If there’s one thing the opposite sexes can agree on, it’s that we’re completely different. There are the obvious things that separate us—like those lumps we have on our chest and the thing that dangles between their legs—and then there are the more subtle, such as our innate ability to multitask and their…well, inability to. But have you ever considered how we compare when it comes to exercise? Sure, we know we don’t bulk up like men from strength training or slim down like them from cardio (#lifeisunfair) but apparently we run differently too. The team at sportswear giant, adidas, tracked men and women during their runs and discovered that we need support in very different places. And so, they developed their latest running shoe,  the UltraBOOST X , innovated specifically for women. And no, it’s not just a copy of a men’s shoe that comes in “girly” colors (honestly, if we see another hot pink running shoe …) Designers created the shoe based on feedback from ARAMIS motion tracking technology, which indicated where the female foot needed the most support.

“Based on research of the female foot, we tailored the leading technology of UltraBOOST specifically for women, delivering the most innovative and technical running shoe in an industry-leading silhouette,” said Andre Maestrini, general manager for adidas Running. “We’re excited to offer a unique experience to female runners around the globe, providing the tools for them to uplift their run.”how much do custom nike shoes cost Those female foot-specific design aspects? nike tennis shoes pinkA free-floating arch to support the more flexible female arch; nike shoes n its pricea slimmer, padded heel counter that hugs the back of the foot, which tends to be narrower on women; coolest nike shoes 2013

a knitted, breathable toe area that accommodates for wider feet without restricting the metatarsals or toes. The Sporteluxe Team gave the sneaks a try for one week’s worth of runs—and overall, found the shoe to be super comfy and supportive. Getting used to the floating arch aspect took a little while (one editor who normally runs in more minimalist shoes noticed some pain and fatigue in her arch after a few days, which eventually subsided once her feet adjusted to the feel of the shoe), but other than that these shoes make it easy to slip your feet in and hit the pavement for your morning run.best women's walking shoes 2015 uk If you’re an avid runner who likes a little bit of cushion—and you like looking down to a stylish sneak—the adidas  UltraBOOST X might just be your shoe hero.coolest nike shoes of 2013

Sporting goods giant adidas is unveiling the future of performance footwear with Futurecraft 3D, a unique 3D-printed running shoe midsole which can be tailored to the cushioning needs of an individual’s foot. As part of the ‘Futurecraft series’, this forward-looking initiative places open source collaboration and craftsmanship at the heart of design to drive innovation across all elements of production. Imagine walking into an adidas store, running briefly on a treadmill and instantly getting a 3D-printed running shoe – this is the ambition of the adidas 3D-printed midsole. Creating a flexible, fully breathable carbon copy of the athlete’s own footprint, matching exact contours and pressure points, it will set the athlete up for the best running experience. Linked with existing data sourcing and footscan technologies, it opens unique opportunities for immediate in-store fittings. In order to provide the ultimate personalized experience for all athletes, adidas created a unique combination of material and process.

The production breakthrough will take the running shoe standard to the next level, offering unprecedented individualized support and cushioning for every foot, to enable athletes to perform at their best. “Futurecraft 3D is a prototype and a statement of intent. We have used a one-of-its-kind combination of process and material in an entirely new way. Our 3D-printed midsole not only allows us to make a great running shoe, but also to use performance data to drive truly bespoke experiences, meeting the needs of any athlete.” Eric Liedtke, Executive Board Member of adidas AG. For adidas Futurecraft 3D, Materialise assisted adidas with the generation of a lightweight structure in the 3D-printed midsole which would keep the shoe at a comfortable weight.  The design and engineering team at Materialise worked with Materialise 3-matic to create the structure, improving the midsoles’ flexibility without compromising on rigidness and strength.  The midsoles were then laser sintered in TPU, the first durable fully-flexible 3D printing material to be used in a consumer product, through Materialise’s certified manufacturing process.

Additive Manufacturing automation and control software Materialise Streamics provided an overview of the entire production process, ensuring the traceability and repeatability which is crucial to the manufacturing of end-use consumer products. “Working on this project with adidas has been a great opportunity for Materialise’s certified manufacturing process,” says Haritz Elexpuru, Materialise, who coordinated the collaboration. “From software, to rapid prototyping, to manufacturing: all of Materialise’s strengths have played their part for Futurecraft.” Next Steps: The Futurecraft Series The Futurecraft 3D story is the first chapter of the adidas Futurecraft series, which demonstrates the brand’s commitment to innovating throughout all areas of production. “Futurecraft is our sandbox. It is how we challenge ourselves every day to explore the boundaries of our craft,” said Paul Gaudio, Creative Director, adidas. “Driving material and process innovation, bringing the familiar into the future.