Just ahead of the new year, adidas launch the Ultraboost 20 in partnership with the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, where the new silhouette underwent rigorous stress testing to ensure that it offers the ultimate combination of comfort and responsiveness.
The official partnership between adidas and ISS was announced earlier this month enabling adidas to innovate, learn, and share information with the vision of co-creating the future of sports performance. Drawing parallels with the construction of a space shuttle, in which every part has a unique purpose, each element in the adidas Ultraboost 20 has been maximised for a specific performance-driven function.
Changes, tweaks and improvements across the board then. First up, the new and advanced Primeknit upper, features Tailored Fibre Placement (TFP) technology. The innovative technique lays down fibres to the millimeter, resulting in a high-performance, lightweight upper which is precisely stitched and constructed. From take-off to landing, runners can initiate control with a shoe that exactly calibrates foot support to fully unleash the explosive energy of boost.
Then, heading to the underside, there’s an optimised Boost midsole. We all know what Boost does by now, capturing the energy in every stride and returning it at toe-off to propel runners forward. At the same time, the 3D Heel Frame – a stripped-back design which cradles the heel and locks it firmly in place – brings the perfect mix of adaptability and support.
Beyond the Ultraboost 20, the future will see adidas sending Boost technology on a mission up to the ISS as part of the ground-breaking long-term partnership. In space, the scientists will study the Boost moulding process without the distraction of Earth's gravity, so adidas can unlock the future of boost.
The adidas Ultraboost 20 is set to drop in a number of limited-edition colourways in the lead-up to the official global launch on 6 December, 2019.
