Sportswear brand Reebok has launched a range of running shoes that shrink to fit the wearer's foot when heated with a hairdryer.
Reebok's RealFlex U-FORM+ shoe is heated with a hairdryer for two minutes until the logo on the back turns from black to red. The hot shoe is then laced tightly around the foot and left to cool for two minutes while the wearer sits still.
A synthetic mesh layer inside the upper shrinks as it cools to mould exactly to the contours of the skin, starting in the middle of the foot and wrapping around the heel.
The material replaces normal lining in the shoe so it doesn't add any extra weight and perforations in the mesh mean it's breathable. Reebok says the shoes can be reheated and reformed many times over without losing effectiveness.
"For top athletes we make custom-formed shoes," says Bill McInnis, head of Reebok Advanced Concepts. "With U-FORM+ we're going to do that for everyone."
Other innovative sports shoes on Dezeen include trainers with criss-crossing bands inspired by Chinese finger traps, football boots with 3D-printed studs and shoes with cables round them that tighten on impact.
See all our stories about shoes »
See all our stories about sportswear »
