I Tried Nike’s Hyperboots to See if They Can Help Me Train. The Results Surprised Me | Prove It

I tried Nike hyperboots to see if they would help me train. The results surprised me | Prove it

Hyperbootsa collaboration between recovery technology specialists Hyperice and Nike, it promises to help athletes improve their warm-up, speed up their recovery, and generally aid their training. The futuristic-looking compression boot debuted at CES and received endorsements from prominent athletes like Olympic sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson and Washington Commanders guard Jayden Daniels.

While I'm by no means a great athlete (I definitely peaked in high school), I do run frequently. I ran mine first marathon last year and I'm currently training for my next race, running 30 to 40 miles a week, and I was very curious to see if this would benefit someone like me.

Warm up using compression and heat.

I'm not a warm-up person and am a bit of a slacker when it comes to preparing my body for running. I usually just run slower for the first three-quarters of a mile or sometimes do some dynamic stretching if I'm feeling a lot of pain.

But to stay warm with Hyperboots, you put them on, secure the Velcro straps, and turn them on. Because they are worn like regular shoes, they allow for movement. However, during testing I just relaxed and let them work on their own.

Hyperboots use a combination of heat and compression, controlled by buttons on the side of each boot with three intensity levels. The Hyperice mobile app gives you more control over your settings and provides information on battery life and session time.

According to Hyperice, heat and compression work together to increase blood flow, relax muscles and prepare tendons for activity. The boots combine heating elements and air chambers for compression in a surprisingly small package, unlike bulkier compression products like the Hyperice Normatec thigh sleeves.

The boots have a heat range of 111 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit and a compression range of 50 to 210 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). While 210 mm Hg. converted to 4 pounds per square inch (psi), measured in mmHg. is standard for wearable compression devices.

The boot covers the entire foot, ankle and Achilles tendon area. I found the warmth to be incredibly relaxing and made me want to wear them around the house even when I wasn't warming up, and the compression felt like a constant, even massage. Although the maximum heat was uncomfortably hot for me, the maximum compression was very pleasant. Hyperice advises against wearing boots barefoot and recommends wearing long athletic socks. My preferred settings were medium heat and medium compression.

A standard session lasts 15 minutes and is adjusted 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.

Evidence supports the benefits of warming up

One of the purposes of Hyperboots is to aid in warming up, and in my testing they were very effective. I immediately noticed a difference on my first run after wearing them; My entire lower body, not just the areas covered by boots, felt freer, lighter and more ready for action.

I have a history of plantar fasciitis in my right foot. Although this is no longer a major problem, thanks to physical therapy, I sometimes experience a little discomfort in the first three to five minutes of a run while I'm warming up. When I put the Hyperboots on to warm up, my foot immediately felt great.

(Note: Hyperboots are not intended to treat any specific injuries; this is purely my experience.)

After a few weeks of testing, I started taking a closer look at my Garmin data to see if there was anything that would indicate a change from wearing the Hyperboots, and I was actually quite surprised to see that it did.

For example, on a run where I wasn't wearing them, it took me about four minutes to reach my average heart rate for that run. In a comparable run where I wore the boots, it took me half the time to reach my average heart rate. Both races took place over the same distance, over the same terrain, at approximately the same pace and at the same time, and the weather conditions were similar.

These data are consistent across many different runs, but in these two the differences were most dramatic.

Obviously, this isn't as conclusive as a lab test because there are many factors that go into running metrics: slight differences in air temperature or sleep quality can affect your heart rate. But the data shows a clear benefit to warming up, beyond the subjective feeling of feeling better in Hyperboots before a run.

Recovery and training

Hyperloading is also recommended for recovery: the recommended procedure consists of one session before and one after the activity. My Garmin watch provides recovery metrics that include activity, heart rate variability, and sleep quality to determine the recovery time needed. The use of Hyperboots did not affect this figure. I didn't expect this to happen, but it was worth checking out.

While I lack hard data, based on how I felt after a 15-minute post-run workout, I believe they help recovery. Training for a marathon often requires logging miles day after day. For me, Hyperboots help me feel better before and after my runs, potentially resulting in a 10-20% improvement in how I feel the next day, which in turn makes me more ready and able to keep racking up the miles.

So while there is no data to support that they help recovery like I have found for warm ups, I think based on what I feel they do benefit recovery.

The portable design, which was a key reason for the collaboration with Nike, is also a major benefit for workouts, making it easier for users to take the boots with them to the treadmill or the gym. This flexibility improves learning.

I was initially expecting poor battery life due to the compact design as I had them die during a recovery session early on. However, once fully charged, the boots lasted a full 90 minutes of use on medium settings. This means they can work reliably for at least two days without recharging.

Charging is a bit of an issue as the boots need to be charged individually, although the Hyperice includes a charging brick and two cables. I would appreciate more accurate battery indicators, perhaps showing percentages in the app.

Ultimately, do they help with learning? I think better warm-up and recovery should lead to better overall fitness, and the portable design and battery life ensure they can be used anytime, anywhere. While Hyperboots won't make anyone a professional athlete, if you're serious about your sport, especially running, you can reap more benefits. I think that for a person who runs frequently and strives to run at least one marathon a year, the benefits are real.

Hyperboots aren't cheap: a pair costs $900. However, considering that a pair of high-quality long-distance racing shoes like the Nike Alphafly 3s costs around $300, the price may not be as high as it seems at first glance. I believe that Hyperboots live up to their claims and provide tangible benefits to athletes, but the final decision as to whether the benefits are worth the money is up to you.