LOOPED

ADI'S LATEST DROP STEPS OUTTA THE SHADE

By Nic Hayman, 6 December 2016

You might think 23 is a bit young to be popping out quintuplets, but adidas has never been one for convention. As the latest offspring of the 1993-born Tubular, the Shadow sees The Brand With The Three Stripes take its boldest step yet.

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Inspired by car tyres, adidas invented the original Tubular as a running shoe with a pressure-adjustable sole unit – yep, you literally had to inflate your shoes before wearing them. We’re not down with lugging around a hand pump in case our kicks go flat (beware of sharp edges), but the bravery of the brand’s design is undeniable.

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Fast-forward to now, and adidas still channels that progressive thinking throughout the Tubular line, though strictly for stunting – the treadmill’s been left way behind.

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Taking cues from adi’s top-line collection (now every season is Yeezy season), the Tubular Shadow boasts the smooth lines and minimal looks of the type that sparks overnight campouts and server meltdowns across the globe.

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You’ve got a couple of options when it comes to the deconstructed upper: there are leather and suede versions for a luxe look, or a flecked weave to bring a little more texture to your wheels.

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Rope laces and the latest evolution of that game-changing sole unit – sans valve – round off a shoe whose story began over two decades ago, but still has us sitting up and paying attention.