Robot Running Shoe: Inside Nike’s Project Amplify

This new Nike Project Amplify shoe looks like a regular sneaker that got tired of doing all the work and hired its own personal robot butler to handle the walking. It’s half running shoe, half exoskeleton, and fully “I’m not sure if this helps me run faster or if it’s about to walk away on its own.”

The matte-gray robo-leg perched on top looks like a futuristic pogo stick that decided to earn a PhD in biomechanics. Meanwhile, the neon-green accents scream, “Yes, I’m high-tech, but also, please notice me when I glow in the dark.” And with that chunky, curved sole, the whole thing resembles a cyborg moon boot designed by someone who watched too many sci-fi movies.

When you think of a running shoe, the usual attributes come to mind: cushioning foam, a carbon plate, adaptive knit uppers, perhaps even auto-lacing. But what if the shoe did more than support your foot—what if it actively boosted your step? That is precisely the ambition behind Nike’s Project Amplify.

Launched in October 2025, Nike describes it as:

The shoe is “intended to serve athletes who want to go faster and farther with less effort” by giving them “a second set of calf muscles.”

At its core, the system consists of three major components: a carbon-plated running shoe, a lightweight motor and drive belt mechanism attached to the heel and ankle, and a rechargeable cuff battery unit mounted around the calf. The motor assists natural lower-leg and ankle movement, pulling up the heel at each step in coordination with your gait. Testers report that wearing the system feels like having “a second set of calf muscles.”

Nike emphasizes that Project Amplify isn’t designed for elite athletes chasing super-fast marathon times. Instead, the target market is everyday runners or walkers—those covering roughly 10- to 12-minute miles, who want to go further or more often with less effort. WIRED In other words: it’s not about breaking records, but about opening movement up to more people and making it more fun. As one commentator put it, it’s “an electric-bike for your feet.”

Still, as compelling as the concept is, Project Amplify remains in prototype form. Nike says a consumer launch is “in the coming years.”

To understand how Project Amplify works, we need to zoom in on the mechanics. The motorised system developed in partnership with robotics firm Dephy integrates motion algorithms from the Nike Sport Research Lab.. Behind the sleek exterior lie complex layers of sensors, control logic, and mechanical assist.

Every time a wearer steps, the motor gently pulls upward on the heel via the drive belt and mechanical arm. This assists the natural push-off phase of running or walking. Some testers report that uphill running felt as though it were flat terrain. More than 400 athletes logged over 2.4 million steps in testing, something Nike uses to demonstrate the system’s maturity even in prototype form.

The carbon plate inside the shoe offers stiffness and energy return (a staple of modern performance footwear). By coupling that with robotic assist, Nike is amplifying what the plate does naturally. What’s more: the shoe can also be worn without the robotic hardware—meaning the system is modular.

Yet with sophistication comes complexity: issues remain around battery life (some test units reportedly last around 30 minutes) and the added bulk/noise of mechanical components. As one writer put it: “It’s loud, squeaking with every step… but also a ton of fun.” 

What makes Project Amplify especially compelling is its shift away from record-chasing performance gear to broadly accessible performance assistance. Nike frames the message: “If you have a body, you are an athlete.” By focusing on those who jog or walk at moderate paces rather than sprinters smashing world records, the company is expanding the definition of footwear innovation.

Imagine a city commuter who walks two miles to work, or someone recovering from an injury yet still driven to stay mobile. For those profiles, Project Amplify offers a tangible assist, helping the user walk or run more often with less fatigue. The metaphor of the e-bike is apt: you still pedal, but the motor takes the edge off. 

That democratization of movement aligns with Nike’s larger mission of “movement as medicine.” This step (quite literally) towards powered wearable assist opens new terrain beyond the track: urban commuting, active ageing, rehabilitation, and the crossover between athletic gear and assistive devices.

As Nike VP Michael Donaghu says:

While Nike is not traditionally a luxury brand in the high-fashion sense, Project Amplify occupies a space where high-tech, performance, and premium experience converge, and that places it squarely in the luxury-tech conversation. The carbon fibre plate, the robotic cuff, the custom gait calibration—all evoke design ethos as much as engineering.

In lifestyle terms, the appeal is aspirational: not just “run faster” but “step into tomorrow.” The sleek aesthetics, black motor housing, minimal branding, and modular hardware communicate a kind of wearable futurism. 

From a luxury-lifestyle editorial standpoint, Project Amplify is more than a gadget: it’s a statement piece: a shoe that signals you are ahead of the curve, interested in performance and style, and willing to invest in the future of the body. When it hits the market, it may appeal to a segment of affluent early-adopters, tech-savvy runners, luxury travelers, and urban professionals who view movement as an experience rather than a chore.

As with any cutting-edge device, several hurdles remain before Project Amplify becomes a mainstream product. Battery life remains a principal constraint as the prototypes reportedly offer around half an hour of motor assist. Noise and bulk from the hardware need refinement. Sporting governing bodies may need to adjudicate whether powered shoes should be allowed in competition, since the assistive nature could disrupt fairness. The cost is likely to be high, pushing the product into premium segments at least initially.

From a market readiness perspective, Nike has not confirmed a specific commercial release date. The company states the system is in “the coming years” phase. Additionally, adoption will depend on whether users perceive the added value as worth the extra hardware and cost, or whether they prefer traditional, lighter shoes.

Luxury lifestyle media should watch for release announcements, limited-edition colorways, collaborations (perhaps with fashion or tech brands), early-adopter trials in cities/fitness studios, and how Nike positions the product in terms of cost and lifestyle integration.

Over 400 athletes stepped into Nike’s Project Amplify prototype and logged more than 2.4 million steps across nine hardware iterations at Nike’s Sport Research Lab.

Via Nike