Adidas’s Military-Born Sneaker Is the Sleeper Hit That Keeps Getting Better

Subtle details and a streamlined aesthetic continue to elevate the brand’s nononsense everyday trainer.

Close-up of a beige sneaker with cream laces, red stitching detail, and a gum sole against a teal background.

Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

By Jack Seemer

Published March 30, 2026

·

Updated March 30, 2026

If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Sans stripes, the BW Army may not look like your typical Adidas shoe. But its pedigree goes back just as far as the best of them.

Adidas was one of the original suppliers of the Germany Army Trainer (GAT) throughout the ’70s and ’80s, with the BW Army arriving as a remastered version that preserves the clean, nononsense lines of the original.

However, serious doesn’t make it boring, as Hartcopy continues to prove with its sophomore take on the shoe.

Four Adidas sneakers stacked, two in black leather with gum soles and two in beige leather with gum soles. — Adidas and Hartcopy churned out two new colorways of the BW Army.

The publisher-turned-sneaker-collaborator first worked with Adidas on a rendition of the BW Army back in 2024. And once again, it’s elevated the sleeper silhouette with a subtle retooling of all the key components.

Close-up of beige leather and suede sneaker toe with beige laces and translucent gum sole. — Like the pair’s inaugural release in 2024, the new BW Army utilities nubuck leather in place of suede for the overlays.

Black leather Adidas sneaker with beige laces and brown textured sole. — Smooth leather makes up the rest of the upper.

Available in two colorways, “Black” and “Muted Grey,” the collaboration trades suede overlays for ones fashioned out of nubuck leather, giving the BW Army a more streamlined aesthetic than what fans will find on the inline version.

That said, nubuck still ever-so-slightly contrasts against the soft-leather base, while the inclusion of Hartcopy’s signature typo motif around the midfoot brings prevents the clean facade from going completely sterile.

Black leather Adidas sneaker with brown textured sole and red stitching detail on side. — Hartcopy’s signature typo motif adds a contrasting elements to the otherwise clean upper.

Light beige leather sneaker with cream laces and gum rubber sole on a white background. — The insoles also have cobranding details.

Availability and pricing

Released in limited numbers via Hartcopy’s official site, both new colorways swiftly sold out.

Fortunately, an Instagram post announcing the drop promised a wider rollout “to follow.”

The previous Adidas and Hartcopy BW Army collab sold for $120 at US retailers such as Kith.

Beige leather Adidas sneaker with gum sole and red stitching detail on side.

Adidas x Hartcopy BW Army

Learn More

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.