If there is something I hate doing every day, it is lacing my shoes. I love my sneakers, I love my trainers, and I love my combat boots that I use in airsoft. But honestly yes, I do hate lacing my shoes, and hate laces even more when they unravel without you knowing about until your shoe comes off you or somebody steps on the lace. Just imagine those times you need to tie your laces again in the middle of an airsoft firefight.

While Nike actually traces its roots to World War II, whose co-founder Bill Bowerman was part the 10th Mountain Division in Italy before coaching track and field athletes at the University of Oregon where he started creating sporting shoes, Nike was not really known for combat boots.

Nike has a line of boots, called the Special Forces Boots (SFB). Those who have worn them (I have not tried them yet) find them comfortable and light. But in terms of durability to handle the wear and tear caused by soldiering and actual combat, they were a disappointment. Nike has not given up on the SFB line as they have been releasing improved versions of the SFB over the years, but still have not achieved the reputation of respect that Lowa, Danner, Magnum Boots, and host of other specialized boot and outdoor footwear makers have amongst servicemen, and also airsoft players.

But if there is one thing that I like about Nike apart from their sport shoes, it is about their technology that could make lacing your shoes a thing of the past. First introduced in Back to the Future II in 1989, the self-lacing sneakers (or power-lacing sneakers) is one of the holy grails in the shoe technology. Nike then announced on the 21st of October 2015 that they have a prototype of the shoes worn by Marty MacFly  and just this week, they unveiled the Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 which will be released in the Holiday season and exclusive to Nike+ members.

HyperAdapt 1.0 power-lacing technology works like this. When you insert your foot to the shoe and your heel strikes a sensor, it will start lacing. You can then press buttons to tighten or loosen the fit until you are comfortable, which is faster and more convenient than just untying the laces and try to make a better tightness with the laces.

With such a technology, will Nike just have a limited run and exclusive shoe? By the looks of it, the HyperAdapt 1.0 would be the most sought after shoe by the end of 2016 and many would just want the power/self-lacing feature in other future models too.

This brings me to their FSB line-up. Combat footwear have the problem of laces too, just like in sport shoes and combat boots have longer laces that you have to deal with. If Nike can adapt their power-lacing technology to their future FSBs, then I want to be one of the first to try it. Think about it: it is easier to wear combat boots with the technology and faster too, saving a few seconds that can be vital when soldiers are reacting to an attack when they are inside the barracks.  For geardos, there is a coolness factor of just having the most high-tech combat footwear in the airsoft field.

Am I wishful thinking? I hope not since I am lazy to tie my shoes. If Nike puts this feature into their FSB boot, then they will make me a happy airsofter. I am sure there are others who will agree with me.

Mark Parker, I hope you are reading this. Make it happen… please.