DesignBoom Magazine has put together a history of Adidas featuring some of its very first track and field shoes. The series of photographs captures the company’s early innovations, ranging from sprint to long jump cleats from the 1920s, some of which were even worn in gold medal performances at various Olympic Games.
First thing’s first: We need to talk about the name. Nike’s debut 3-D football cleat (a first for the industry) is called the Vapor Laser Talon. Sure, it sounds like three superheroes (with limited imaginations) joined forces to fight evil, but what’s in a name? Weighing a mere 5.6 ounces, the boots were designed specifically for the 40-yard dash, to enhance a player’s “zero step.” (For the uninitiated, that increases the speed of off-the-line launch, which feeds into a player’s maximum momentum.)
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