Nike Shox Athletic Shoes

Shox is technology developed by Nike, Inc. and incorporated into several of their flagship athletic shoes. Shox are small columns that make up the midsole of the shoe. They are mostly made of rubber. There are many different formations that Shox come in, but they usually come with four circular columns in a square formation for maximum cushioning. There can also be five or six Shox that vary in height, and triangular and rectangular Shox that provide better stability. Some shoes have midsoles made entirely of Shox, like the TL series.

The first shoes to use the Shox technology were introduced in late 2000, the R4 runner, the BB4 basketball shoe, and the XT4 cross-training shoe.

Nike claims that Shox not only absorb impact from heel strike while running; they also "spring back" and add more power to a runner's stride.

Hugh Laurie of Fox's "House" is said to have 37 pairs of size 12 1/2 Shox that he wears on the show, and off set.

Athletes that are notable for wearing shoes with Shox technology include Vince Carter, Jermaine O'Neal, David M. West, Carlos Boozer and Imran Halim. Some of Nike's best selling shoes include Shox, like the Shox NZ and Shox Turbo, which still release in different colors. These shoes can be found for customization on NikeID, Nike's online shoe customizing site. There are numerous options like different colors and materials for the Shox, along with custom tags on them.

On February 17 2006, BBC News reports that Nike has filed a patent infringement suit against rival Adidas, claiming that a range of their trainers replicate its technology.