Adidas Announced a New Sneaker - Updated Adidas Futurecraft 4D Sports Shoes

Recently there had been a drop by Adidas of the Futurecraft 4D in which they use a 4D printed sole which spiked the interests of many people. Personally I think it is a cool concept that they are 4D printing a sole, but from what I see, I don’t think it will last very long based on its appearance. In my opinion these shoes are worth if you want to keep it on display because of its retail of 339$. From what I have heard they felt softer compared to other shoes probably because of the number of holes in the mid-sole allowing for it to be compressed easily. All in all I think the shoe is a 7/10 because of the hefty price tag and there are other shoes you can get for cheaper that are equal or better.

Adida Futurecraft 4D pair of shoes with the world’s first 3D printed midsole. Adidas teamed up with Carbon3D, a firm based out of California that has pioneered a new Additive Manufacturing technology called Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP). CLIP is an advancement in the field of 3D Printing and Carbon3D promises to produce parts with excellent mechanical properties, resolution and surface finish.

The Adidas Futurecraft 4D shoe is designed by Adidas and powered by Carbon3D. The design takes into account years of athlete data gathered by Adidas and it claims this to be the ‘ultimate running shoe for all’. The shoe design consists of lattice structure that varies throughout the length of the sole. The transitioning is designed according to individuals’ pressure points while running. This helps in improved transition for heel to toe movement, while the forefoot zone allows the runner to move forward better. The open structure also indicates better ‘breathability'.

The lattice geometry is designed to provided optimum cushioning and impact control.  The midsole lattice design consists of 20,000 individual struts and it is fabricated in one single go. Each sole customized to an individual’s unique footprint and running pattern. Basically, say, if it’s a number 9 shoe, then the shoe design should be different for someone weighing 60 kgs and for someone weighing 70 kgs. As simple as that. Since no two individuals are the same, why should their shoes be? The unique midsole design is meant to enhance performance.

 It remains to be seen how the end consumer envisages this shoe. But if done right, this could spark a new paradigm shift in the footwear industry, and given what we have seen so far, Adidas seems to be in the driving seat to take the industry by storm.

Like the version that came out in 2017, these running shoes feature a black and mint green color combo that puts the emphasis their new-wave, web-like sole. Also like the originals, these sneakers are still merely a teaser of what could be a radically different way to buy sneakers in the near future. This Futurecraft 4D is made with a one-size-fits-all sole like any other shoe, but ultimately, Adidas wants to use its 3D printing technology to mold soles for each and every customer, ensuring an optimal fit for all while also reducing waste.

 It sounds nuts, but it might not be such a lofty idea. Late last year, Adidas opened its new Speedfactory outside of Atlanta, Georgia. The opening created about 160 jobs for "upskilled" workers, but also consists of kinds of robots capable of turning out sneakers at a record clip. For now, that means it takes several weeks from design to completed sneaker—practically nothing compared to the months the process usually takes. Once Adidas gets that time down to days or a few hours to custom-fit soles to customers, things will start to get truly interesting. For now, the Adidas Futurecraft 4D is just the sign of what's to come—and a really cool-looking sign at that.