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Puma Teases Fi Self-Lacing Shoe

Slated for release in 2020, the Puma Fi features a tiny motor, which powers a cable system that 'laces' the training shoe when you swipe a touch module on the tongue.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Step aside, Nike. Puma on Thursday unveiled its own self-lacing sneaker to compete with the Adapt BB Nike introduced last month.

Puma Fi

Slated for release in 2020, the Puma Fi features a tiny motor, which powers a cable system that "laces" the training shoe when you swipe a touch module on the tongue, Puma said in a news release. And that's not its only trick.

"It comes with a smart sensing capability that learns the shape of the foot of each user and adapts the fit of the shoe to the individual," Puma wrote. "Athletes can also monitor, adjust, and finetune fit through a smartphone app. To make things even more athlete-friendly, users can make on-the-fly adjustments with their Apple Watch."

Check out the video below for a peek at the Puma Fi.

Puma is now seeking "tech-savvy" volunteers to beta test the upcoming shoe and provide feedback about its design, usability, and engineering. Interested individuals can sign up for the Fi beta test program via Puma's Pumatrac app, which is available for iOS and Android.

According to Engadget, the Fi will be priced at $330 when it arrives next year, undercutting Nike's $350 Adapt BB.

Fi isn't the only high-tech Puma shoe to get excited about. The company recently revived a computerized running shoe it first released in 1986 called the RS-Computer, updating it with Bluetooth support and a dedicated app. Getting your hands on the new RS-Computer might be a challenge, however: Puma only plans to release 86 globally, honoring the year they were first released.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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