For nearly three decades, self-lacing sneakers reigned supreme as the trainer technology at the top of nearly every footwear enthusiasts’ wish list. Then, in 2015, they arrived, just as Back to the Future Part Two had predicted, teased on the feet of Marty McFly himself.
It would take another couple of years for self-lacing tech to become commercially available, but, even before it did with the release of the HyperAdapt 1.0 in late 2017, a new innovation over at adidas had already begun to steal the spotlight.
adidas has developed the first 4d sole on the market
Team Trefoil’s 4D cushioning debuted as a Futurecraft experiment in the peak of BOOST mania. The feet of Three Stripes supporters around the world were living a life of unparalleled luxury, and anticipation was high as to what new innovation adidas’ most talented designers would come up with next to take midsole engineering to an all-new level – and 4D did not disappoint!
The very first 4D sneaker to make it out into the wild was something of an experimental beast. Its upper was very much in line with what we had grown familiar with thanks to the UltraBOOST line and its many BOOST-blessed offshoots. However, the midsole was quite intentionally the star of the show in this debut outing, stunning with its mishmash of crisscrossed supports that drastically cut down the midsole’s material composition.
These initial pairs were, quite literally, rough around the edges, constructed using midsoles cooked up on a conventional commercial 3D printer. The midsole design was unrefined at this point and still featured the telltale markings of its construction. Few pairs made their way out of adidas’ closely guarded Futurecraft facilities, and those that did were solely for the whose who of sneakerheads, celebrities and industry personnel.
One of the main problems of its late arrival to the general public has been the difficulty of manufacturing the midsole
Towards the end of 2017, with 4D construction now finally perfected and improved, adidas would finally give the public a chance to get the brand’s big innovation in midsole technology on their feet. Sadly, just 5,000 people would be given this opportunity by the time the year was through.
Short supply would continue to plague 4D output throughout 2018. Retail releases began to gain momentum, but the numbers would never be anywhere near enough to satisfy demand. Thankfully, now, in 2019, adidas are finally attempting to bring 4D to the masses.
The adidas Alphaedge 4D arrived at Foot District this week in a flawless composition of ‘Cloud White’ and ‘Grey Two’, and we couldn’t have been more excited to see pairs hit shelves. The Alphaedge 4D is stunning example of innovation and comfort, executed beautifully with minimalist ideals. Like all new tech innovations, the adidas Alphaedge 4D carries a fairly hefty price tag, but lace up in a pair just once and you’ll see just why they’re worth all the fuss.
Pairs of the adidas Alphaedge 4D ‘Cloud White/Grey Two’ are still available at Foot District’s adidas store and in store in selected sizes, but you better act fast.