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Adidas Quietly Made Its Military-Born Sneaker Even More Utilitarian

Reissued in fits and starts over the years, the BW Army once supplied to West German forces takes on its most functional form yet.

Close-up of a white and beige suede sneaker toe with cream laces and a gum rubber sole on a blue gradient background.Adidas
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By Jack Seemer

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The three stripes you’ll find on the sides of most Adidas sneakers make up one of the world’s most recognizable motifs.

All to say, their absence on the BW Army should only underscore the shoe’s utilitarian heritage. That design dates back to the ’70s and ’80s, when Adidas supplied it to trainees in the West German Army.

Reissued in fits and starts since then, the newly surfaced BW Army Decon represents what may just be the most functional variant yet.

Black Adidas sneaker with suede and leather upper and gum rubber sole on a light background.
The BW Army Decon is a lightweight version of a classic design, following after shoes like the Samba Decon.
Adidas

The specific silhouette follows in the footsteps of the Samba Decon, which is having something of a resurgence thanks to Harry Styles sporting a pair during an appearance on SNL.

White sneaker with beige suede accents and white laces viewed from above.
It retains the familiar components of the original BW Army, including the suede overlay around the toebox.
Adidas
Close-up of black leather Adidas shoe with textured gum sole and Adidas logo embossed on the side.
A collapsible heel can convert the shoe into a slip-on mule.
Adidas

Like that pair, the BW Army Decon retains the overall look of its base design, right down to monochromatic colorways and a suede overlap on the toebox.

But an unstructured, collapsible heel effectively converts the shoe into a summer-ready mule on-demand.

Pair of white leather and suede sneakers with gum soles and extra white laces beside them.
The BW Army Decon keeps it clean out the gate, sticking to monochromatic colorways with matching laces.
Adidas

Though the tweak runs the risk of being perceived as a gimmick, it feels surprisingly natural in this application.

The result is a stripped-back take on the classic, one that trades a bit of structure for easy-breezy, warm-weather versatility.

Light brown rubber sole of a white sneaker with circular and wave tread patterns and "BW-Sport 265" text.
The sole reads “BW-Sport 265” instead of the usual Adidas name.
Adidas
Black leather Adidas sneaker with gum rubber sole and embossed logo on the heel side.
Form and function.
Adidas

Availability and pricing

Expected to arrive in the US in the coming weeks, the BW Army Decon is currently available in Europe, where it costs 150 euro (approximately $171).

That makes it something of an investment over the regular BW Army, which normally retails for $120.

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.

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