adidas 4D finally made it big time this year, with a handful of silhouettes in a half dozen colorways widely available for fans of the technology to grab. However, there is still a long way to go before 4D is commonplace, and adidas is hard at work on what comes next.
adidas Futurecraft has been one of the most talked-about footwear technologies of the past 3 years, and 2019 is no different. What was originally a 3D-printed plastic lattice designed to provide targeted energy return has evolved into something much bigger, pushing the boundaries of printing innovation with Carbon 3D, the brains behind the current iteration: 4D. I won’t pretend that I know how it’s made, because it’s incredibly complicated, but from what I understand it involves water, soft TPU, and hardening those two with light energy. The result is a beautiful lattice in a soft green tone that feels unlike anything else in the footwear world. And this year, finally, it’s been readily available for anyone to try.
In the spirit of continuing this widespread availability, adidas is hard at work cooking up exciting new silhouettes to take on the technology. 4D has largely been used on performance silhouettes thus far (save for the ZX40004D) and for good reason. It was designed first and foremost for running shoes, with the goal of printing soles based on the needs of individual athletes’ feet. So, it’s not unexpected that adidas’ next silhouette to feature Carbon’s Futurecraft 4D technology is also a runner.
The new look for adidas 4D takes inspiration from plenty of silhouettes before it, while also adding its own flair. Constructed using a Primeknit upper, taped overlays are added to the mudguard and side stripes to help reinforce the flexible material, while a stiff TPU band stretches around the heel to help lock your feet in place. Currently, very little is known about this new adidas 4D runner, though we can expect an official announcement from the Three Stripes sometime soon.
