Riding High: Nike's Covetable Riding Boots

You'll want to expand your viewing schedule to include the equestrian events at this summer's Beijing Olympics—but not so much for the sport as for the high-tech riding boots that Nike will debut.

At the Nike Innovation Summit at the company's Oregon headquarters this week, several cutting-edge products are being previewed. Thanks to their new performance innovation technology, you'll soon be familiar with terms like "Flywire," a support system based on threading, and "Lunar Foam," a super-lightweight padding. However, from a pure fashion hybrid perspective, we forecast that the new riding boot, the Ippeas, will have a unique crossover appeal.

Similar to how Nike's golf gear changed the landscape of footwear on the green, the Ippeas is set to have a major impact on equestrian styling. A big departure from the typical stiff, knee-high boots that require a pull-and-drag strategy to get on, the Ippeas is constructed out of leather and rubber (with metal spurs) and has a revolutionary diagonal zipper for easy booting. But it also looks like the kind of stylish and comfortable boot you might wear to the office or to trudge through winter snow. We envision the Ippeas being donned by riders and urban style warriors alike.

—Jason Campbell