adidas' Revolutionary Torsion System Is Still Alive & Well 30 Years Later
adidas' Torsion System has been a mainstay in the brand’s running and lifestyle footwear catalogue since the technology’s inception in 1988. Torsion was originally introduced in adidas footwear for trail running, boasting lightweight arch support for maximum stability and comfort. It was so effective and widely loved by runners, though, that adidas quickly moved to feature it in a wider range of footwear types.
Proving its importance to high-performance functionality, the technology, which uses a TPU arch to bridge the heel and forefoot allowing them to move independent from each other, is still in use in many of the Three Stripes’ sneakers to this day. As the technology turns 30, adidas continues to celebrate its innovation via brand-new sneaker drops and remastered kicks.
Throughout the year, adidas has managed to balance its release calendar with high-tech new models such as the Torsion X and retro remakes, such as the remastered ZX series, a hugely innovative and popular line itself. The ZX line originally ran between 1984 and 1989 before being replaced by the Equipment (EQT) range. adidas’ Torsion system played a key role in making the ZX line as popular as it was.
View some of the best adidas Torsion sneakers on the market below.
With so many models, both past and present, using adidas’ Torsion technology, we‘ve rounded up some of the best for you to shop below. The list includes remastered classics, more technical options, as well as some new sneaker models you may not have known even use Torsion.
adidas Consortium Torsion TRDC
Originally created for trail running, the Torsion TRDC was one of the lesser known sneakers to utilize the Torsion System, which is why it as a surprise when adidas brought it back in all its glory this year. While unexpected, the Torsion TRDC’s return makes sense, due to the sneaker’s rugged and busy upper, a hallmark of many of today’s most popular sneakers. In addition to Torsion System, the runner was originally outfitted with an aggressive outsole pattern with superior tread and mixed-material uppers for comfort and stability, which adidas has been so kind as to bring back in near-OG form.
adidas Originals ZX 6000
The ZX 6000 dropped as part of a larger, remastered ZX Series pack and is more conservative compared to the above Torsion TRDC. The ZX 6000 was brought back in an OG colorway with OG materials to boot, every collector’s dream. The ZX line was one of adidas’ most popular performance running lines, later becoming a lifestyle favorite the world over.
adidas Consortium ZX 10000C
After teaming up with Berlin-based retailer, Overkill, on a “Best Of” ZX-themed release, adidas Consortium gives its brand new ZX 10,000C silhouette a wider reveal. Designed with input from the original designer of the ZX range, Jacques Chassaing, the ZX 10,000C represents the next chapter in the iconic ZX lineage.
adidas Originals LXCON 94
After dropping the modernized LXCON Future earlier this year, adidas Originals brought back the sneaker that inspired it, the 1994 Lexicon OG, a close cousin of several models from the adidas EQT range. The sneaker features many key Three Stripes technologies of the era, including an adiPRENE midsole and a Torsion support system, and structural cables that lock in the the Forefoot and midfoot.
adidas Originals ZX 5000
The ZX 5000 is another member of the aforementioned ZX Series pack, and also arrives featuring OG materials and a colorways straight out of the ’80s. For those that want a more classic sneaker but also don’t want to sacrifice on comfort and contemporary technology, this is the shoe for you.
adidas Originals ZX Torsion
The ZX Torsion takes design cues from classic ZX models, and this initial aqua, blue, yellow, and red colorway is a nod to the ZX 8000’s signature “Aqua” look. Underlining just how “past-meets-future” this sneaker is, a Boost midsole is paired with EVA cup tooling, rubber elements that point to OG ZX tooling, as well as a translucent Torsion bar in the midfoot.
Norse Projects x adidas Torsion TRDC
We know, we know, there’s already a Torsion TRDC on this list but what Norse Projects has done with this retro model deserves a second spot on our roundup. For its take on the Torsion TRDC, Norse Projects puts the shoe’s functional features front and centre, faithfully updating the original’s silhouette, materials and technologies.
adidas Originals by Pharrell Williams SolarHU
The SolarHu is Pharrell Williams’ high-end take on the popular Ultraboost. It features a similar Boost midsole and fully-knit upper, as well as the Torsion bar found on its mainline cousin. As with the Ultraboost, the SolarHu’s biggest selling point is its comfort and represents a more modern style incorporating Torsion.
adidas Ultraboost 19
The adidas Ultraboost debuted in 2014 and, thanks to a Kanye West co-sign and supreme comfort, became the ultimate, must-have shoe. Five years later, adidas brought out an updated version, the Ultraboost 19, which defied expectations and clocks in at even more comfortable than its predecessor thanks to 20 percent more Boost in the midsole.
adidas Solarglide 19
The SolarGlide 19 is one of the most high-tech sneakers on this list. Whether you’re looking for a performance sneaker for your workouts or a more techy casual option, the SolarGlide will not disappoint. It features Boost, Torsion, and technical stretch fabrics on the upper that promise comfort and durability wherever you wear the shoe.
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