— the Springblade — also can give you a boost.
The shoe has an unusual look with 16 “blades” extending from the sole, each blade composed of a transparent, highly elastic polymer that is intended to return energy forward with each step. The Techfit upper seems standard enough, but it’s those angled blades that grab attention from those who have seen the Springblades. (click below to read more)
“You get two reactions,” said Mikal Peveto, director of running at Adidas America. “The first is, ‘Holy cow,’ except no one really ever says ‘cow.’ Then, because it’s so visually striking, the natural human reaction is, ‘Can this possibly work?’ ”
It should — it has been six years in the making, undergoing hundreds of tests. The shoe launches Aug. 1 in seven color combinations, and a pair will retail for $180.
“The feel of the shoe — and I’m not sure if it’s because your mind is playing a trick on you already by seeing it, and therefore you’re not sure if it’s going to work, and when you try it on and it feels as good as it does, it gets exaggerated in your mind? — but the shoe has this immediate sensation of what I call levity,” Peveto said. “It feels like you’re floating a bit.”
It’s a striking shoe, but it’s not intended for everyone. While Energy Boost, which was introduced in February, was geared to the hard-core runner, the Springblade is aimed at those who don’t identify themselves as runners, specifically high school and college athletes who run as a means of conditioning for sport.
It’s a major move for Adidas, which still lags far behind in the competitive running market. SportsOne-Source reported Adidas suffered a decline in running sales in May while five other companies, including category leader Nike, recorded gains of at least 20%.
“There haven’t been many more shoes that you can say, ‘That’s built to do this,’ and it’s so different you want to try it on,” said Jim Jennings, sporting goods/mall category manager for running at Adidas America. “It’s a breakthrough, for sure.”
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