What price for a trainer that will tie its own laces? £272

NIKE has developed a pair of self-lacing trainers that are controlled via a smartphone app.

The company yesterday announced its new Nike Adapt BB shoes, which automatically adjust their fit around the wearer’s feet.

An app works alongside the shoes via Bluetooth, while the shoes are wirelessly charged through the soles and an accompanying wireless charging pad. Nike said the battery in the shoes will

‘There’s little things day to day that are a struggle ... Putting shoes on, socks on, things like that’

last for 10 to 14 days on a single charge. The shoes, which will go on sale worldwide on Feb 17 for $350 (£272), will be showcased in two basketball games taking place today.

Nike said it plans to launch further self-lacing shoes later this year. Although advertised as “self-lacing”, they aren’t tied with a typical bow, but rather the trainer tightens around the foot.

Self-lacing shoes are useful for athletes looking for a precise fit on their shoes, as well as people who may find tying their shoelaces difficult.

The emergence of self-lacing shoes could help professional sportsmen such as Sir Andy Murray, who this week admitted he was in so much pain due to an ongoing hip injury that he was struggling to lace up his trainers.

Murray faces imminent retirement from the sport because of the pain, although he still hopes to play at Wimbledon.

“There’s little things day to day that are also a struggle and it’d be nice to be able to do them without any pain,” he said. “Putting shoes on, socks on, things like that,” he said.