Adidas debuted its 4D footwear back in 2017 with the Futurecraft, the world’s first mass-produced 3D-printed shoe. Since that time, the three stripes has continued to refine the technology, adding material, tweaking the formula, and revising the geometry to ensure that it’s more than just a cool party trick.
As the product of over 17 years of athlete data, the 4DFWD promises to be the most runnable model in the 4D family to date. For starters, adidas worked with 3D printing specialist Carbon to select the midsole’s lattice structure from over five million possible designs. (In other words, they’ve run a lot of tests.) Having settled on the bowtie-shaped FWD CELL, the brand then elected to construct it using 40% bio-based material, an addition that makes it both eco-conscious and also ultra-cushioned. As such, the 4DFWD is packed full of performance benefits, reducing up to 15% of braking forces and generating up to three times as much forward motion compared to previous models. Considering that it also comes with a premium recycled Primeknit+ upper and a grippy rubber outsole, the 4DFWD makes for a seriously next-level sneaker. It drops on May 15th for $200.
