In the realm of iconic film memorabilia, few items carry as much cultural significance as the shoes featured in the “Back to the Future” franchise. From their distinctive design to their connection with time travel, these sneakers have captured the hearts of fans worldwide.
The Nike Mag, also known as the “Back to the Future” sneaker, holds a special place in pop culture and its influence extends beyond the film industry. With its connection to Marty McFly and the time-traveling adventures, the style represents a nostalgic link to a beloved film franchise and resonates with those who grew up with the movies.
Created by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Galehe, “Back to the Future” blended elements of fashion and film, showcasing how sneakers can play a pivotal role in character development and storytelling. The influence of the franchise on sneaker culture highlights the interplay between the worlds of film and fashion, demonstrating the impact that iconic sneakers can have in shaping both industries.
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The franchise’s impact on sneaker culture is undeniable. From its iconic sneaker design to its influence on innovation, nostalgia, limited releases and the merging of film and fashion, the franchise has left an indelible mark on the sneaker industry, serving as a constant source of inspiration for designers and enthusiasts alike.
Join us on a journey through the history of “Back to the Future” shoes, exploring their name, release dates, notable designs, price ranges and the various iterations that have enchanted sneaker enthusiasts for decades.
What Are the “Back to the Future” Shoes Called?
Designed to emulate the futuristic sneakers donned by the film’s protagonist, Marty McFly, the Nike Mag’s name derives from the word “magnetic,” referring to their self-lacing feature that captivated audiences’ imaginations.
These shoes showcase an electroluminescent outsole, cutting-edge materials and an internal battery that can last up to an impressive 3,000 hours. Notably, they are also the first rechargeable footwear created by Nike.
Although the power laces featured in the film are absent, Nike acknowledged their inspiration from the movie in a statement regarding the shoes.
When Did the “Back to the Future” Shoes Come Out?
The initial appearance of the Nike Mag in “Back to the Future Part II,” featuring their remarkable self-lacing technology, fascinated audiences in 1989.
After more than 15 years, a petition calling for the revival of the iconic shoes caught the attention of Tinker Hatfield and Tiffany Beers, renowned figures in the world of footwear design. Over approximately six years, the duo worked tirelessly on the redesign, facing multiple restarts along the way. The result was a remarkable replica of the 1989 Nike Mag worn by Marty McFly.
What Shoes Were in “Back to the Future”?
While the Nike Mag is the most famous footwear associated with Back to the Future, several other notable shoes appear in the franchise.
In the first film, Marty McFly sports a pair of white and red Nike Bruin sneakers. Before donning his legendary self-lacing Nike Mags, Marty sported a classic Nike Bruin colorway. This iteration showcases a pristine white full-grain leather upper, deviating from the usual suede upper and autoclave outsole. The design highlights a Gym Red Swoosh and heel patch, adding a pop of vibrant color to the overall aesthetic.
Then, there was Doc Brown, who opted for the Nike Vandal High, a basketball sneaker that remains fresh even after all these years. Despite being overshadowed by Nike’s more popular high-top models like the iconic Nike Air Force 1, the Vandal has its own devoted following. Loved for its unique blend of sports and streetwear aesthetics, this underrated sneaker offers a nostalgic yet progressive appeal that resonates with sneaker enthusiasts and streetwear aficionados alike.
The latest release, affectionately known as the “Doc Brown,” pays homage to the iconic character with its vibrant orange canvas upper, clean white soles, and matching ankle strap.
How Much Are the “Back to the Future” Shoes?
The price of the Nike Mag varies significantly due to their limited availability and desirability. The 2011 release of a non-self-lacing version of the Nike Mag, limited to only 1,500 pairs, auctioned for incredible prices, with proceeds benefiting the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
The 2016 release of the self-lacing Nike Mag set a new standard, with only 89 pairs produced and auctioned off, fetching incredibly high bids, often surpassing $100,000.
How Many “Back to the Future Shoes” Are There?
Throughout the years, Nike has produced various versions of the Nike Mag sneakers. The 2011 release featured a replica version without the self-lacing technology, limited to 1,500 pairs. In 2016, Nike unveiled the highly anticipated self-lacing Nike Mag, limited to 89 pairs.
Additionally, Nike created a limited-edition Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 inspired by the Nike Mag’s self-lacing feature, providing a more accessible option for fans eager to experience futuristic footwear.
From the silver screen to the hands of dedicated collectors, the legacy of Back to the Future shoes has left an indelible mark on popular culture. The Nike Mag’s futuristic design and self-lacing functionality have captivated audiences and sneaker enthusiasts alike.
As the years pass, the timeless allure of these iconic shoes continues to transcend time, reminding us of the power of imagination, innovation and the magic that can be found within a pair of sneakers.
A Timeline of the Nike MAGs
- 2011
On Sept. 6, 2011, the sneaker giant teased the film’s Nike MAGs release by publishing a video of Marty McFly’s closet; viewers could see thousands of pairs of shoes lined up on the shelves. The long-coveted sneakers were almost within grasp for sneakerheads worldwide.
After the teaser video on Sept. 8, 2011, Nike announced that 1,500 shoe pairs would be auctioned off on eBay, an e-commerce platform. Proceeds from the auction were donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. During the auction, sneakers were auctioned off at around $2,300.00 for a size 7 to $9,959.00 for a size 10. According to Nice Kicks, a retail platform, the auction raised $5,695,190.53 over the 10 days the auction took place.
To celebrate the sneakers’ initial release, “Community” actor Joel McHale hosted a “Back to the Future” event at the historic Hollywood theater, The Montalbán Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Sneakerheads, industry creatives, and actors from the film like Christopher Lloyd, who famously played Doc Brown, attended the event. A pair of Nike MAGs signed by Michael J. Fox were auctioned off during the event.
- 2016
Five years later, Nike released an improved version of the “Back to the Future” shoe. The 2016 Back to the Future Shoes would rival the fictional 1989 shoes in terms of technology; Nike had cracked the self-lacing code. Just a year off from the sneaker’s fictional 2015 appearance, the Nike team and the shoe’s former product lead, Beers, had successfully created a sneaker with “power laces.” The company had produced a sneaker that could sense a wearer’s motion and then adapt the fit accordingly.
Nike released 89 pairs of the sneaker, the Nike MAGs Hyperadapt 1.0, with a pair reserved for Michael J. Fox, of course. Following the last release of the Nike MAGs, the sneaker company once again partnered with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Customers could score a pair of sneakers through a lottery system, and to enter, sneakerheads could make a $10 donation to the foundation.
A month later, the sneaker company re-released the sneakers to a broader audience, listing the HyperAdapt sneakers at a $720 price tag.
- 2019
Focused on the futuristic technology, Nike then released a 2019 sneaker version with a much lower price tag of $350 to make it more accessible to a wider audience. At the time, the then Nike chief executive officer Mark Parker, who would go on to be replaced by John Donahoe in 2020, believed the self-lacing technology influenced by the MAGs would become the norm for Nike shoes.
The same year, the sneaker giant released a basketball shoe using the Hyperadapt technology as a basis, the Nike Adapt BB. However, the shoe has one feature Marty McFly’s cutting-edge Nike MAGs didn’t have — a user’s smartphone powers them. A player can control how the shoes fit using an app, Nike Adapt, or they can use the two buttons found on the sneakers’ midsole. For $350, basketball players or sneakerheads can step past the technology found in “Back to the Future.”
Where Fans Can Score a Pair of MAGs
From the silver screen to the hands of dedicated collectors, the legacy of Back to the Future shoes has influenced pop culture, fashion and technology, with Nike Mag’s futuristic design captivating film buffs and fashion fans alike.
Those looking to score a pair of Nike MAGs sneakers can find daunting prices on sneaker resale websites like Goat and Farfetch. The former lists a range of sneakers from sizes US men 8 to 12 with prices ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 for a pair. The latter lists a pair of the 2011 Nike MAGs for $38,132 in a men’s size US 9.
As the years pass, the timeless allure of these iconic shoes continues to transcend time, reminding fans how fiction can influence pop culture and technology.
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