selectable walk and run modes. In prototype demonstrations at Nike’s research facilities the equipment produced a clear forward push that felt mechanically assertive to testers, and the company says the design is calibrated by algorithms that adapt to an individual’s stride. Nike expects to bring the system to market in 2028 and describes the batteries as enabling roughly a 10-kilometer run per charge, with swappable packs for extended use. The product follows a multi-decade arc of footwear innovations — from lighter materials and embedded sensors to self-lacing systems — but stands out because it uses active mechanical assistance to increase velocity rather than only tracking or supporting the user. Engineers at Nike collaborated with Dephy, a Massachusetts startup that also sells a similar device, and the space has attracted more than a dozen startups showing exoskeletal footwear at recent technology shows. Proponents frame these systems as tools to restore confidence and expand participation in outdoor and social activities for people who limit themselves because of fatigue, pain or distance. Technical hurdles remain significant: energy density, heat management, fit and the trade-offs between power and portability all constrain practical deployment. Safety and regulatory considerations will follow as these products shift from controlled lab demos to consumer use on sidewalks, trails and public spaces. The product’s weight, attachment method and reliance on a phone interface will shape adoption among different user groups and may push companies to offer rental, service or medical-prescription models. Commercial viability will depend on price, durability, battery lifecycle and whether insurance or healthcare providers recognize mobility gains as reimbursable. Competitors are pursuing alternatives that transfer load to the hips or knees rather than the calf, creating a crowded design space where form factor and power delivery diverge. If successful, powered footwear could reshape urban mobility, outdoor recreation and rehabilitation by extending individual range the way electric bicycles expanded cycling participation. But widespread uptake will hinge on solving tight engineering trade-offs and on social acceptance of visible, robotic-looking assistive gear.