Nike’s Phantom Luna Soccer Cleats Specifically Aim To Reduce Injuries in Female Athletes

Are there any soccer fans out here?! If you’re following the women’s world cup this season, do notice if the ladies have been playing more comfortably than their previous games and if there has been a noticeable reduction in injuries. And if you already have, Nike has been successful in designing the athlete’s shoes this season! This newfound agility and safety can be attributed to Nike’s innovative design of the Phantom Luna soccer cleats, which have been specifically engineered to reduce injuries for female players.

Designer: Nike

Gender equality discussions are to be revolved around rights and remuneration, it’s essential to recognize that there are inherent physiological differences between men and women. One striking fact highlighted by Yale Medicine is that female athletes are two to eight times more likely to suffer an ACL tear compared to their male counterparts. These injuries often occur in sports that involve rapid pivoting, such as soccer.

If you’re wondering what an ACL tear is, it’s a common injury, particularly in sports that involve pivoting on one’s foot, like soccer. The ACL is a ligament in the center of the knee that prevents the shin bone from moving forward on the thigh bone. Female athletes face a higher risk of this injury due to the biomechanical differences resulting from the wider female pelvis, less muscle mass surrounding their knees, and hormonal factors like lower testosterone and higher estrogen levels, which can lead to looser tendons and ligaments.

Taking these challenges into account, Nike’s designers embarked on a three-year journey to create a solution – the Phantom Luna soccer cleats. The primary goal was to provide female athletes with enhanced traction, confidence, and speed on the field.

The key focus during the design process was on traction. Soccer cleats are intended to provide grip on turf, but if not designed thoughtfully, they can work against the body during pivoting movements. To tackle this issue, Nike’s designers introduced the Nike Cyclone 360 Plate, a circular traction pattern on the cleats’ bottom. This innovative plate is engineered to optimize traction while also maximizing rotation, allowing footballers to make agile and confident cuts on the field without compromising safety.

Another notable feature of the Phantom Luna is Nike’s GripKnit texture, covering the ball-contacting surface. This texture, slightly sticky in nature, enhances the player’s control over the ball, facilitating precise dribbling, passing, and shooting. The material molds to the shape of the foot, providing an equal grip in wet or dry conditions. Additionally, micro-molding texture works in conjunction with GripKnit to ensure better boot-to-ball strikes, ensuring amplified touch during gameplay.

The secure fit and feel of the Phantom Luna contribute to its overall effectiveness on the field. The cleats feature asymmetric lacing, offering a larger touch surface for dribbling, passing, and scoring. The repositioned lacing pattern allows for increased midfoot adjustability, accommodating players with different foot arch types. Furthermore, the asymmetrical Flyknit cuff material provides a snug fit, while subtle ribs in the cuff enable higher ball contact on the ankle during trapping and passing.

The Phantom Luna soccer cleats are a game-changer, addressing the unique challenges faced by female athletes and empowering them to perform at their best. By reducing the risk of injuries and providing enhanced control and traction, Nike’s innovation can elevate the game for players of all levels.

While the design has been tailored from a woman’s perspective, it is essential to note that the cleats will be available in men’s sizes as well, making them suitable for all players who desire improved performance and reduced injury risk.

While Nike’s Phantom Lunas have already been a hit among professional athletes, they are now available to civilians for $275. So, whether you’re a seasoned player or an enthusiastic soccer fan looking for high-performance footwear, these cleats might just be the perfect fit for you. As the old saying goes, “If the shoe fits…” – it might lead you to victory on the field!

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How this 3D printed footwear concept tries to push the limits of tech and design

3D printing is one of those revolutionary technologies that truly changed the world even years after it became a hot topic. Whether you’re a lone hobbyist or a small company, these seemingly magical boxes are able to bring ideas and dreams to life or at least help jump-start the process of testing and refinement. Despite its amazing achievements, 3D printing technology is actually still at its puberty stage, with plenty of room for growth and, more importantly, experimentation. Fortunately, there are plenty of designers, engineers, and dreamers who are willing and eager to push the boundaries of what 3D printers are able to accomplish, whether it’s in manufacturing, food, or design. This experimental shoe, for example, makes you look like you’re wearing some sort of sci-fi wireframe footwear, and its complex structure really puts 3D printers to the test.

Designer: Matthew Blunt

In the beginning, 3D printers naturally had very limited capabilities, able to build only closed forms or relatively simple shapes. The materials used would be variants of plastic that would be unsuitable for anything but the gentlest and driest applications. Over time, though, 3D printing has moved onto a wider variety of materials, like metal or even chocolate, and more complicated structures. EXPLR 02 builds on top of that to create a design that is one part made of geometric structures and another part inspired by nature.

The result is a pair of shoes that look like the wireframe that you’d see in 3D modeling software, though with an even higher resolution and number of empty spaces. The design, however, takes its inspiration not from those digital artifacts but from nature itself. Repeating patterns, organic forms, and an almost chaotic composition all come together to create footwear that is both beautiful and intriguing.

This kind of design also pushes the envelope of what can be produced by 3D printers, particularly because of structural and material requirements. The complex mesh structure of the shoes requires an agile and flexible 3D printer, while elasticity and durability would need to be provided by unconventional materials that might not yet be available on these printers.

Whether EXPLR 02 can be a useful and practical footwear design, however, is still an open question. The myriad holes on the shoe’s surface provide better ventilation but also has less protection for the foot inside it. The structural integrity of such a design can also be in question since the thin intersecting lines could make it less durable under rugged conditions. Once resolved, though, it could open the doors to usable 3D-printed footwear, which could, in turn, unleash the floodgates of creativity in coming up with fresh shoe designs.

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Top 10 futuristic footwear designs that sneakerheads will absolutely love

With our hectic lives which pretty much involve us running around all day, the right footwear can make a world of difference. Shoes started off as functional designs meant to protect our feet, and yes we need to pick ones that do exactly that, BUT, they should also reflect our style statements and represent our personality and our personal fashion sense. After all, don’t they say that you can tell a lot about a man by the state of his shoes? Personally, I love a good pair of sturdy and stylish sneakers, ones that can get me through the day without giving me any shoe bites, and also match my outfits. However, I do know that this isn’t the case with everybody. People have high demands and expectations when it comes to their footwear, hence designers are unleashing all of their creative juices, leaving no stones unturned in making unique, innovative, and ergonomic shoes. From Balenciaga high-heel sneakers to “decaying” shoes that are made from organic materials – these footwear designs are as futuristic, inventive, and fashionable as they can get!

1. Balenciaga High-heel Sneakers

This Balenciaga high-heel footwear concept was designed by OJB Studio keeping potential future technologies in mind. “In this Balenciaga concept, [current] manufacturing boundaries and constraints were excluded, with freedom and imagination leading the way”, Ollie of OJB Studio told Yanko Design. “This process enables a fast and efficient way of experimental aesthetic ideation, providing some rather wild, yet desirable designs.” The brief for the specific concept was to create a Balenciaga high heel for the near future, inspired by elements of a sneaker. It’s purely a visual exercise that aims at determining what the future of fashion in the footwear industry will look like.

2. The Kajola Shoe Collection

The Kajola shoe collection is made to look like decaying footwear as the materials used are natural. Because of the way, it’s designed, it’s really more of a piece of artwork than functional footwear. They want to call it “living artifacts” made from various biomaterials like volcanic dust, clay, and even cacao powder and so as the years pass by, it will naturally curl into itself, just like leaves and other organic materials do when they decay. They are named after an area in Nigeria and a trip to local forests. The idea is to push what other things plants can be used to create.

3. UV-Zhu’s Nike Conceptual Series

UV-Zhu’s Nike conceptual series are basically inflatable structures paired up with daily objects resulting in kicks that you would probably never see at the Nike showroom. The ankle straps are made from white garters, silicone, and paper-based tapes. The outsoles have been power-packed with springs so that they can allow the wearer, to walk without actually putting any effort into walking! Sponges and myriad kinds of soft padding have been squeezed in between these layers, creating comfy cushioning for the wearer. Some of the shoes have also been equipped with a layer of candy, and eccentric bristles as the outsole.

4. The Heaven’s Door

The Heaven’s Door has a unique design style that combines the close-toe design of a shoe with the open-ish ankle aesthetic of a slip-on sandal. The shoes have a leather body, punctuated by an elastic strap that runs along the side, connecting the rear flap to the main shoe. A rubber outsole hints at comfortable outdoor use in an urban environment while hiding the springs away in a recessed channel running along the length of the shoe. Although remarkable in their automatic opening/closing abilities, the shoes don’t try to look futuristic – because they are not.

5. AC1 Boot

Meet the AC1 boot by Brooklyn-based mischief-makers MSCHF created to explore the lighter side of hopping around in walking boots meant for rehabilitation from a foot injury. As good as the sneaker design seems for the Gen-Z, the inspiration story is equally interesting. In 2015 CEO Lukas Bentel saw a person waking in medical boots down Prince Street in New York. He thought it to be the “most interestingly designed object,” especially the function-over-fashion character. According to him pondering over objects that aren’t intended to be aesthetic and given the least attention when it comes to design, can end up “looking really interesting and out there.”

6. Averted Vision

Defined by its cushioned design and minimalist profile, Averted Vision is practical and trendy. The cushioned soles take up around half of the shoe’s side profiles, providing ample bounce for playing without gravity. Conceptualized without shoelaces, Averted Vision could benefit from textile technology to form-fit around the wearer’s feet for a snug, comfy fit. The silhouette of the shoe seems to be inspired by designs of today, like Yeezy Foam Runners and Boosts. These days, it sometimes feels like we’re a stone’s throw away from life on Mars, so it’s not surprising that designers who tapped into the future are influenced by the trends of today.

7. The Heinekicks

What are the Heinekicks? Quite simply put, they’re limited edition sneakers FILLED with beer. There are only 32 pairs available in the world, and yes, you heard it right, they actually contain soles filled with the new Heineken Silver. Heineken promises these liquid-filled kicks “will have you Walking on Beer”. The Shoe Surgeon maintained the brand’s iconic red, green, and silver colors in the shoes as well. He power-packed the sneakers with a sleek green lenticular upper with silver and red accents. A removable metal bottle opener has been integrated into the tongue of the shoes. This could come in pretty handy when it’s time to pop open a cold one!

8. adidas x Victorinox EQT 93 sneaker

This is the Adidas x Victorinox EQT 93 sneaker by the German activewear brand for people who have a very active lifestyle. When needed the most, the sneaker has the Swiss brand’s EDC snug in place for any fixing, cutting, or other tasks. The shoe is based on the EQT 93 sneaker and modified for this exclusive offering. According to Veronika Elsener, Chief of Marketing at Victorinox – “We are thrilled with the outcome of the products which bring unique design and exciting details.”

9. Sim-Plis-Tech

The brief was to create a pair of shoes that can be used by the “urban nomad” which is basically people like me. The designer was able to come up with a concept for a Vans-like pair of shoes called Sim-Plis-Tech, taking inspiration from a mixture of space, alien life, corals, and skate parks. We get something that looks like what an astronaut would wear while walking around Mars and also something we city folk can wear around while traipsing in the urban jungle.

10. The 38%_2101 Running Shoes

Space-X Sneakers for Mars Process

38%_2101 Running Shoes for Mars Materials

Once you’ve set foot on Mars, it may be nice to wear something cool and durable like the 38%_2101 Running Shoes for MARS. The pair is based on the Y-3 running shoes and looks very futuristic. The designer decided to go for the Y-3 because the brand has a futuristic vision. The 38%_2101 Running Shoes for Mars appear to be out of this world, but the pair is also something we can still wear on Earth. The designer’s process included several other inspirations like aerospace equipment and minimal color units and a few items with sharp shapes.

The post Top 10 futuristic footwear designs that sneakerheads will absolutely love first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 futuristic footwear to give you the ultimate fashionably ergonomic design

With our hectic lives which pretty much involve us running around all day, the right footwear can make a world of difference. Shoes started off as functional designs meant to protect our feet, and yes we need to pick ones that do exactly that, BUT, they should also reflect our style statements and represent our personality and our personal fashion sense. After all, don’t they say that you can tell a lot about a man by the state of his shoes? Personally, I love a good pair of sturdy and stylish sneakers, ones that can get me through the day without giving me any shoe bites, and also match my outfits! However, I do know that this isn’t the case with everybody. People have high demands and expectations when it comes to their footwear, hence designers are unleashing all of their creative juices, leaving no stones unturned in making unique, innovative, and ergonomic shoes. From Balenciaga high-heel sneakers to Nike-inspired minimal trendy sneakers– these footwear designs are as futuristic, inventive, and fashionable as they can get!

1. Balenciaga high-heel sneakers

This Balenciaga high-heel footwear concept was designed by OJB Studio keeping potential future technologies in mind. “In this Balenciaga concept, [current] manufacturing boundaries and constraints were excluded, with freedom and imagination leading the way”, Ollie of OJB Studio told Yanko Design. “This process enables a fast and efficient way of experimental aesthetic ideation, providing some rather wild, yet desirable designs.” The brief for the specific concept was to create a Balenciaga high heel for the near future, inspired by elements of a sneaker. It’s purely a visual exercise that aims at determining what the future of fashion in the footwear industry will look like.

2. Averted Vision

Defined by its cushioned design and minimalist profile, Averted Vision is practical and trendy. The cushioned soles take up around half of the shoe’s side profiles, providing ample bounce for playing without gravity. Conceptualized without shoelaces, Averted Vision could benefit from textile technology to form-fit around the wearer’s feet for a snug, comfy fit. The silhouette of the shoe seems to be inspired by designs of today, like Yeezy Foam Runners and Boosts. These days, it sometimes feels like we’re a stone’s throw away from life on Mars, so it’s not surprising that designers tapped into the future are influenced by the trends of today.

3. The Kajola Shoe Collection

The Kajola shoe collection is made to look like decaying footwear as the materials used are natural. Because of the way, it’s designed, it’s really more of a piece of artwork than functional footwear. They want to call it “living artefacts” made from various biomaterials like volcanic dust, clay, and even cacao powder and so as the years pass by, it will naturally curl into itself, just like leaves and other organic materials do when they decay. They are named after an area in Nigeria and a trip to local forests. The idea is to push what other things plants can be used to create.

4. Heinekicks

What are the Heinekicks? Quite simply put, they’re limited edition sneakers FILLED with beer. There are only 32 pairs available in the world, and yes, you heard it right, they actually contain soles filled with the new Heineken Silver. Heineken promises these liquid-filled kicks “will have you Walking on Beer”. The Shoe Surgeon maintained the brand’s iconic red, green, and silver colors in the shoes as well. He power-packed the sneakers with a sleek green lenticular upper with silver and red accents. A removable metal bottle opener has been integrated into the tongue of the shoes. This could come in pretty handy when it’s time to pop open a cold one!

5. adidas x Victorinox EQT 93 sneaker

This is the Adidas x Victorinox EQT 93 sneaker by the German activewear brand for people who have a very active lifestyle. When needed the most, the sneaker has the Swiss brand’s EDC snug in place for any fixing, cutting, or other tasks. The shoe is based on the EQT 93 sneaker and modified for this exclusive offering. According to Veronika Elsener, Chief of Marketing at Victorinox – “We are thrilled with the outcome of the products which bring unique design and exciting details.”

6. Sim-Plis-Tech

The brief was to create a pair of shoes that can be used by the “urban nomad” which is basically people like me. The designer was able to come up with a concept for a Vans-like pair of shoes called Sim-Plis-Tech, taking inspiration from a mixture of space, alien life, corals, and skate parks. We get something that looks like what an astronaut would wear while walking around Mars and also something we city folk can wear around while traipsing in the urban jungle.

7. The Nanoflex Parafit TR and Club MEMT Parafit

Reebok really wants to help the physically challenged community with a gimmick-free collection of lifestyle and performance-oriented sneakers. This new edition of sneakers is designed in partnership with Zappos Adaptive, and includes two sneakers crafted for easy on-and-off wear to facilitate disabled people. Dubbed the Nanoflex Parafit TR and Club MEMT Parafit, these sneakers are low-cut and feature removable sock liners (for orthotics) and high abrasion rubber outsoles for superior grip. While the Nanoflex Parafit TR has a breathable mesh upper, medial zipper, and heel pull tab for easy putting on or taking off – the Club MEMT Parafit has a leather upper and extra 4E width.

8. The Koio x Norm Architect Sneaker

KOIO X NORM ARCHITECTS IN CLIFF Shoes

KOIO is known for keeping things more interesting with its partnerships with other brands. Its sneaker brand collaborations tell us not just about Koio’s design philosophy but also about the other brand. The collaboration with Norm Architects resulted in a pair that can be worn for most occasions. The pair is available in two different colors: Cliff and Black Timber. Versions for men and women are ready in various sizes. The sneaker collaboration is a minimalist silhouette of the classic Oxford shoe with a twist. It has also gained a furniture counterpart that looks beautiful, casual yet classy, in oak.

9. The PATRÓN Tequila x John Geiger Limited Edition GF-01 Sneakers

Patrón x John Geiger GF-01 Sneakers

Patrón x John Geiger GF-01 Sneakers Design Details

The PATRÓN Tequila x John Geiger Limited Edition GF-01 Sneakers are made of rare materials with the designer’s creative principles in mind. Geiger was thinking about style, comfort, and versatility—and that’s what the sneakers offer. The shoes are versatile, like the PATRÓN tequila, so you are free to use the pair on the street or on the court. John Geiger’s signature street style and ‘g’ logo have been applied to the pair. The green and white colorway will remind you of the agave fields in Jalisco.

10. The 38%_2101 Running Shoes

Space-X Sneakers for Mars Process

38%_2101 Running Shoes for Mars Materials

Once you’ve set foot on Mars, it may be nice to wear something cool and durable like the 38%_2101 Running Shoes for MARS. The pair is based on the Y-3 running shoes and looks very futuristic. The designer decided to go for the Y-3 because the brand has a futuristic vision. The 38%_2101 Running Shoes for Mars appear to be out of this world, but the pair is also something we can still wear on Earth. The designer’s process included several other inspirations like aerospace equipment and minimal color units and a few items with sharp shapes.

The post Top 10 futuristic footwear to give you the ultimate fashionably ergonomic design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Rainforest Walk Concept Shoes deliver barefoot walking benefits

Rainforest Walk

Regular walking for health and fitness offers a lot of benefits but walking barefoot offers more. It helps improve the flexibility and strength of the ligaments and muscles of the foot. It is the best way to enjoy nature as it can also help enhance the body’s balance and one’s posture.

For people who like to walk or hike, being barefoot may not be ideal because of several reasons. Many may not want to walk that way, but to achieve similar benefits; there are available solutions. You may get trainers or sneakers that offer comfort and proper ergonomics.

Designer: Aaron Street

Rainforest Walk 8

One exciting concept solution is the Rainforest Walk, a pair of sneakers that lets you enjoy walking in a more natural way, like walking in a rainforest. The design has been imagined to compliment the natural functions of the body. The style of the shoes follows the pattern and visuals from a natural source.

The idea of walking barefoot isn’t the only reason for the design. It mimics the natural form of the foot of muscles—like the roots of a tree crawling along with the earth. The shoe starts with a custom anatomical build and is then covered with different patterns that appear to be hugging the foot.

Rainforest Walk 5

Rainforest Walk 3

The natural design continues, following the contours and shapes of the pattern. There are provisions for breathability, support, and comfort. In addition, there are tooling pods available to help grow the shoe structure, resulting in an aesthetical and comfortable structure.

The pair has undergone different prototype stages. What started as a sculptural base was then advanced into a prototype created by hand. The designer then added the sketches to the shoe form while the shoe pattern was taped and drafted traditionally.

Rainforest Walk

Rainforest Walk 9

Rainforest Walk

Visually, the shoe comes with a tendon motif, especially on the forefoot. The pattern appears to be placed in the most natural and correct positions. Looking at the sketches, we can visualize a shoe that follows the natural placement of foot muscles.

The design was then rendered at full scale to plan the visual for all sides before making the prototype by hand. The outsole is then 3D-printed and then assembled with the upper portion. Notice the design’s attention to detail in every part of the shoe. Some people may not think the design is not that visually appealing, but the main purpose of the pair is really for the barefoot movement.

Rainforest Walk

Rainforest Walk

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Y3 Space-X Running Shoes for Mars can be a fashionable possibility

Space-X Sneakers for Mars Process

All eyes are on the SpaceX project as earthlings want to colonize Mars someday. We highly doubt it will happen anytime soon, but you know, it may be best to prepare as early as now. By preparation, we mean plan for that house you will live in. You can also start thinking about clothing and footwear.

We don’t think many groups have already thought about fashion for Mars, but we can start. That is what French footwear designer Clement Fernandes has done. He came up with a footwear concept inspired by the SpaceX project. Of course, the pair is only a concept, but the designer thought about the intelligent sneakers that may need to defy gravity.

Designer: Clement Fernandes

38%_2101 Running Shoes for Mars Materials

Once you’ve set foot on Mars, it may be nice to wear something cool and durable like the 38%_2101 Running Shoes for MARS. The pair is based on the Y-3 running shoes and looks very futuristic. The designer decided to go for the Y-3 because the brand has a futuristic vision.

The 38%_2101 Running Shoes for Mars appear to be out of this world, but the pair is also something we can still wear on Earth. The designer’s process included several other inspirations like aerospace equipment and minimal color units, and a few items with sharp shapes.

Space-X Sneakers for Mars Style

The 38 in the name pertains to 38%, which is the percentage of gravity on Mars related to the gravity on Earth. 2101 is the year of the competition as per the designer. The shoes’ upper is made of nylon combined with carbon nanotubes, and the latter is activated by the body’s heat and contract the nylon fibers. This is done so the upper can be adjusted to the size of the feet. Other rubber elements strengthen the upper’s structure so we know the pair is sturdy.

Space-X Sneakers for Mars Details

The shoes come with a multi-density EVA structure: high-density for the outsole while the midsole is low-density. The pair appears to not come with shoelaces, so we assume the design is a slip-on. We can also call these the Space-X shoes because the concept pair won’t be imagined if not for the Space-X project.

Space-X Sneakers for Mars Launch

38%_2101 Running Shoes for Mars Production

This particular design was presented a few years ago, but we like that it’s very much relevant these days. Adidas or the Y-3 team should finally consider making the pair a reality now that space tourism has been kicked off. It won’t be long before people are allowed to visit Mars. We believe it will happen someday but yes, maybe not in this lifetime. It may just be fun to imagine and start living as if we’re there on Mars.

Space-X Sneakers for Mars Development

Space-X Sneakers for Mars Illustration

38%_2101 Running Shoes for Mars Design

38%_2101 Running Shoes for Mars Design

The post Y3 Space-X Running Shoes for Mars can be a fashionable possibility first appeared on Yanko Design.

This shoe combines a shoehorn with a swivel mechanism to make putting on shoes easier for everyone

Prima is an inclusive shoe design that combines a swivel mechanism with a shoehorn to allow users of varying cognitive and motor levels to put on and wear their shoes with ease.

Sometimes the most innovative solutions come from the simplest of designs. Most of us wear shoes every single day. They’re the last thing we put on as we’re leaving the house and we bring them everywhere we go. While many of us put on and wear shoes without even thinking about it, not everyone shares the same experience.

Designer: Jean-Michel Rochette

While it might seem that shoes are one size fits all, for those with degenerative joint disease or arthritis, putting on shoes first thing in the morning comes with a share of difficulties. To help solve this issue, designer Jean-Michel Rochette developed Prima, a type of shoe designed for older folks and those living with joint pain to put on and wear with ease.

1

Putting on your own shoes and tying them takes a lot of cognitive and physical effort. For people living with cognitive disorders and atypical motor tendencies, putting on shoes marks the first uphill battle of the day. Rochette conducted periods of research and prototyping to find Prima’s final form.

Prima is a comfortable, no-lace, slip-on shoe that integrates a swivel mechanism into an embedded shoehorn to allow users to easily put on and wear their shoes. The shoe features elastic bands that connect the front of the shoe with the rear, allowing users to use their free foot to tilt one Prima shoe upwards and slip their other foot into its inside.

Noticing today’s footwear industry’s trend towards mass consumption, Rochette aimed to create a shoe that fits a market current footwear brands don’t serve. Prima combines a swivel mechanism with the build of a shoehorn to turn every shoe into a slip-on.

Describing Prima in his own words, Rochette notes, “The Prima shoe allows its user to quickly put on and take off their feet without having to bend or perform any manipulations thanks to the swivel mechanism located at the back of the shoe. It eliminates physical pain and discomfort caused by different situations such as waiting and needing assistance.”

 

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Futuristic Footwear Concepts that we wish Nike and Adidas would make already!

When it comes to cool and innovative shoes, designers are leaving no stones unturned. Creativity is at an all-time high, the tech is futuristic,  and ergonomics and style quotient are given equal importance. Although most of these inventive sneaker designs are still concepts, that doesn’t stop us from drooling all over them! From conceptual electrified Tesla football shoes to an Adidas Air Jordans concept, these sneaker designs are as futuristic and fashionable as they get. This collection of conceptual shoes will have you begging Nike and Adidas to transform them into a reality! Enjoy.

Former designer at Nike and Adidas, Hussain Almossawi, found himself asking a question. As a Tesla enthusiast, what if the company with its resources, creativity, and incredibly wealthy CEO, decided to go beyond sports cars and design sports apparel instead? The conceptual Tesla Football Shoes combine Hussain’s love for football and for the Tesla brand into one positively radiant pair of performance sportswear. The shoes come in pristine white, with electroluminescent fabric woven into the sides and back, creating bright lines on the side, leading to a glowing, pulsating Tesla logo at the back. Moreover, the studs on the base of the shoes glow too, making them look exceptional in the dark but even more so when you’re dribbling away with the ball, creating one of the most beautiful light streaks as you run!

Designer Thomas Le decided to take a stab at creating conceptual Adidas Air Jordans. The Adidas Air Jordans sport a very contemporary space-inspired aesthetic, tipping their hat not only at the progress we’ve made with space travel over the past few years but also sort of giving a nod to Jordan’s 1996 film Space Jam. Built with the classic Boost outsoles and their bubbly texture, the Adidas Air Jordans outsoles extend all the way to the back of the heel. The lifestyle sneaker also opts for a laceless design, with elastic fasteners on each side, along with an outer body that’s been knit to hug your feet for a secure fit. They’ve been rendered in three colors, for now… an astronaut-ish white, a space-gray, and a coral-white-black combination that feels like a contemporary take on the original Air Jordans color scheme.

Print

Print

Taking spike positioning details from Adidas’ Track Spike and Combine Cleat, and taking into account wind flow analysis around the foot, Daniel developed the conceptual Adidas ONE/1. The ONE/1 wraps around your shoe like a second skin but doesn’t look like one. Designed to be made out of interconnected cylindrical channels, the ONE/1’s design looks like a loosely woven mesh that’s breathable and effective. In fact, the cylindrical wraparound makes up the entire shoe. It stretches with ease, guides air around the foot efficiently while minimizing drag, and provides a secure yet spring-like quality, adding to the foot’s performance, making it better. The ONE/1 also looks nothing short of incredible. The aesthetic it explores isn’t just new and unique, it also looks incredibly hard to replicate.

Say hello to probably the most bizarre shoe collab in history. This pair of Nike Air-Jordans X Crocs collaborative clogs surely will make you feel a bunch of things, including, hopefully, a second reckoning. While the idea of footwear co-created by Nike, Jordan, and Crocs may sound absurd at first, these clogs honestly don’t look all that bad. I mean hey, I’d wear them… probably. The shoes come in the distinctive single-piece design that’s archetypal to the Crocs brand, with a silhouette that seems familiar too. Its details, however, borrow influences directly from the Air Jordan 1, with a perforated toebox and that iconic swoosh that wraps around the back of your foot, becoming the heel-strap.

Designer Denis Agarkov’s thought process behind the ICARUS-4 Space Sneaker is simple. If we’re going to get humans into space, shouldn’t we also have an extraplanetary sense of design to match? The ICARUS-4 are conceptual sneakers for zero-gravity lifestyles… Designed for astronauts to provide maximum flexibility during repairs and maintenance, but cool-looking enough to be a universal fashion statement, the ICARUS-4 comes with a unique aesthetic that’s equal parts suited for a spacewalk and a ramp-walk. You’re looking at a shoe that sports an Ortho-Fabric body (the kind found on EMU suits) and a metal clasp to secure the footwear, with luminescent markers to allow you to wear the shoe in low-light conditions. The most interesting detail, however, is the shoe’s two-part sole design.

3d_surprise_shoe_1

3d_surprise_shoe_2

The 3D Surprise shoe was created as a result of conceptualizing directly in 3D CAD software, rather than sketching first and building later. The conceptual shoe features a unibody design with a subtle gradient from top to bottom, visually creating a separation between shoe and outsole, while there’s no surface break between the two. Harnessing the shape of the foot, building on the bones and muscles within, the 3D Surprise was envisioned as a new-age hiking boot with a design that was simple and sophisticated looking. The shoe comes with an exaggerated protrusion detail for the ankle bone and a textured sole that looks industrial and organic at the same time.

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A designer in Moscow is working on “self-wearing” shoes. Inspired by how chemical reactions in a Venus Flytrap enable it to close down its jaws on any unsuspecting prey (remember, plants don’t have muscles or a nervous system), the Biomech Sneaker concepts borrow not just the idea of clamping themselves onto the wearer’s feet but even the aesthetic. Designer Ilyas Darakchiev worked out two conceptual designs based on the principle where the shoe wraps itself around the wearer’s ankle the minute his/her foot slips in, and even went on to build prototypes of how the shoes would actually work in real life. There are no wires involved, or power supplies like Nike’s HyperAdapt that need charging in order to self-lace (yeah, a $720 shoe that needs to be charged to be worn).

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Carota Design’s Nike self-lacing sneaker concepts literally look like they’re from the future. With hard-shell components and gloss/matte finish contrasts, they don’t look or feel like traditional shoes at all, aside from the familiar silhouette, which definitely is a good thing. Designed to highlight the futuristic aspect of shoes that secure themselves, the conceptual sneakers come with a red lace that stands well against the black sneakers. The laces travel from the outsole to the front, and then to the heel, where they connect to a motor that’s triggered by a button. Tap against the button and the motor tightens the laces up, securing the shoe in place. Tap a second time and the laces loosen, allowing you to slip your shoe out! A textbook ‘shut up and take my money product!

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Since 2008, Nike’s Flywire design has continued to evolve, but most have integrated the strategically placed cables beneath textile. Rather than hide this dynamic tech, the Nike Untitled 7 shoe concept highlights it as a primary footwear feature. The Flywire is stretched and extends through the sole to the upper portion of the shoe, much like a suspension bridge. The cables wrap over the top of the foot onto the other side of the shoe, securing the foot to the sole and upper. So as not to mess with the delicate cable balance, an integrated zipper opening on the inside of the shoe allows for easier access while refining the aesthetic.

Not your average shoe-customization project, Moscow-based Ilyas Darakchiev managed to completely uplift a pair of Adidas TR7 sneakers by redesigning its outsole to look positively monstrous. Titled the ‘Beton’ project, Ilyas sought out to customize his pair of sneakers differently. While people paint shoes, switch materials, swap parts like shoelaces, Ilyas’s project was more additive, if you will. Using modeling clay and its associated tools, Ilyas added volume to the sneaker outsole, giving it a thick, eye-catching, aggressive avatar, complete with shark-teeth-inspired details at the very base. While the modeling clay essentially was meant for a strictly aesthetic proof-of-concept, I’d imagine outsole customization, to the extent that Ilyas pushed it, should be quite possible with the correct set of tools. A resin mold, a rig to securely hold the shoe, and some high-quality polyurethane and boom!