Futuristic Footwear: 9 Designs that Prove Shoes are Getting Smarter

As footwear goes, it’s safe to say that Heelys are basically The Flintstones of futuristic shoes (sorry, but roller shoes are so last decade). While we would just as soon continue wearing shoes strictly for coverage, orthopedic comfort and simple style, the tech-heavy trend of futuristic shoes is so intriguing, it’s difficult to ignore. From Marty McFly to ones that warm your toes, here are nine shoes that have paved the path toward the future of footwear.

The company’s spider silk-inspired sneakers are made from 100 percent naturally biodegradable materials. According to DigitalTrends, this performance shoe prototype is the first to be crafted entirely from Biosteel fiber. They aren’t available to the public yet, but sneaker addicts are hopeful for a 2017 release date.

So, self-lacing shoes sound fitting for someone who has undoubtedly reached peak laziness, but we must admit these Marty McFly-inspired kicks are actually pretty cool.

When the words kicks and Michael Phelps are mentioned in the same breath, his propeller-like swimming techniques instantly come to mind, instead of the Olympian’s special-made pair of 3D-printed Under Armour shoes. The showy shoes get extra cool points for the personal touch: A footprint of Phelps’ baby boy Boomer is imprinted on the insole.

The brand makes it easier to simultaneously focus on the green and your fitness with these golf shoes that tracks metrics like movement and workouts.

Before wearables were a thing, Nike teamed up with Apple in 2006 to pair their sneaker-plus-sensor with the ever-popular iPod. Unfortunately, 2014 meant the end of that particular partnership, as the iPhone 6 didn’t support the sensor.

Ellen Ripley would be proud to know that the futuristic footwear in which she kicked major extraterrestrial butt has been replicated and sold to Earthlings who find them undeniably nostalgic and fashionable.

In addition to its sleek design, this shoe insert enables hands-free capabilities by vibrating via Bluetooth. It also tracks steps, counts calories and offers GPS with a Lechal app. Even more impressive, all of these functions work offline.

The brand partnered with Parley For the Oceans to create the innovative eco-friendly footwear, which is the first performance shoe made from ocean plastic.

Not only do these stylish shoes include the average wearable tech amenities (tracking steps and calories), they feature laces that automatically tighten and insoles that warm your feet through app connectivity.