
However, many running shoes on the market come standard with a similar running performance for roughly $150 – $200. Gerd Manz, Adidas’ vice president of technology innovation, told Digital Trends the Futurecraft 4D plans to boast a price categorized as a “premium level offer.” Image used with permission by copyright holderĪesthetically unique, the Futurecraft 4D’s midsole gave us a delightful bounce for running. Are they worth the price?Īs of right now, Adidas has yet to announce an official price for its Futurecraft 4D, though considering the Futurecraft 3D ran for $333, we assume this model’s price won’t be terribly far off. A softer inner sole might rectify this issue but could take away from running performance - at the end of the day, Adidas did craft these for running, so this solution seems unlikely. The extra bounce it offers for running tended to get annoying after prolonged walking and even started to hurt our calves a bit. Running aside, anyone looking to wear these as their everyday shoes should take pause. Though we didn’t scale any mountains, it seemed apparent the Futurecraft 4D would handle running on rugged dirt roads with ease. Adidas tabbed tire manufacturer Continental to make the durable outer sole, which let us run on rocky terrain without trouble. In other words, you won’t stop running because of foot discomfort or overheating. The holes are wide enough to allow for a pleasantly cool breeze to circulate through the shoe, cooling down your feet. The sole may be the star of the Futurecraft 4D, but the perforated upper end left the biggest impression on us. Slipping them on your feet makes this immediately clear. It’s no secret Adidas crafted these shoes for running. When testing out the shoes, we were often amazed at how much faster they made us feel. Even on a light jog, it’s easy to feel the heel spring up and physically push you forward. You instantly feel a noticeable bounce upon running thanks to its intricate, elastomeric midsole crafted with DLS. Onlookers easily spotted the midsole springing into action with every step - essentially, it looks like a shoe with a cool, elastic hydraulic system. The Futurecraft 4D’s intricate midsole gives the shoe an abstract aesthetic people couldn’t help but ask about while we wore them around the city. The midsole is where both shoes derive their respective monikers. Image used with permission by copyright holder The black and green colorway is accentuated by the reflective shine of its 3D-printed midsole. Both shoes sport a slick mesh upper made with Adidas’ Primeknit technology, which gives it that handwoven aesthetic and feel. The Futurecraft 4D owes a lot of its look to its technological predecessor, last year’s Futurecraft 3D. We got naked with the Naked Labs 3D Body Scanner. Scientists manage to 3D print an actual heart using human cells

It’s time to enlist your 3D printer in the fight against coronavirus To give them a true run for their money, we decided to lace them up and run through the streets of New York City to see how far into the future these kicks go. With the help of 17 years of running data and roughly 50 different prototypes, Adidas is ready to show the world what it’s cooked up.Īfter Adidas officially unveiled the Futurecraft 4D, Digital Trends got its hands on one of the 300 pairs the company doled out ahead of its upcoming fall release. DLS allowed Adidas to manipulate a host of small details, which let the legendary footwear company craft a running shoe wholly different than anything it’s ever manufactured. Adidas partnered with 3D printing upstart Carbon who pioneered the new method. Now, Adidas is joining the high-tech fray with footwear that’s literally chiseled by light and oxygen, dubbed the Futurecraft 4D.įuturecraft 4D is the first piece of footwear made with an innovative manufacturing technique called Digital Light Synthesis (DLS).


These days, shoes lace themselves at the press of a button, and some are even crafted out of liquid. Sneakers aren’t just rubber and fabric anymore, and a new type of swoosh or logo can only take you so far.
