Adidas: history and innovation
How the brand began
Adidas was founded in 1949 by Adolf “Adi” Dassler in Herzogenaurach, Germany, after he fell out with his brother Rudolf, who went on to found Puma across the river. The brand made its name quickly, and never more so than at the 1954 World Cup final – the “Miracle of Bern” – when West Germany beat Hungary on a soaked pitch wearing Adidas boots with screw-in studs.
The three stripes are now among the most recognisable marks in the world, at home in sport, in music and on the street in roughly equal measure.
The technologies that mattered
Then
- Screw-in studs (1954): interchangeable studs for football boots, and a decisive advantage on a wet pitch.
- Torsion System (1988): a thermoplastic arch through the middle of the sole, letting the forefoot and the heel move independently for better stability.
- EQT (1991): the Equipment line, stripped back to function alone – “everything that is essential, and nothing that is not”.
Now
- Boost: foam made of fused eTPU capsules, with energy return few materials have matched since.
- 4D: a midsole printed with light and oxygen rather than moulded, tuned lattice by lattice.
- Lightstrike Pro: a very light, very elastic foam, reserved for the brand’s fastest racing shoes.
The models worth knowing
My pick of the Adidas range for 2026:
Adidas Ultraboost Light
Why it stands out: the lightest Ultraboost yet. The reworked Boost foam makes it exceptionally comfortable for everyday runs and long walks alike.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3
Why it stands out: the marathon racing shoe at the top of the range. Carbon rods in a super foam make it very fast and very efficient – and not much use for anything else.
Adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2
Why it stands out: half trainer, half walking boot. Light but sturdy, with a waterproof membrane – which in this country is the point.