Adidas adds blade technology to a running shoe

The Adidas Springblade is the brand’s latest step in the athletic technology evolution. Six years in the making, it’s the first running shoe with individually tuned blades designed to propel runners forward. Unlike standard EVA midsoles that deliver energy return in a vertical direction, Springblade features 16 forward angled blades made of high-tech polymer, which compresses and releases energy to create an efficient push-off. Couple that with a better fit on the top of the foot and improved temperature resistance and this could be the springboard Adidas needs–in May, the brand ranked fourth in the crowded cateogry, with 7.4 percent market share (down from 8.2 percent last year), compared to Nike’s estimated 43 percent.