Our Favourite adidas Sole Swaps

adidas Micropacer x R1

With its step counter and out-of-this-world metallic silver upper, the Micropacer is an all-timer when it comes to retrofuturistic flair. The design is a clear product of the mid-80s, but it was a game-changer when it dropped over three decades ago. The Micropacer x R1 is a perfect nod to the tech-heavy aesthetic of the original, adding the NMD_R1’s BOOST-cushioned sole to the package.

As for a top colourway, you can’t go wrong with a recent drop, which paired camouflage and premium materials with a black sole and red, silver and blue Three Stripes branding.

adidas ZX930 x EQT

The ZX930 may very well be the single most underrated ZX model, so we certainly weren’t complaining when adidas resurrected the old school design, pairing it with a BOOST EQT sole unit. The ‘Triple White’ version also makes for one of the cleanest adi sole swaps ever, as the upper and tooling match up perfectly.

adidas Rising Star x R1

Like the Micropacer, the Rising Star was famed in the mid-80s for its shiny metallic silver upper and red and blue accents. However, its lasting legacy may be the NMD: the Rising Star’s midsole plugs were a clear source of inspiration for those in the NMD_R1’s BOOST tooling – it even influenced the underrated NMD Racer! Naturally, this ‘Never Made’ creation sees the Rising Star and NMD collide, complete with the original 1985 colourway.

 adidas 98 x Crazy BYW

Originally known as the KB8 2 when it was rocked by the Black Mamba during his Three Stripes days, the adidas 98 – also known as the Crazy II – is important for a couple of different reasons: not only was it originally a KB8 signature silhouette, but it provided the inspiration for the KB8 3 that followed – a shoe whose tooling has famously been co-opted by Kanye West’s Yeezy 500. Here, though, the 98 has been modded with the sole of another shoe it inspired: the BOOST-cushioned Crazy BYW. The resulting mashup is perhaps the most inconspicuous hybrid of the entire ‘Never Made’ collection, as the design language flows seamlessly from upper to tooling.

adidas Marathon x 5923

Initially dubbed the Iniki Runner, the I-5923 is one of the better retro-inspired silhouettes out there, eschewing the chunky looks favoured by trendy ‘heads to go with a classic adi trainer aesthetic and comfy BOOST. For the Marathon x 5923, that simple but plush wedge has been paired with the classic Marathon upper, complete with the OG blue look. The Three Stripes even went above and beyond, applying the Marathon’s signature midsole-covering net to the BOOST tooling. At first glance, you might not even realise these are cushioned with BOOST.

adidas Boston Super x R1

The Boston Super has long been synonymous not just with the Boston Marathon, but with its OG combination of deep grey suede, blue nylon, and bright red pops. Fortunately for fans of the original, adi came correct with the Boston Super x R1’s debut execution, retaining the fan-favourite look while BOOSTing the comfort levels with a little NMD re-work.