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Adidas Turns an Affordable Everyday Running Shoe into Streetwear Royalty

It might be off-putting to see the Shooting Star logo on such a max-stack performance sneaker.

White and light blue athletic shoe with mesh upper and light blue laces on a blue gradient background.Adidas
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Ethan Brehm

By Ethan Brehm

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If you’ve ever wished your everyday running shoes could simultaneously express your love for streetwear culture, you’re now in luck.

Bape is no stranger to collaborations, and its history with Adidas is the stuff of legend. Over the past 23 years, the footwear giant has teamed up with the Japanese streetwear icon literally dozens of times. However, these drops have been mostly exclusive to lifestyle sneakers, such as the Superstar or Campus 80s.

White and light blue Adidas Adizero running shoe with yellow accents and a star design on the side.
You’ve never seen Bapes like this before.
Adidas

Now, the two brands have collided yet again, but on something much different than before.

New stack city

For the newest collab, Bape put its signature Shooting Star logo on the Adizero Evo SL. This isn’t a retro casual sneaker but a 39mm max stack everyday trainer that borrows from premium racing tech for just $200. Performance-driven features include the full-length Lightstrike Pro midsole for high energy return, a nylon stability insert and a lightweight build at around 8oz (US men’s size 9).

White and light blue Adidas Adizero Evo SL running shoe with a blue star and lightning bolt design on the side.
The Adizero Evo SL is a serious everyday trainer with a 39mm heel stack.
Adidas
White and light blue running shoe with gold Adidas stripes and "A BATHING APE®" text on the sole.
The inner foot of the right shoe features a golden Three Stripes logo.
Adidas

If you’re a longtime sneakerhead, it might still be a bit off-putting to see the Shooting Star on such a distinctly modern running shoe. Adidas branding is still present but Bape feels like it takes over most of the design. 

Close-up of a white and pink Adidas Adizero sneaker with floral-patterned pink laces and inner lining, and olive green heel detail.
As opposed to light blue shoe, the left shoe comes in pink.
Adidas

The pair splits the colors for each foot. The right shoe gets the light blue treatment on the star logo where the Three Stripes usually is, along with the insole, laces and general accents against the off-white backdrop. 

Meanwhile, the left side is done up in pink, with the Three Stripes on the outside of the foot this time around. Matching-color camo-style patterns can also be found on the collar and laces and the inner-foot of each shoe features the opposing brand’s logo in gold.

White and light blue sneaker with "ADIZERO" on the tongue and a blue star on the side.
Each respective color gets a camo-style pattern on the laces, insole and collar.
Adidas

Still a running shoe

This is not technically Bape’s first foray into running shoes. The brand has lended its design language to the likes of the Adidas ZX 8000 or even the New Balance 2002R or Reebok Instapump Fury. But those always felt like lifestyle sneakers masquerading as runners.

Shoe sole with yellow and blue rubber sections and Continental logo on a white base.
Continental rubber outsoles provide grip when you’re pounding the pavement.
Adidas
Pair of shoe insoles with pink and blue camouflage patterns featuring abstract faces and logos.
The insoles come in two different colors as well.
Adidas

Confusing use cases aside, the Bape-led Adizero is kind of a big deal. It’s a prime example of the current state of sneaker culture, where running shoes are becoming the new everyday beaters. Repping Bape on your runners is a refreshing change of pace from the oft-in-house ambitions of most footwear brands when it comes to performance shoes. Likewise, this isn’t a legacy model that’s been collabed to death but a silhouette that’s less than two years old. 

Availability and pricing

Set to drop next month, the Adidas x Bape Adizero Evo SL carries a $200 price tag from both brands’ stores.

About the Author: Ethan Brehm is an associate editor at Gear Patrol writing about footwear, watches, spirits, EDC and more. When he’s not shopping for his next G-Shock, he spends his time watching movies and planning a future road trip with his family. He firmly believes CDs sound better than vinyl.

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