Nike's latest sports shoe may look a bit unorthodox, but its hands-free design could be a game changer for those in a hurry to get out the door and for athletes with disabilities for whom traditional shoelace, zipper, and fastening systems are problematic.

The Nike GO FlyEase will first be available to Nike members in "limited quantities" on an invitation-only basis beginning February 15, followed by a general release later in the year. Whenever available for purchase, they will cost $120.

"Designing for the most extreme needs benefits everyone," explained Sarah Reinertsen, a Paralympic athlete who helped design FlyEase. If the shoe works for someone without hands, it should work for someone with two hands."

The method of removing the shoes may look somewhat familiar to those who do not treat their regular running shoes with care. In everyday shoes, this can be detrimental to the material, causing the sole to stretch and the sole to break down over time.

FlyEase, however, is specifically designed for this treatment. Thanks to its flexible sole, it bends in the middle when not in use, but thanks to the outer tension band, it instantly returns to its original shape when the foot is inserted. In the video below, you can see an early prototype with a torn shoe and surgical tubing.

We expect demand for the first lot of invitation-only shoes to be high, in part because the $120 price point is competitive with mid-range running shoes. If the Nike GO FlyEase provides the same enjoyable experience after wearing them, the company may have a hard time keeping the shoe in stock after the invite-only period ends.