Nike Akribis (Greek for “Accurate”)
When the process began to create an innovative archery shoe for Beijing, the first step was to seek athlete insight. Based on feedback from the world’s top archers, the goal was to design footwear that helped the athlete execute precise use of a bow and arrow. To do so, athletes would require footwear that was lightweight, stable and comfortable. As with any sport that demands steadiness for perfect aim, an archer’s stance is the foundation for a well-placed shot. Building from Nike’s heritage of turf traction and stability footwear, a modified football cleat was used as the basis for the Nike Akribis archery shoe. With a nubby Astrograbber outsole that can penetrate and grip either grass or synthetic turf and a contoured footbed that elevates the heel to an athletic shooting position, the Nike Akribis provides comfort and sure footing on any surface, giving Nike athletes a better chance to perform their best in Beijing.
For Beijing, Nike worked with the apparel design team to create a unique version of the Nike Akribis for Team China. The Chinese archery team’s Nike Akribis upper is a light bone color to match the trousers of their uniform; Comet Red highlights accent the shoe, complementing their red polo shirts. The sockliner is emblazoned with a tribal art-influenced graphic designed specifically for Team China in Beijing, inspired by the Chinese philosophy of “The Warrior Within.”
Team USA’s archery technique was so different from the rest of the competition that Nike designers built a custom shoe specifically for the Federation. The US asked for footwear that facilitates a more grounded stance, with the heel less elevated than that of the Nike Akribis. The answer was a modified version of the Nike Dunkesto, Nike’s hybrid between the iconic Dunk basketball shoe and the Nike Presto trainer. Taking the best of both shoes – Dunk’s flat sole and Nike Presto’s lightweight breathability – the Nike Dunkesto archery shoe adds customized abrasion-resistant leather vamps for each athlete, dependent upon where they rest the bow on their shoe. The colors and graphics used on the upper are also designed to compliment Team USA’s uniform. The style is Sport Red, White, and Obsidian Blue and the sockliners are decorated with tattoo-inspired detailing featuring a torch and the number “1776.”
Team Chinese Taipei will also wear a custom version of the Nike Akribis that matches their competition apparel in Light Bone and Comet Red-Black.
Key Features:
-Water-resistant rand helps keeps foot dry on wet grass
-Breathable upper materials help regulate temperature
-Forefoot strap locks foot into stable position (Nike Akribis)
-Toe patch allows the bow to be rested on the vamp without abrading the breathable mesh
-Astrograbber provides stable traction on grass or synthetic turf (Nike Akribis)
-Contoured footbed cradles foot and elevates heel to shooting position (Nike Akribis)
-Flat sole inspired by Nike Dunk facilitates a more grounded archery stance (Nike Dunkesto)
