Review: Nike x Hyperice Hyperboots

Everybody loves a good foot massage. As an avid runner with plantar fasciitis, I often need a good foot massage. So when I heard about the Nike x Hyperice collaboration to develop a shoe with compression and heating capabilities built in, I was eager to learn more.

The Hyperboots feature the same air compression technology as the beloved-by-runners-everywhere Hyperice Normatec boots ($899). The only downside to the Normatec boots are the fact that you have to chill out and remain horizontal while you wear them (which, maybe isn’t exactly a downside, but it still means you can’t multitask much during your recovery period). With the Hyperboots, you can enjoy the same squeezing and releasing sensation around your feet and ankles while you go about your life. Thanks to Nike’s input, you can wear something that looks more like a sleek, modern sneaker than a recovery device.

Retro Appeal

Photograph: Kristin Canning

Photograph: Kristin Canning

The first time I tried on—and turned on—the Hyperboots, I was immediately giddy. There’s something very exciting about a shoe with extras built in. It reminded me of Heelys and the popular light-up tennis shoes of my '90s youth. When you turn them on by pressing a power button on the inside of the heel, the shoe automatically inflates to offer a better fit and some mild compression. The compression portion covers the mid-foot at the top and sides, the sides and back of the heel, and the ankle.

I got small Hyperboots (they come in small, medium, large, XL, and XXL) and they were too big for my size-8 feet, but turning on the shoes made them comfortable enough to walk around without my foot slipping around.

From there, you have the option to adjust the level of compression and heat, with three settings each, and you can press a play button to start an active air-compression massage. The boots sync settings when you have them both on. The air filling up the ankle wrap and releasing does make a droning noise, almost like an airplane flying overhead—nothing too obnoxious. You can charge them up with the two USB-C cords and wall charger they come with, and the charge lasts for up to an hour and a half.

The massage and heat felt wonderful while I did chores around the house. I noticed the plush foam soles and their rocker bottoms, which helped propel me forward with little effort. The forefoot and heel provide grippy traction. The shoes don’t offer much in terms of arch support, so I wouldn't recommend walking far in them if you have high, fussy arches like me (without adding some inserts), but they were comfortable enough all the times I wore them.

The upper feels extremely durable, and even with the built-in tech, they can handle splashes and rain (though they aren’t fully waterproof). I liked the highest compression setting for my feet, but that setting felt like a bit much around my ankles when I was walking. The top of the ankle wrap dug in a bit when I moved, but it wasn’t uncomfortable if I was sitting. The massage runs for 20 minutes, and you can just press play again to start over if your dogs need some more TLC. The heat settings go all the way up to 125 degrees Fahrenheit, which was way too hot for me—I found the lowest setting of 111 degrees to be plenty to feel therapeutic.

Post Workout

Photograph: Kristin Canning

After trying the shoes around the house, I was excited to use them after an activity that was harder on my feet. I put them on after a long day snowboarding where I racked up over 13,000 feet of vert, and I was able to drive home through the mountains while my feet warmed up and got a relaxing massage—incredible. The boots flushed out the lactic acid that had built up in my feet and ankles from all the maneuvering they were doing inside my bindings, and I was able to keep the massage going after I got home and while I did laundry and dishes.

Usually when I go to bed after a day on the mountain, my legs ache and it can make it hard to fall asleep. Not the case after wearing the Hyperboots. I wasn’t sore that night, or the next day, like I normally am.

I’d love these boots even more if they could somehow extend the air-compression around the bottom of the foot across the arch and heel. As someone with plantar fasciitis, that’s where I really need it. The air-compression doesn’t feel like a real massage. It's still wonderful and great for increasing blood flow and expediting recovery, but even the highest compression setting couldn’t apply as much pressure to my feet as I’d personally prefer.

It would also be amazing if the shoes could provide cooling or icing as well. When I wore these after a handful of runs, they absolutely made my feet feel better and sped up my recovery, but for how much they cost, I wanted more. Still, having these in my rotation during marathon training or after a long hike will be a game-changer. As someone who often ventures to the mountains to train, being able to recover while I’m on the road back—or while I stop at a brewery for a burger and a beer—feels like a cheat code for life.

I’m about to head out on a long weekend road trip that, if all goes to plan, will have me hiking four days in a row. There’s no way I'm not packing the Hyperboots. And the one good thing about them running a bit big and being able to somewhat conform to your feet? I can share them with my buddies after our biggest adventures.

Pre and Post

Photograph: Kristin Canning

Another cool aspect of the Hyperboots is the fact that you can wear them while you warm up for a sport, using the heat and compression to relax and knead your muscles into a flexible, less injury-prone state. I tried this a few times pre-run, and while I enjoyed the feeling and noticed a slight benefit (feeling more warmed up for my run with less effort), I definitely enjoy them more for post-workout recovery. They don’t fit me very well, so I couldn't wear them for a whole dynamic warm-up with track drills, though they worked fine for walking around the house before I changed into my running shoes.

When they’re not turned on—and therefore not slightly inflated—the Hyperboots feel pretty clunky. They slid around on my feet. The part of the shoe above the mid foot, where the Velcro wrap opens up, also chafes. I wish they came in more sizes so I could get a better fit, and likely, an even better massage. With the chunky heels extending far past my ankle, they also look a bit ridiculous. Not that that really matters, but I’d be more inclined to wear them around in the real world if I could get a slightly smaller size. When people with bigger feet wear them, I think they look cool.

If you struggle with foot and ankle injuries or mobility, the Hyperboots could really upgrade your warm-up and recovery game. Overall, they just feel good. And if you’re a high-level athlete, having the latest recovery devices in your arsenal can really make a difference in terms of injury prevention and training and competition performance.

For the average person, these probably won’t lead to a huge shift in how you train or race or play your sport of choice, but they certainly won’t hurt. It just comes down to whether you want to drop $900 for a recovery tool. If being able to take care of your feet without slowing down is a priority, the Hyperboots could be worth it. Either way, I’m excited to see what Nike and Hyperice do with future iterations. The Hyperboots are just one aspect of a really cool and innovative sector of the recovery industry that lets you seamlessly integrate your rehab tools into your life.