Adidas Just Quietly Upgraded Its Iconic Military Training Sneaker

Following premium makeovers of the Samba and Gazelle, Adidas turns to its trainer with genuine military provenance for its next elevated edition.

Close-up of a tan Adidas sneaker with leather and suede upper and a translucent gum sole.

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By Ben Bowers

Published 2 hours ago

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Adidas has spent years patiently building the BW Army into one of its most compelling silhouettes.

Though the shoe was famously developed as footwear for the West German military in the 1970s and built for function over style, Adidas preciently added it to its style-forward Originals line, paving the way for the BW Army’s cult following among civilians.

Tan leather and suede Adidas sneaker with tonal laces and gum sole on a light background. — The Adidas BW Army Lux in Cardboard/Gum combines a leather and suede upper with tonal laces, finished by a gum rubber sole that anchors the earth-toned palette.

Recently, the brand has noticeably ramped up its attention to the shoe in an apparent effort to upgrade its style status further — pushing it through deconstructions, running-inspired reworks, and high-profile collaborations. And now it’s applying a formula it knows well: the luxury edition.

Top view of a brown leather and suede sneaker with laces on a light background. — Originally developed as footwear for the German military in the 1970s, the BW Army was built for function over style before Adidas brought it into its Originals line and cultivated a devoted civilian following.

It’s the same playbook Adidas ran with the Samba OG Made in Italy and the Gazelle Indoor Made in Italy — take a proven silhouette, elevate the presentation and call it a day.

The BW Army Lux is the latest beneficiary, arriving in two new colorways that look considerably more expensive than their price tags suggest.

Classic looks, modern materials

If we’re being honest, the special Lux designation in this case is a bit of a mystery on paper. At $120, it doesn’t cost more than other BW Army iterations, and the clean, single-tone aesthetic mirrors tonal colorways the shoe has worn before.

Tan leather and suede Adidas sneaker with gum sole viewed from the back side.

Whether the materials are substantively different is unclear, too, at least based on the limited information on Adidas’s product page. In contrast, past luxury editions of the Samba and other classic Adidas models were proudly presented as made in Italy or featuring clearly upgraded materials.

What isn’t unclear: the two new colorways — Brown/Gum and Cardboard/Gum — land with a richness that reads as genuinely upscale.

Close-up of a brown sneaker with suede and leather panels and matching brown laces.

The warm earth tones paired with a gum sole give both options a considered, almost archival quality that, at least on looks alone, aligns with the “Lux” label.

Availability and pricing

Close-up of the heel and sole of a brown Adidas shoe with a textured gum sole. — At $120, the BW Army Lux costs no more than other iterations in the lineup despite its upscale presentation.

Both colorways are available now directly through Adidas. The Adidas BW Army Lux in Brown/Gum and the Adidas BW Army Lux in Cardboard/Gum each retail for $120.

Light brown rubber shoe sole with textured grip patterns and "BW-Sport 265" embossed.

For a silhouette with this much history and this level of polish, keeping the price in line with other BW Army versions feels like a win.

The sneaker has earned its place in Adidas’s rotation through consistent reinvention rather than nostalgia alone, and the Lux editions — whatever their material story — are among the sharpest versions the shoe has seen.

Adidas

Adidas BW Army Lux (Cardboard / Gum)

$120 at Adidas

Adidas

Adidas BW Army Lux (Brown / Gum)

$120 at Adidas

About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.

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