Two new Adidas performance footwear launches are all about innovation in the upper.
The latest entry in Adidas’ Predator soccer cleat line features Demonskin, designed to evoke the extremes of nature and crafted via a computer algorithm. The new upper was developed to enhance the wearer’s grip on the ball and maximize handling and control on the pitch.
“When we launched the first Predator in 1994, it changed the game,” Ben Herath, football design director with Adidas, said in a statement. “We’ve since been relentless in pushing the boundaries of innovation in its design, ensuring it remains at the forefront of football boot technology.”
Data harvested over years of testing and research were fed into a specially formulated algorithm to create “an entirely new interface between boot and ball,” Adidas said. The unique spikes on both the front and side edges of the cleat also have the effect of increasing spin when striking.
“Control zones” on the outsole combined with performance-grade polyamide-injected layers stabilize movement while a two-plate stud configuration allows the upper to wrap underneath the foot for a 360-degree design that helps to reduce weight. Adidas’ Sockfit collar ensures the concise fit required for intense activity.
“We knew we had to create something completely different, go beyond evolution and deliver a new innovation, something that would intimidate opponents,” Herath said. “Demonskin is at the heart of this.”
Demonskin will also be featured on a pair of goalkeeper gloves to assist with punched clearances. Both gloves and cleats are currently available through Adidas’ website and through select retail partners.
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Golf shoes are another performance footwear category that benefits from new developments—like Nike’s own take on sport-specific shoes earlier in January.
“Golf continues to evolve and is in an exciting phase right now where the traditions of the game and how it can be played are all being challenged,” Masun Denison, global footwear director with Adidas golf, said in a statement. “We’re excited about this movement which has inspired us to break down barriers and create unique footwear and apparel for anyone that picks up a club.”
The Codechaos design philosophy represents Adidas’ commitment to redefining both the aesthetic and technology of golf shoes. The shoes’ uppers are composed of a multi-layer mesh, each encased in a waterproof film to protect wearers from inclement weather.
Describing the look as “progressive and deliberate,” Adidas said the upper is a brand-new invention from its innovation team, providing a unique texture that increases the shoe’s breathability and durability.
Twistgrip, a proprietary traction system, sits beneath a spikeless, soft outsole filled with a “first-of-its-kind” TPU insert, designed with the help of heat maps collected by studying the ways in which golfers shift their weight during a swing and, according to Adidas, should provide the proper grip without regard to current weather conditions.
The new golf shoes will come in a variety of colorways for both men and women and in a few different variations. The base-level Codechaos model will retail for $150 while the lighter, stripped-down Codechaos Sport will be offered for $130. Another waterproof variety will feature Boa closure technology for a slip-on fit, available at $180.
All three models will be available starting Jan. 31.