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Hyperbota collaboration between recovery technology company Hyperice and Nike, which promises to help athletes improve their warm-ups, enhance recovery and generally help with training. Introduced at CES last January, the futuristic-looking compression shoes have been endorsed by high-profile athletes like Olympic runner Shakari Richardson and Washington Commanders player Jayden Daniels.
Although I’m not a huge athlete by any means — I definitely peaked in high school — I do run frequently. I ran my own First marathon last year I am currently training for the next phase, running between 30 and 40 miles a week. I was really curious to see if these could benefit a hobbyist like me.
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Warm up with pressure and heat
I’m not a fan of warming up, and I’m a bit of a slacker when it comes to preparing my body for running. I usually run the first three-quarters of a mile slower or sometimes do a dynamic stretch if I’m in too much pain.
But to warm up with Hyperboots, you have to put them on, secure the Velcro straps, and turn them on. Since they are worn like regular shoes, they allow for movement. However, for testing, I just sat back and let them get to work.
Hyperboots use a combination of heat and pressure, controlled by buttons on the side of each shoe, with three levels of intensity. The Hyperice mobile app allows more precise control of settings and provides information about battery life and session times.
According to Hypress, heat and pressure work together to increase blood flow and relax muscles and tendons essential for activity. The shoes combine heating elements and air bladders for compression into a surprisingly small package, unlike larger compression products like the Hyperice Normatec leg sleeves.
The shoes have a temperature range of 111 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure range of 50 to 210 mmHg. While 210 mmHg converts to 4 psi, the mmHg measurement is the standard for wearable compression devices.
The shoe wraps around the entire foot, ankle and Achilles area. I found the heat incredibly comfortable, making me want to wear it around the house, even when I wasn’t warming up for something, and the pressure felt like a firm, even massage. While the maximum heat was uncomfortably hot for me, the maximum pressure was very pleasant. Hyperice advises against wearing barefoot shoes and recommends wearing long athletic socks. My preferred setting has become medium heat and medium pressure.
The standard session lasts 15 minutes and can be modified in five-minute increments. The experience was so enjoyable that I often added an extra five minutes because I didn’t want it to end.
Data supports the benefits of warming up
One of the purposes of Hyperboots is to help with warm-ups, and in my testing, they were very effective. I noticed an immediate difference on my first run after wearing it; I felt like my entire lower body, not just the areas covered by the shoe, felt more flexible, lighter, and ready for action.
I have a history of plantar fasciitis in my right foot. Although it is no longer a big problem, thanks to physical therapy, I sometimes feel slight discomfort in the first five minutes of running during the warm-up. When I wore the Hyperboots to warm up, my feet felt great right from the start. (Note: Hyperboots are not intended to treat any specific injury; this is just my experience.)
After several weeks of testing, I started examining my Garmin data more closely to see if there was anything indicating a change from wearing the Hyperboots, and I was really surprised to see that.
For example, while running without these bands on, it took me about four minutes to reach my average heart rate for that run. On a similar run where I wore the shoes, it took half the time to reach my average heart rate. Both runs were the same distance, over the same terrain, at roughly the same speed, at the same time, and weather conditions were similar.
Without warming up Hyperboot
With Hyperboot warm-up.
This data is consistent across many different runs, but in these two runs, the difference was very stark.
Obviously, this isn’t as conclusive as a lab test because a lot of things go into running metrics: slight differences in air temperature or sleep quality can affect heart rate. But the data suggests a clear benefit to warming up as well as subjectively feeling better when wearing Hyperboots before a run.
Recovery and training
Hyperboots are also promoted for recovery, with the suggested routine being one session before and one after activity. My Garmin watch provides a recovery metric that includes activity, heart rate variability, and sleep quality to determine the necessary recovery hours. Using Hyperboots did not affect this metric. I didn’t expect that to happen, but it was worth checking out.
Although I lack solid data, based on how I felt after a 15-minute post-run session, I think it helps with recovery. As a marathon runner, training often requires logging miles day after day. For me, Hyperboots make me feel better before and after a run, resulting in feeling 10% to 20% better the next day, which in turn makes me more prepared and able to keep logging miles.
So, although there is no data showing that they help with recovery like I found with warm-ups, I think, based on how I feel, that they do have a benefit for recovery.
The portable design, one of the main reasons for the collaboration with Nike, is also an important training asset, allowing users to more easily take the shoes to the track or gym. This flexibility enhances training.
I was initially expecting poor battery life due to the compact design, as they died on me during an early recovery session. However, after a full charge, the shoes lasted a full 90 minutes of use on the medium setting. This indicates that it can reliably last for at least two days of sessions before needing to be charged.
Charging is a minor hassle as the shoes must be charged individually, although the Hyperice includes a charging brick and two cables. I would appreciate more accurate battery indicators, and perhaps a display of percentages in the app.
Finally, do they help with training? I believe a better warm-up and recovery should lead to better overall training, and the portable design and battery life ensure it can be used whenever and wherever needed. While Hyperboots won’t turn anyone into a professional athlete, if you’re serious about your sport, especially running, you may find more benefits. For someone who runs frequently and aims to complete at least one marathon per year, I think the benefits are real.
Hyperboots aren’t cheap, at $900 a pair. However, considering that a pair of high-end racing shoes, like the Nike Alphafly 3s, costs around $300, the price may not be as extreme as it first appears. I think Hyperboots lives up to their claims and provides tangible benefits to athletes, but the final decision on whether this feature is worth the price is up to you.