The 10 Best adidas Shoes Of 2017
adidas made major jumps in 2017 surpassing Jordan Brand as the number 2 brand in terms of U.S. market share. That growth hinged on the their outstanding sales of Originals, but there were plenty of new models that caught our eye – and they weren’t designed by Kanye West. Check out our list for The 10 Best adidas Shoes of 2017; stay tuned for our Jordan list the day after the Christmas holiday.
10. David Beckham x adidas Accelerator Ultra Boost
David Beckham and adidas teamed up in 2017 to celebrate the 20-year partnership between the two globally recognizable icons. The meeting of their minds resulted in a new-look Ultra Boost silhouette that emulates the aesthetic make-up of the soccer star’s favorite Predator Accelerator cleat. The triple black offering features red taping on its inner ankle that represents one of the most significant colors to Beckham throughout his illustrious career.
9. adidas Ultra Boost Mid
The long-awaited arrival of the Ultra Boost Mid touched down with force in 2017. After debuting as part of KITH’s Aspen-themed collection, the Ultra Boost Mid saw several more iterations throughout the year while paving the way for the outdoor-friendly ATR version. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough UB Mids to really make a dent.
8. adidas NMD CS2
Billed as the sequel to the futuristic aesthetic featured on the original City Sock silhouette, the CS2 came equipped with a revised upper that featured a slight dip at the ankle thanks to the kimono-style wrapped upper. A collaboration with KITH and Naked helped propel the silhouette into streetwear relevancy and paved the way for intriguing designs and colorways like the “Ronin” pack. while newer iterations of the CS2 have kept it one of the more relevant models by adidas this year.
7. adidas EQT Boost 93/17
The brand continued its movement of modernizing its classics by introducing the EQT Guidance ’93 with 2017 upgrades. The asymmetrical upper and chiseled Boost cushion gave new life to a foregone classic, while further modifications by White Mountaineering, mastermind World, and BAIT displayed its versatility.
6. adidas Crazy Explosive 2017 Primeknit
While simply a revised version of the Crazy Explosive that debuted in 2016, the Crazy Explosive 2017 Primeknit was widely considered to be one of the best basketball shoes of the year. Exciting colorways like the Las Vegas edition and the incredibly limited Kristaps Porzingis PE drops at Packer Shoes had sneakerheads hunting for adidas Hoops kicks like never before.
5. Pharrell x adidas NMD Human Race TR
Pharrell gave Kanye a run for his money as adidas’ top celebrity partner in 2017 with a plethora of additions to his increasingly popular Human Race line. Featuring the same aesthetic makeup as the previous capsule, the Adidas NMD Human Race TR silhouette was highlighted by some lofty collaborations with Chanel, Billionaire Boys Club, and N*E*R*D*. Four much more accessible iterations with trail running capabilities hit the market in November, with each sneaker carrying its own inspirational message embroidered on its forefoot. As more friends and family colorways begin to surface, fans of adidas and Pharrell’s pairing should have more to look forward to in 2018.
4. adidas Yeezy Powerphase
Perhaps the most un-Yeezy like sneaker from Kanye West’s line with adidas was the Powerphase, a spin on a vintage 1980’s training silhouette of the same name. By adding gold foil “Calabasas” branding and infusing the model with a soft premium leather, this revised version of the retro “dad” shoe debuted in a bone-white color scheme in March, and was joined by a grey version in December.
3. adidas Yeezy Boost 350 v2
Arguably the most popular of Kanye’s adidas iterations, the 350 V2 was made available in six new colorways in 2017. Each new drop of the V2, which included the “Core Black”, “Cream”, “Zebra”, Semi-Frozen Yellow”, “Beluga 2.0”, and “Blue Tint”, sent the sneaker world into a full-on frenzy.
2. adidas Futurecraft 4D
Dubbed one of Time Magazine’s 10 best inventions of 2017, the Futurecraft 4D introduced footwear technology that was years ahead of its time. Equipped with a liquid plastic, 3-D printed outsole, this running silhouette provides a customized fit for the wearer in a matter of a few hours – a process that would normally take days or weeks. The innovative design initially released in an incredibly limited quantity, which has led to an enormous asking price on the resale market.
1. adidas Yeezy Boost 700 Wave Runner
When this bulky running silhouette first hit the market in August, it was approached with caution as it represented a significant aesthetic change from the slimmed-down look of the Yeezy Boost 350 V2. Sure enough, the over-sized look eventually sold out and has since gone on to demand a resale value nearing the thousands, while those who passed on the surprise drop rueing the day. Initially unveiling at the Yeezy Season 5 fashion show earlier this year, the first colorway of the Yeezy 700, dubbed the “Wave Runner” has been confirmed as the most limited Boost-equipped Yeezy ever.
Honorable mentions: adidas Tennis Hu, adidas Handball Top, adidas NMD R1 Primeknit
