The key to this model is that it is designed to be used off the pitch, to prepare the mind for the match, and although this may sound like science fiction, the Nike Lab has managed to develop it.
To start with, the mules themselves have nodes on the sole that make contact with the foot; according to studies carried out by Nike using electroencephalograms on athletes, the pressure exerted by these nodes on specific points activates sensory areas of the brain and alters alpha waves. This helps to reduce mental noise, alleviate pre-competition nerves and promote mindfulness.
Moreover, they have 22 independent nodes, anatomically mapped onto the plantar mechanoreceptors. These act as actuators that contract and connect the foot to the ground without the wearer actually feeling the ground.
As a result, they are designed to be a comfortable, all-purpose footwear, suitable for the moments leading up to a match; they have no laces or any other features that exert pressure, apart from the nodes.
Flip-flops Mind 001 Black-Chrome-Hyper Crimson-White
Here are the new mules from Nike – a brilliant new release that highlights an aspect we often overlook before a match: maintaining mental focus, which is often far more important than anything else.
