Nike ISPA’s futuristic new poncho doubles as a tent

Nike ISPA debuted a new multi-use jacket, and it looks like something straight out of the Dune universe . With its silver hue, gray hood, and armor-like details, the futuristic Nike Metamorph Poncho seems ideal for navigating an alien planet—and, luckily for any intrepid explorers in need of rest, it can also turn into a tent. 



[Photo: Nike]



During rainy hikes, the Metamorph poncho’s water-repellent material keeps the wearer dry, while a series of straps and a main zipper can be adjusted to customize the garment’s coverage. Then, when it’s time for a break, the poncho can be turned into a sunshade (essentially a small tent). Collapsible poles for constructing the structure are stored in the sunshade’s vent cover, which doubles as a bag when it’s not in use. 



[Photo: Nike]



The whole thing is an interesting experiment in sustainable design on a few fronts. First, it’s multi-functional, and designed to reduce the need to buy multiple new products. Second, the majority of its material is upcycled, so its production doesn’t generate a ton of new virgin plastic. (Though the product listing doesn’t include information about what to do with the product at the end of its life.)



[Photo: Nike]



The Metamorph poncho-meets-tent is a product of Nike’s ISPA program, an experimental division of Nike Lab. The acronym stands for the design principles improvise, scavenge, protect, and adapt.



A main aspect of Nike ISPA’s ethos is designing for a circular economy, which includes sourcing sustainable materials and planning for the recycling of used products. The Nike ISPA Link and ISPA Link Axis , for example, are two footwear models that feature interlocking modules which can be disassembled and dropped off at a Nike donation service at the end of their life cycles. Through its Move to Zero program, Nike is aiming to divert 80% of its extended supply chain waste back into the creation of other products by 2025. 



This is part of a broader movement toward circular design across the outdoor gear industry. Patagonia has transitioned to using primarily recycled nylon and polyester, and even made a coat entirely out of trash . The North Face’s Renewed collection features used goods that are refurbished and sold again. Most recently, Freitag released its first fully circular backpack.



At its $600 price point, Nike’s Metamorph poncho isn’t exactly easy on the wallet. But part of that high cost could be attributed to the additional labor required to source the garment’s materials. The poncho’s nylon is made out of 75% recycled fibers, sourced from found materials like old carpet and used fishing nets. These discarded materials have to be cleaned, sorted, and processed into new nylon yarns before the Metamorph can be created. In the end, Nike says that garments using materials from recycled nylon reduce carbon emissions by up to 50% compared to virgin nylon.



If products like the Metamorph poncho prove popular—a possibility, given that the jacket is currently almost sold out on Nike’s website—multifunctional gear may become a larger part of the circular economy conversation, and circular materials could become tablestakes.