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Nike will sell the self-lacing sneakers from Back to the Future in 2016

Nike will sell the self-lacing sneakers from Back to the Future in 2016

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Michael J. Fox is getting the first pair today

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Of all the technological innovations promised by Back to the Future II, two are most desired: the hoverboard, and self-lacing shoes. While the former is still only in prototype form (despite what some might say), it seems like we might be getting a pair of the latter sooner rather than later. Today, on the semi-official Back to The Future Day — Doc Brown famously punched October 21st into his time-traveling Delorean Robert Zemeckis' sequel — Nike has officially unveiled the real-life shoe and given Back to The Future II star Michael J. Fox the first pair of its self-lacing MAG shoes.

"We’re now proud to turn that fiction into fact."

In a letter Fox posted on Twitter, legendary Nike designer Tinker Hatfield said, "Although the project started as science fiction, we’re now proud to turn that fiction into fact." Hatfield says more pairs will be released in 2016 with proceeds from the auction going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which conducts research on Parkinson's Disease. Nike auctioned the last Air Mag release (without the self-lacing technology) back in 2011, and gave the proceeds to the Michael J. Fox Foundation as well.

The foundation posted videos to its Twitter and Facebook accounts of Fox wearing the Nike Mags.

Michael J. Fox models the first self-lacing Nike Mags.

Michael J. Fox models the first self-lacing Nike MAG.

Posted by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research on Wednesday, October 21, 2015

"We hope that the combined effort will raise even more than the $9.4 million collected in 2011 and contribute in some way to eliminating Parkinson’s Disease in our lifetime!" Hatfield concluded.

Nike officially announced the shoe on its website this afternoon, with CEO Mark Parker stating that it had invented "a new technology that will benefit all athletes." Nike says it has begun testing the "power laces" as they have been dubbed, across multiple sports for potential application in the future. Official details of the auctions will be posted on Nike's Twitter handle in the Spring.

Nike Mags
Animation: Nike

Hatfield first indicated that the company was working on sneakers sporting the "power lace" technology in February last year. In January this year, the shoemaker again indicated that the Air Mags were in development, and would see release before the end of 2015. Yesterday, Nike tweeted directly at BttF star Michael J. Fox, who first wore the shoes while reprising his role as Marty McFly, promising that it would "see him tomorrow."

Updated, 4:40PM ET: Updated to add the video of Michael J. Fox modeling the sneakers.

Updated, 5:15PM ET: Updated with Nike's official announcement.