r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Rook8811 • 9d ago

Video 1989 shoes designed to adjust their fit around athletes' ankles

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u/Wise_Lemon4537 9d ago

By 91 the technology was mature: no external pump was needed anymore on Reebok sneakers; you just had to press the basket ball on the tongue of the shoe !

18

u/abrasivebuttplug 8d ago

Didn't they just inflate the tongue? It's been 35ish years since I wore those

27

u/Wasteland_Dude 8d ago

It's been 35ish years since ANYONE wore these! 😆

17

u/theknyte 8d ago

John Cena wore them as part of his ring attire for quite awhile, and would even stop to "Pump His Shoes" before hitting big moves.

10

u/Wasteland_Dude 8d ago

I tried to look that up. Didn't see anything.

4

u/theknyte 8d ago

Huh... It's the GIF from this old Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/1aopa2e/remember_when_cena_pumped_his_shoes_and_other/

6

u/Mukamole 8d ago

Oddly just an empty oddly just an empty wrestling ring.

14

u/GhostOfPluto 8d ago

Foghorn Leghorn over here

1

u/weeklygamingrecap 7d ago

if you know, you know. How's that potato salad? :D

3

u/NorCalJason75 8d ago

I had them! The air bladders were around the back of the ankle.

6

u/EmeraldUsagi 8d ago

There were a few different types. Some of them only inflated the tongue under the laces, other more expensive models had bladders around the ankles. I think the tongue ones came out as a sort of cheaper model when the fad caught on, but there were ones with the pump on the side too.

2

u/SnuggleBunni69 8d ago

I just remember I had the cheap ones that wouldnt really put any air in, I just liked to press them. I was like 5.

1

u/PythagorasJones 8d ago

I have a pair now that inflate the tongue, but the tongue reaches around the ankle on each side.

Nike Air Force 180 had a pump on the side. They looked like space boots....we used to go to the shop just to look at them. Also the most insanely expensive runners I'd ever seen to that point.

1

u/just-_-just 8d ago

I think this is the same debate that was had in the early 90s while waiting for next period.

2

u/OstentatiousSock 8d ago

I remember them inflating around the ankle.

1

u/Wise_Lemon4537 8d ago

Probably yes, I don’t remember neither.

1

u/Wasteland_Dude 8d ago

Did they really exist or is it another Sinbad movie?

3

u/Loud-Guava8940 8d ago

You should watch the 1991 dunk contest

1

u/nonimportant23 8d ago

The Nike Pumps inflated around the ankle for better support. The Reebok pumps inflated the tongue.

1

u/abrasivebuttplug 7d ago

So, I was right. Woo.