K-Swiss is debuting the first "performance" sneaker made specifically for gaming, filling a gap in the market that I, in my ignorance, was not aware needed filling.
Appropriately dubbed the ONE-TAP, this new shoe is extremely lightweight and features slip-on construction for maximum comfort. To create the shoe, K-Swiss designers shadowed IGC Esports players to asses their needs. Requirements for a good gaming shoe would seemingly end at "not making your feet a concern while sitting down and focusing on a screen," a bar that K-Swiss' latest offering certainly surpasses.
The ONE-TAP's heel is foldable, allowing its wearer to rock it like a slide. A ‘Flow Cool’ TPU venting unit creates breathability suited for rooms that are warm. Should the room prove cold, wearers can cover up the vents with a second wool in-sole, like a football player wearing sleeves when Lambeau Field becomes the Frozen Tundra.
“For players to perform their best, they must look and feel their best,” K- Barney Waters, President of K-Swiss. “In the esports world, this is no exception as physical and psychological preparation breeds excellence in performance, exactly what the ONE-TAPoffers.”
If regular old sneakers or slides weren't living up to those physical and psychological stresses before, those dark days may be behind us for good.
The first iteration is a limited-edition drop for MIBR, GC Esports’ elite Counter-Strike: Global Offensive brand. You can buy it here for $125. For more in gaming, check out the best releases of July.