Nike : Flywire

Flywire is a revolutionary support material on the upper of a sports shoe, designed to support the movement of the foot in the shoe. To achieve this, Flywire wires are precisely positioned where the shoe is most under pressure.

The Flywire threads are embedded in the outsole to ensure optimum support, like the cables that support a suspension bridge, as Nike explains. Flywire is composed of Vectran filaments, an ultra-resistant material that is flexible enough to be sewn onto the upper of a pair of shoes, providing comfort, support and lightness. This technology can be found in many of the brand's models, whether for running, golf, soccer or basketball.

The first pair of sneakers to feature Flywire was the Nike Hyperdunk in 2008, and since then it's been found on many of Nike's signature models. The advantage of this technology in basketball is that the Flyknit threads wrap the foot in the shoe, providing excellent support and optimal response to changes in direction, not to mention the comfort provided by the lightness of these filaments.

Flywire can be found on many new models, such as the Nike Kobe 11, Nike KD 8, Nike LeBron 13, Nike LeBron Zoom Soldier and Nike Hyperdunk 2016.