About

adidas ZX

Forget for a moment that you’re looking at a lifestyle sneaker. The ZX line was adidas’s serious running gear in the late eighties, and the numbers weren’t random: they indicated which type of runner a shoe was meant for. The higher the number, the more shoe you got.

The bridge under your arch

The main innovation is under the sole and is called Torsion. The idea was that your heel and forefoot should be able to rotate independently, like a bare foot does. A rigid sole prevents that; a floppy sole gives no support. adidas solved it with a curved bridge under the arch that connects the two halves but lets them work. At the time that was a serious piece of engineering, not marketing.

A shoe made of parts

Look at the side panel and count the layers. Mesh as a base, suède overlays on top, a window where you can see through the upper, and around the heel a molded plastic cage with ventilation slots in it. Where the Superstar consists of two materials, these consist of six or seven. That visible engineering is exactly why the line was rediscovered decades later: it looks complicated because it was.

Which number you’re looking at

The ZX 8000 is the best-known member and sits at the top of the original range; the 7000, 6000 and 4000 sit below it, with less cushioning and a simpler construction. They share the last and the Torsion concept, but differ in materials and height. The name ZX therefore says little — the number behind it says everything. Those looking for the quieter side of adidas look to the Court family.

On this page you can see which models from the adidas ZX range are currently hottest according to the Hypescore, the minimum price they’re found at and in how many shops they’re in stock.