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Nike Ippeas (Greek for “Rider”)
Sport: Equestrian
Equestrian footwear has not changed much in the last century. The sport is steeped in traditional English heritage where leather boots, wood soles, and hard-pressed leather outsoles have been standard issue for horseback riding since the 1800s. Nike designers wanted to bring new innovation to that paradigm while still respecting the institution of the sport. For Beijing, Nike’s Equestrian footwear reflects the best elements of the sport’s deep traditions, but is elevated by innovative design and unique performance features. Again, designers started with the athlete. After listening to insights and ideas from top equestrian athletes, several rounds of prototypes were produced and improved with each effort. The final creation was the Nike Ippeas, a beautiful leather and synthetic boot that provides protection, support, traction, traditional aesthetic, and horse control in a total package that also reduces weight by eliminating the need for strap-on spurs.
Nike developed many innovations for the Nike Ippeas, including rubber pads for the outsoles of the boots to improve stirrup traction, an adjustable titanium screw-in spur system (inspired by track spikes) that eliminates the need for additional hardware on the ankles, and a full-length engineered zipper for easy on-and-off. Perhaps the most revolutionary development is the most subtle: a thin, high-abrasion synthetic rubber material on the medial side of the boot that delivers improved grip on the horse and saddle, which gives the rider better communication with the animal and increased stability during demanding jumps.
Key Features
-Crafted footwear that marries innovation with the classic silhouette a riding boot
-Rubber outsole pads to improve traction on stirrups
-Asymmetrical zipper for comfortable on-and-off
-Track and field-inspired screw mount spurs (three possible positions)
-Full length Zoom Air cushioning for underfoot comfort
-High-abrasion synthetic rubber on medial boot for control and communication
Show all 14 comments
Point two: Someone failed to do any amount of research here. Any real show is going to have very strict clothing regulations, and a big ole' swoop on the side of your boot is going to get you kicked out of the ring. (Displaying corp logos - HUGE no-no). Secondly most barns have "colors". So if there is an event where these are allowed (I don't think so), the barns w/ colors other than red won't be using these either. As a side note, the visible zipper is also a no-no in many classes.
Point three: there is a huge amount of flex in the rider's ankle, with the toe pulled upwards. I question how comfy a zipper going right across where I need the most bend will be. I can't imagine that doing anything but creating a sore spot.
I also have to question how secure the "screw in" spur is, but beyond that, this isn't my idea of "adjustable" - Two places is *not* adjustable enough! You may need anywhere in between those places, or even lower depending on the where your legs hit the horse.
Looks like a novelty item to me, not a serious piece of sporting equipment. It'll probably sell to the 12 yr old wannabes, but I can't see a serious horse person buying this. The zipper placed to rub the front of my ankle is enough to make me say no...there's a reason why so many riding boots zip up the back.
Y'all missed the mark on this one - at least for serious adult riders. I can see some clubber buying it because they like the look, but I doubt it'll take over the equestrian scene any time soon.
I agree with Gael4ce, Nike did an awful job at researching if this is all they came up with. I couldn't wear these in the HUS ring, I'd be disqualified. The zipper looks extremely complicated and as if it would hurt when you put your heels down, then the fact that you'll see it in the ring is even worse. I have boots with back zippers, they're extremely easy to get on and you can't see the zipper in the ring; I don't see why you'd feel the need to change it.
There's a reason no one has "innovated" the English tall boot's design- it was perfectly fine. If you feel they haven't changed at all since the 1800's, then you're missing all of the changes in sole and shock absorbtion that Ariat and other major brands have out there.
Heaven knows what these suckers will cost. No, thanks, I'll keep buying my Custom Der-Dau's. I get the "special treatment" from them and I know they will bloody fit, too. I do so adore Jose!
They are down right hideous. About the only thing they got right is the Spanish top. It's bad enough I now have to wear a helmet that blazes a corporate logo across my forehead, now there's gonna be a Swoop on my leg too? Yeah, uh, no thanks. Not unless Nike would like to sponsor me. And red clashes with my barn colors. I'm not even 100% sure the FEI or the USEF would like these too terribly much, and certainly they'd only be usable in the Jumper ring. Forget about using them for any other discipline.
The heel looks like it would be more at home on a fashion runway. GAG. The screw in spurs? Are you serious?? Like spurs are such a bothersome hinderence? Ok, sure. The zipper.... Well thier heart was in the right place, but there's a reason I had Jose put a zipper in my boots and it wasn't to rub the front of my ankles raw.
Nice try, Nike, but no thanks.
Too bad I don't know squat about the sport.
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