Honda's Hot Shoe: We Came for the Neoprene Vamp, But We Stayed for the Articulated Nodes

Where do I start?

So, Honda unveiled a shoe yesterday, and it’s the next best thing to owning and driving a 2016 Civic.

At least, that’s what we’re led to believe. The limited edition…shoe…is a collaboration between Honda (maker of 3,000 pound vehicles that can drive places and are way pricier than pants), lifestyle-oriented digital media company Thrillist and menswear company JackThreads.

Yes, it’s called the HT3 Driving Shoe, and it premiered alongside the car that inspired it at a Thrillist-hosted Los Angeles shindig. We can’t confirm rumors that rioting broke out due to shoe anticipation.

While the aneurysm-causing buzzwords “synergy” and “dynamism” are nowhere to be found in Honda’s subsequent announcement, getting through it was no picnic:

“We wanted to create a shoe that’s unlike anything seen before – something that is as comfortable to wear as it is fashion-forward and futuristic,” said Michael Vincent, Senior Buyer, Footwear at JackThreads. “The HT3 is a great versatile sneaker that elevates the basic functionality of the driving shoe and marries the design aesthetic of Honda and JackThreads.”

After digesting that, the lucky people in attendance heard how the new Civic was a “game changer,” as told by senior exterior designer Jarad Hall of Honda R&D Americas.

Now, there are a considerable number of people (mainly men, it would seem) who go gaga over limited edition shoes, often because they plan to re-sell them for a profit. Our own Bark M. is a well-known connoisseur of fine footwear, but it’s doubtful his closet contains suck gimmicky apparel.

The HT3, which undercuts the price of a base Civic by $18,540 and is only available in pairs, isn’t the silliest promotional product developed by an automaker, but it is the latest. Apparently, this ground breaking shoe has a shroud that covers the laces, and reveals — wait for it — a Civic logo when uncovered.

Honda hasn’t said with any certainty whether the shoe can be used to pilot rival vehicles, which is concerning, because no one likes carrying around a bag of shoes like some sort of hobo.

Collectors, be sure to put this one next to your Edsel fallout shelter.

[Image: Honda North America]