3D Printing
Contact us
Home / Use Cases / 3D Printed Sneakers in 2021
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

3D Printed Sneakers in 2021

March 11, 2021

Remember when 3D printed shoes were exclusively the domain of engineering websites and CAD/topology optimization sites, all vying for your attention to tell you how great their manufacturing and design processes were?

Well those days are seemingly long gone, with sportswear manufacturers such as Adidas expanding their lines of AM footwear for greater adoption.

You may recall back in 2017, Adidas announced that they were releasing their 4D line of shoes with 3D printed midsoles, manufactured with use of the Carbon 3D printing system.

We did an article back then, explaining how Adidas were initially releasing just 5,000 pairs of the shoes to the public, and had aimed to sell 100,000 pairs of the AM-infused designs by 2018.

With their latest iterations of the shoe, it seems that they have surpassed that goal, or are on their way to surpassing it. The shoes are available all around the world from local Adidas stores and also from various 3rd party online outlets.

With that in mind, it seems that 3D printed shoes are firmly implanted in the public’s mind.

Let’s have a look at the original shoe from 2017, and the latest offerings for a comparison.

Sneakers Adidas 3D Printing
Futurecraft 4D (Image credit: Adidas)

Since then they have not only focused on the Futurecraft range, but have also added the Ultra 4D range, as you can see below.

ultra4d
Ultra 4D (Image credit: Adidas)

This year’s Futurecraft 4D line are based on the initial shoes from 2017, and are available in a wider range of colors, which we will look at later.

String Robot

Last year, the sportswear company also announced that they would be employing some CNC-aided goodness for production of the shoe upper as well as the midsole.

The Futurecraft.Strung shoes utilizes a robot looking like a cross between a Kerplunk and the robot leader from The Animatrix, to lay down individual fibres on the shoe upper, which are optimally placed according to an athlete’s biometric data.

You can see the robot in question below:

Adidas String Robot
String Robot (Image credit: Adidas)

You can see the Futurecraft.Strung shoe and a close up of its robotically laid threads in the image below. As you can see, they are sticking with a Carbon-printed midsole in this variant also.

strung
Futurecraft.Strung (Image credit: Adidas)

The shoe was announced last year and will be available later in 2021.

AM Shoes for the Masses

While the robot-string shoe is highly customized by nature (hence we won’t be seeing them on physical shelves), this year’s Futurecraft 4D range are off-the-shelf and you can find them via various vendors right now.

This year’s first release, the Futurecraft 4D Fusio, got a lot of press when it was announced earlier this year.

I don’t know enough about sneakers to make an informed commentary on the design itself. But the shoe is now orange and pink, and it has a big pink panel on it. The panel is made from TPU (a material well known to 3D printing fans), but it does not appear to be 3D printed, rather molded.

Futurecraft 4D Fusio
Futurecraft 4D Fusio (Image credit: Adidas)

There will be more releases throughout the year, and a simple Google search of the term Futurecraft 4D should bring you to a bunch of vendors selling these shoes (in the region of $200-$300) per pair.

According to reviews, these 3D printed midsoles are way more comfy than standard midsoles, which are manufactured via molding.

boa
Related Story
BOA Steps Up Their Prototyping Game
Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
About the author | Phillip Keane
Phillip is an aerospace engineer from UK. He is a graduate of Coventry University (UK), International Space University (France) and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), where he studied Advanced Manufacturing at the Singapore Centre for 3D Printing.
Latest posts

Report Shows Construction 3D Printing Can Mitigate Effects of Climate Change

Cement and concrete are two of the most widely used resources in the world, second only to water, and their demand is expected... read more »

1 day ago Construction
wasp 3mt concrete

International Consortium to Promote Use of 3D Printed Metals in Construction

The Politecnico di Milano is leading a "ConstructAdd", an international consortium of partners in developing metal 3D printing techniques to improve energy efficiency... read more »

1 day ago 3D Printing Metal
Tensile test specimen

3D Printed Superyacht Concept Unveiled

Designer Jozeph Forakis has recently unveiled the world's first 3D printed superyacht, the 88-metre Pegasus concept. The yacht is designed to be sustainable... read more »

1 day ago News
superyacht

Creality Launches Huge CR-M4 – The Next Big Thing in Quality Printing

Creality has just released its new FDM 3D printer, the CR-M4, with rigid stability and a HUGE build volume. The CR-M4 is being... read more »

2 days ago 3D Printers
cr-m4

3D Printed Geodesic Labyrinth Arises in France

A 3D printed labyrinth has been erected in the medieval town of Chateaugiron, in the north-west of France, marking the first time that... read more »

4 days ago Art
Labyrinth by night.

Researchers Use Digital Twin for DED Optimization

A group of researchers from Tokyo University of Science and Suwa University of Science, in Japan, have collaborated with TOCALO Co. Ltd. to... read more »

6 days ago 3D Printing Metal
digital twin

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
  • Twitter Twitter 3D Printing

3D Printer Categories

  • Desktop 3D Printers
  • Industrial 3D Printers
  • gCreate gMax 2 PRO (with enclosure) gCreate gMax 2 PRO (with enclosure)
    457 x 457 x 609 mm
    $5,295
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech Mizar Pro Geeetech Mizar Pro
    220 x 220 x 260 mm
    $219
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech A30T Geeetech A30T
    320 x 320 x 420 mm
    $449
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech THUNDER Geeetech THUNDER
    250 x 250 x 260 mm
    $489
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech Mizar S Geeetech Mizar S
    255 x 255 x 260 mm
    $279
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech Mizar M Geeetech Mizar M
    255 x 255 x 260 mm
    $399
    Buy Now
  • Modix BIG-60 Modix BIG-60
    600 x 600 x 660 mm
    $4,900
    Buy Now
  • Fusion3 F410 Fusion3 F410
    355 x 355 x 315 mm
    $4,599
    Buy Now
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

  • Certified CuNi30 (A) Certified CuNi30 (A)
    Cryogenic suspension and support systems, Pipe fittings, Valves
    Corrosion resistant, Low temperature resistance
    View Details
  • Tungsten (A) Tungsten (A)
    Components for imaging equipment, Ion generation equipment, Static weight distribution components
    Corrosion resistant, Heat resistant, Ionizing radiation absorption
    View Details
  • LaserForm Maraging Steel (A) LaserForm Maraging Steel (A)
    Aerospace parts, Automotive high-wear parts, Cooling channels, Furnace parts, Tooling
    Heat resistant
    View Details
  • A6061-RAM2 (A) A6061-RAM2 (A)
    Light weight structural parts, RF parts for satellites
    High strength, Lightweight, Ductile
    View Details
  • Industry MAGNUM Industry MAGNUM
    1500 x 1200 x 1200 mm
    €159.000
    Request a Quote
  • Modix BIG-120Z Modix BIG-120Z
    600 x 600 x 1200 mm
    from $7,500
    Request a Quote
  • Modix BIG Meter Modix BIG Meter
    1010 x 1010 x 1010 mm
    from $13,500
    Request a Quote
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • 3D Printing Service
  • Newsletter
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers

Featured Companies

  • Modix
  • 3D Systems
  • Industry
  • Geeetech

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon M3
  • Flashforge Creator 3
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro
  • Craftbot FLOW IDEX XL
  • BIQU B1
2023 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Service
  • Materials
  • Contact us
Featured Companies
  • Modix
  • 3D Systems
  • Industry
  • Geeetech
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • 3D Printing Service
  • Newsletter
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing
We serve cookies on this site to analyze traffic, remember your preferences, and optimize your experience.
Details
Close