Nike Mind 001 and 002 Mule and Sneaker On-Foot Review

With the Nike Mind 001 and 002, Nike is now in the neuroscience game.

Its first foray into “mind altering” footwear comes by way of a pair of mules (the Mind 001) and a matching sneaker (the Mind 002), that aim to “help you feel calm, focused, and present.” I spent 48 hours alternating between the Mind 001 and the Mind 002, commuting in the sneaker and walking around the office in the mules. Are you supposed to spend that much time wearing this tech? Almost certainly not. But this is what sneaker journalism is all about, right?

One thing that I feel responsible to be clear on here is that I am by no means the target demographic for this technology. I’m not a professional athlete, and I’m not someone who is interested in mindfulness, meditation, and other practices like that. But I am someone that appreciates when a brand like Nike takes a swing like this. It nailed the marketing on the Mind collection and the footwear went completely viral.

On Nike’s site, the 001s are listed as “pregame mules,” which is interesting to me as I’d imagine a product like this being more geared towards recovery. According to Nike’s news site, “The Mind 001 and Mind 002 are the first innovations born from Nike’s Mind Science Department, a cutting-edge group within the Nike Sport Research Lab that’s deepening Nike’s understanding of the mind-body connection. Leveraging one of the very few mobile brain and body imaging labs in the world, the Mind Science Department’s neuroscientists study the nervous system, brain activity and cognition of athletes in motion—leading to unique insights informing a completely new category of products and services to help athletes better prepare, train, compete and recover.” With that being the case, I can definitely see a world in which someone finishes up a game or an intense workout, puts on a pair of the Mind slides, and feels relief.

I’m not going to tell you whether or not you should buy the Mind 001 or the Mind 002, but hopefully what you’ll read below will help inform your decision. Here’s a full review of the Nike Mind 001 and 002.

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Nike Mind 001 and 002: The Feel

Without a doubt, you feel it. The issue is I’m not really 100% certain this is a good thing, at least not for me. Pretty much every step you take, you feel the nodes on the bottom of your feet. It kind of feels like a foot massage, but it’s just not necessarily a very good one. To my surprise, the nodes stop at the toe on both the slide and the sneaker, with the undertoe area feeling flat. The pressure points are more prominent on the 002 than on the 001, and I suspect that’s due to the tighter fit.

The mules themselves are definitely comfortable when you take them at face value. I was able to walk around the office in them easily without them falling off or feeling like I didn’t have support, not something you can say for every slide or mule.

Nike Mind 001 and 002: The Look

This is the strong suit of Nike’s Mind collection. From looks alone, the Mind 001 and 002 are very cool. Before I got my hands on my pairs, I saw someone on my plane home from Portland (I’m sure he worked for Nike) wearing the 002 and they caught my eye immediately. Wearing the slides around the office, I couldn’t get very far without someone stopping me to ask about them. I’m sure you’ve seen the memes comparing the 001 to a Cybertruck, and there’s something correct about that.

Nike Mind is a futuristic product. A Cybertruck comp might not have the most positive connotation, but in this case, it works. While the 002 isn’t nearly as futuristic looking as the slide, it carries a familiar Nike aesthetic, living somewhere between the Spiridon and Metcon family.

Nike Mind 001 and 002: The Price

The Nike Mind 001 will run you $95. Compared to other footwear in Nike’s mule arsenal, that sits around the middle of the pack. ReactX Rejuven8 mules go for $75, the Nike ACG Rufus is listed at $115, and the Nike Calm comes in at $65. On the other hand, the 002 retails for $145. This is standard these days for both lifestyle sneakers and middle-of-the-road performance footwear. The Pegasus 41 and Air Max 1 are both listed for the same price, while higher-end performance models like the Vomero Plus come in at $180. Don’t be deterred by the price of the Mind 001 and 002, they’re very reasonable when compared to similar options.

Nike Mind 001 and 002: The Fit

A lot of what I’ve already read or seen online is that both the 001 and the 002 fit a bit snug, and that you should size up. Since they only come in full sizes, I wouldn’t recommend that. Sure, if you’re a half-sizer already, definitely round up, but as a true size 12, that’s definitely the size I’d recommend. I think the intention is for the sneakers and slides to fit snug. If they were loose, it’d be more difficult to feel the impact of the nodes on your feet.

Nike Mind 001 and 002: The Verdict

I’m not here to tell you that Nike’s new mind technology is in fact “mind altering,” but I can tell you that it certainly made me more aware of my feet. It’s too soon to tell if there are any substantial long term benefits, but if awareness is what Nike was going for, mission accomplished. If you’re in the market for a pair of slides or a mule to kick around the house or the office, the Nike Mind 001 is a great option. They’re slightly on the expensive side of that market, but relatively affordable by today’s standards, plus they’re trendy and good looking. The Mind 002 is a bit of a harder sell for me. Again, I’m not totally sure that I wore these with the right intentions, but after two full commutes in them, my feet were a little sore. Its price point is certainly reasonable, and the aesthetic is strong, so it’s a worthwhile experiment if you’re a fan.