Nike Shox

Shox Shos is technology developed by Nike and incorporated into several of their flagship athletic shoes. Shox are small hollow columns that make up the midsole of the shoe. They are mostly made of rubber, these being those which are actually called Shox. There are many different formations that Shox come in, but they usually come with four circular columns in a square formation for maximum cushioning. There can also be five or six Shox, 2.5 cm high, though they may vary in height, and triangular and rectangular Shox that provide better stability. Some shoes have midsoles made entirely of Shox, like the TL series.

The first shoes to use the Shox technology were introduced in late 2000, the R4 runner, the BB4 basketball shoe, and the XT4 cross-training shoe.

Nike claims that Shox not only absorb impact from heel strike while running; they also "spring back" and add more power to a runner's stride. Aside from the boost in speed, the Shox also provides superior shock absorption with high-tech elastic foam.[1]

The newer Shox series is compatible with Nike+ technology. The Nike Shox Saya+ is the most recent Shox with this feature.

The new Nike Shox Q'Vida Hi - Women's is a new "dance boot" style of Shox.

Actor Hugh Laurie of Fox's House is said to have 37 pairs of size 12 1/2 Shox that he wears on the show and off set.

Athletes that are notable for wearing shoes with Shox technology include Vince Carter, Jermaine O'Neal, David M. West and Carlos Boozer. Some of Nike’s best selling shoes include Shox, like the Shox NZ and Shox Turbo, which are available in different colors. These shoes can be found for customization on NikeID, Nike's online shoe customizing site. There are numerous options like different colors and materials for the Shox, along with custom tags.

On February 17 2006, BBC News reported that Nike had filed a patent infringement suit against rival Adidas, claiming that a range of their trainers replicated its technology.[2]

1984

The first Shox prototype was inspired by an exceptionally springy indoor running track at Harvard. The prototype looked more like a medieval torture device called The Boot and performed much the same way. This first Shox prototype was used to find the optimal spring rate but its clumsy and heavy metal frame did little to improve performance.

1984-1986

Based on the information extracted from its predecessor, the section prototype of the Nike Shox line was a scaled down, more stable shoe that used a leaf shaped spring to provide the optimal spring earlier determined by the prototype. While easier on the eyes with good cushioning, it lacked stability and durability.

1986

The third attempt at Shox produced a simpler, more attractive cushioning system that utilized a closed leaf shaped spring but still disappointed in durability, comfort, and stability.

1987

The next generation Shox prototype attempted to solve the problem of durability and stability by replacing the closed leaf spring with a hinged carbon fiber shell, creating something that looked like a running shoe on a diving board. This breed of spring failed to provide enough resistance on impact.

1990

A few years later and still a decade from launching the Shox shoe line, Nike tests the first shoes that are a recognizable ancestor of the modern Shox. By integrating the stability of the spring plate from the previous designs with injection-molded support columns, Nike finally made progress in the creation of Shox technology.

1997-1998

New, high tech, high durability materials made the leaf spring obsolete and brought about the current form for Nike Shox: four cushioning columns between two resilient plates. The result is an effective cushioning system with a high energy return.

2001

Nike releases the first Shox based shoe.

2004

The release of two popular Shox basketball shoes, the Nike Shox Explosive and the Nike Shox Elevate. The Shox VC IV, Shox signature shoe for Vince Carter, is also released.

2008

Some of the new Shox are compatible with the Nike+iPod feature, particularly the Nike Shox Saya.