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Nike Unveils Project Amplify: The World’s First Motorized Running Shoe
This could be the next big revolution in running. Nike has just announced a futuristic innovation that’s sure to make waves: the first motor-assisted running shoe designed to help athletes run faster and farther with less effort. Just as electric bikes have transformed urban mobility, Nike wants to make running more accessible — and more enjoyable. Imagine gliding up a hill with zero strain? That’s the idea behind Project Amplify, a concept that could hit the market by 2028.
| Project Amplify: A Motorized Shoe That Boosts Every Stride
Nike calls it Project Amplify — a shoe designed to propel you forward with every step.
At its core is an ingenious system combining a miniature motor, belt drive, and rechargeable battery, all integrated into a lightweight exoskeleton wrapping around the ankle and connecting to the shoe.
The mechanism uses motion algorithms developed at the Nike Sport Research Lab to support the runner’s natural gait. The results? Remarkable.
Each stride receives an extra push calibrated to amplify calf power and reduce muscle fatigue.
After testing with over 400 athletes and analyzing 2.4 million steps, the early data looks impressive:
- Average running pace improved by 15–20%
- Perceived effort decreased, especially uphill
- The feeling of running on flat terrain — even when climbing
Nike isn’t trying to break world records — the goal is to make running easier and more enjoyable, particularly for recreational runners. During testing, some athletes improved from an 8:00/km pace to 6:00/km without additional effort.
A massive leap that could help everyday runners move more, more often, and with more joy. Nike itself compares Project Amplify to the e-bike revolution: a gentle assist that helps you go farther, more often, and with a smile.
For now, the project is still in development. Nike is partnering with Dephy, a robotics startup, to fine-tune weight, autonomy, and reliability. There’s no official release date yet, but commercial availability is expected around 2028.
| Designed for Everyday Runners and Walkers
Nike emphasizes that Project Amplify isn’t for elites — it’s for “everyday runners who want to go a little farther, a little faster, without beating up their legs.”
This innovation isn’t about redefining competition — it’s about democratizing movement.
Strategically, though, the project has a deeper motive: Nike wants to reclaim leadership in innovation within a running market it once dominated. In recent years, emerging brands have gained momentum — but Nike intends to reassert its edge by redefining what performance means.
Known for its obsession with speed and its bold vision, the Swoosh now shifts focus. Where the Vaporfly NEXT% revolutionized competitive running with carbon plates, Project Amplify expands the scope to accessibility — empowering more people to move, more often, with a technological assist.
No price has been announced, but one thing’s clear: this tech marvel won’t come cheap.
“Our mission is to dream big while keeping athletes at the center of everything we do.
Project Amplify started with one question: what if we could help athletes move faster and farther while using less energy — and having more fun?
The core of Project Amplify is adding a little extra power to the stride, naturally.
The joy comes from realizing you can do more than you thought possible — whatever that ‘more’ means to you.”
Michael Donaghu, Vice President of Create The Future, Emerging Sport and Innovation, Nike
| The Mind 001 and Mind 002: Where Performance Meets Psychology
Less flashy but equally innovative, Nike Mind explores another frontier: the mental side of performance.
With the new Mind 001 and Mind 002, Nike introduces the first shoes inspired by neuroscience.
Each sole contains 22 independent foam modules designed to stimulate the foot’s sensory receptors — activating brain areas linked to focus, relaxation, and mental preparation.
Intended for pre- or post-workout wear, these futuristic, ultra-comfortable shoes mark the birth of a new product category — shifting from physical performance to mental readiness.
Nike isn’t trying to make you run faster, but to help you reconnect with your body, center your mind, and strengthen resilience — a meditative approach to sport that redefines what performance means.
As mental preparation becomes a cornerstone of elite and recreational athletics alike, Nike is investing in the brain as the next performance frontier.
The Mind 001 ($95.00) and Mind 002 ($145.00) will be available in January 2026 on nike.com and select retailers.
“We’re expanding our research into the mind.
By analyzing perception, attention, and sensory feedback, we’re exploring the body–mind connection in a new way.
It’s not just about running faster — it’s about feeling more clarity, focus, and resilience.
This is the next frontier of performance.”
Dr. Matthew Nurse, VP and Chief Science Officer, Nike, Inc.
With Project Amplify and Nike Mind, Nike is venturing into new territory — reshaping how we think about movement and performance. These innovations highlight a growing trend in running: the future of sport lies not only in the body, but in technology, data, and the mind. Together, they embody Nike’s next strategic vision — not just releasing the world’s fastest shoes, but reinventing the way we run, think, and feel movement itself.
✔ Discover more about Project Amplify et Nike Mind.
Clément LABORIEUX
Journalist
