When Nike released its much-hyped Mind shoes in January, I was among the first to grab a pair. What hooked me? The claim that orange nodules on the sole could sharpen mental focus—and the futuristic look that promised instant fashion cred. Walking on knobbly bumps took some adjustment, but the thrill of owning something rare made it worthwhile. In the past week, I’ve been stopped on the street by strangers asking where I got them. Turns out, they’re now sold out, reselling for over £300 on Goat.
The Mind is part of a rising trend in “exercise slides”—pre-game footwear designed to ground you before activity. Nike says its 22 sole nodules stimulate foot mechanoreceptors, engaging the brain’s sensory area to enhance focus. Meanwhile, recovery slides from brands like Hoka and Oofos use cushioned soles and foot-cradling shapes to fight post-workout fatigue. The trend has caught on with athletes: footballers Erling Haaland and Reece James, runner Keely Hodgkinson, basketball stars Victor Wembanyama and A’ja Wilson, and even ballerina Francesca Hayward, who swears by Hoka slides in her daily routine.
Once confined to locker rooms, these bulbous shoes are now striding into fashionable circles. This summer, expect to see them beyond the jogging track—on city streets, at cafes, and maybe even on your own feet.