Adidas and NBA All Star James Harden have set out to lift basketball players’ on-court experience with a new high-tech, performance-driven sneaker.
Along with Harden, the athletic company has introduced the Harden Vol. 2—an advanced basketball shoe that features Adidas’s Forgefiber technology and full-length Boost cushioning. This second edition of Harden’s signature line was developed with advanced generative software that mapped Harden’s deceptive footwork and on-court movements, to provide athletes with a performance-driven and comfortable basketball shoe.
“It’s tailored to my game and quick change of direction,” said Harden, currently the leading scorer in the National Basketball Association. “Being different in the sense of my movements—the step-backs and Eurosteps and quick crossovers—you got to have a shoe that’s designed to move whenever you move…and not a second later.”
According to Adidas, Forgefiber is an application process that uses TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) coated yarn and heightens performance when it’s stitched and compressed at various layers, providing users with ultimate motion strength. Compressed across stretch-based mesh for optimal support and stitched with three layers, Forgefiber reinforces Harden’s signature court moves.
“Every sport is about movement,” Jon Munns, senior design director of Future for Adidas, noted on the company’s website. “Every athlete is unique, they all have different needs and when we are designing products for them, we are trying to create the very best for them to support their movement.”
Harden Vol. 2 features a personalized lacing system for foot adjustments, large scale mesh on the tongue for added breathability and a lace band that stretches across the foot, bridging the shoe’s upper for control during physical activities. Forgefiber also provides the shoe with a strong and flexible fabric upper that conforms to natural body movement.
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In addition to these functional features, Adidas’s Boost cushioning fortifies comfort and durability for the Harden Vol. 2. The sneaker is designed with a wide base at the back of the foot that develops stance and provides a balanced platform for footwork. To reinforce torsion control, midfoot grooves possess a stability plate, while the shoe’s heel counter enforces durability on the court.
The Harden Vol. 2 is available in three distinct styles—Vision, California Dreamin’ and Ignite, each retailing for $140.
Consumers were able to purchase the Harden Vol. 2 Vision exclusively at Adidas’s 747 Warehouse St. in Los Angeles, a two-day basketball culture event that exhibited footwear releases, open source creation and music on Feb. 16 and 17. The California Dreamin’ style is available to purchase at Foot Locker Hollywood + Highland in Los Angeles, Foot Locker stores nationwide and adidas.com. The Ignite is also available on adidas.com.