Adidas announces worldwide release of innovative fully 3D-printed Climacool shoes after limited initial launch.
The 3D-printed Climacool shoes from Adidas are set for global release on May 2nd, making the innovative footwear available to consumers worldwide at a price point of $140.
Previously released in tiny numbers only to members of Adidas’ Confirmed platform, the Climacool sneakers are made with a unique breathable lattice design that delivers a seamless snug fit.
Customers will be able to buy the shoes on the Adidas Confirmed mobile app or at a limited number of Adidas’ retail stores in New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. It has not been confirmed whether in store purchases will be available internationally, although there is a German HQ to the company.
Although Adidas has 3D-printed shoes for 10 years, the Climacool is a breakthrough because the entire shoe is 3D printed. Previous versions, including the 2017 Futurecraft 4D, were made exclusively with 3D printing (only for the cushioned mid-sole) and available for sale in quantities as small as 5,000 pairs.
The company has not disclosed the exact manufacturing process for the Climacool beyond describing it as “created through additive manufacturing and engineered entirely through cutting-edge 3D printing technology.” Their earlier Futurecraft 4D employed Continuous Liquid Interface Production, a process that transforms liquid polymer resin into solid material layer by layer using ultraviolet light.
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Using 3D-printed silicone can be about more than just marketing fanboysering. The technology allows to customize the design of structures, to refine models in a straight-forward manner over time and to design for unique structural properties. The Climacool has a reinforced lattice structure in the outsole and upper along with moisture-wicking polyester for added weight management and durability. And the Adidas 4DFWD running shoe, also released in 2021, comes with a customized 3D-printed midsole that collapses directionally under the weight of a runner, pushing the energy forward with each stride.
