Q&A with adidas Product Manager Charlotte Heidmann

We interviewed adidas product manager Charlotte Heidmann to get the low-down on the new innovative adidas 4DFWD running shoes.

Hi Charlotte, thanks for taking the time to answer some important questions about the new adidas 4DFWD running shoes. Firstly, could you please explain how they fit into the overall range of adidas shoes? What type of running, terrain and distance are they most suitable for?

The 4DFWD is created in a new pillar for the adidas performance running range. It is created to make running easier and creates a smooth run. It is made for any distance and terrain, pushing to move you forward.

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Are they designed for training and racing? Or both?

The new 4DFWD is designed for any training and can also be worn for faster runs. When it comes to the racing segment, we have the great adizero range which is specifically created for those consumers. Nevertheless, the usage of 4DFWD is limitless.

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Who is the 4DFWD aimed at? Elite athletes or runners of every ability?

The product has been tested with our professional athletes, including the likes of Dafne Schippers, Wayde van Niekerk and Miriam Dattke and we use this feedback to continually inform and improve our products. With that being said, the shoe provides an all-new running experience for everyone, no matter the experience or ability.

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What type or runner will this shoe be suitable for?

The 4DFWD has been created as a neutral shoe for a neutral gait cycle. Nevertheless, the data and insights we have collected in order to code the midsole have been collected from all types of runners. Therefore, during the coding process of our lattice structure, we have taken every runner into consideration.

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What makes the 4DFWD so unique from other shoe designs?

It is a completely new running experience, which we haven’t introduced before. We have unleashed and pushed the unique capabilities of 3D printing and digital data-driven creation to achieve something that we cannot do with traditional midsole technologies. It's genuinely a new chapter not only in 4D but also in performance running in general.

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Can you explain the research, design and development that went into creating such an innovative running shoe?

The creation process of the 4DWD has been a great collaboration between different teams, of course also including our partner Carbon, with whom we have developed 4D lattice midsole technology since 2017.

We have used their Digital Light Synthesis technology and combined this with many years of athlete data to produce precision tuned 3D printed midsoles. By combining insights and science, we were able to construct the unique ‘bowtie’ shaped lattice from more than 5 million possibilities to find one that fulfilled most of the varying consumer needs. The shoe was then tested through a range of bio-mechanical testing procedures at the world-renowned University of Calgary, which analysed specific aspects such as forward motion, braking force and running economy.

We also tested extensively with adidas runners local to the creation team in Germany and a carefully selected cohort of high-level running creators across the USA, while cutting edge cognitive perception testing was carried out at Arizona State University.

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Can you tell us more about the technical aspects and specification of this shoe?

WEIGHT: 333gr. for size UK 8.5

HEIGHT: Stack height: 11.3 mm, Forefoot stack height: 21.2 mm, Rearfoot stack height: 32.5 mm

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Is it true that the 4DFWD is the first shoe in the world to be constructed of 3D printed materials? Will this improve the durability and lifespan of the shoe?

We have actually been mass producing 3D printed midsoles since 2017, but each iteration of 4D is more ambitious than the next, using those insights and exploring the possibilities of the latest technologies.

For now, we are proud to introduce the 4DFWD with its new great lattice structure that moves you forward. As mentioned before, the possibilities with 4D are limitless, so let’s see what the future will bring.

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How much support and stability does this shoe provide?

The unique bowtie-shaped midsole positively counters forces during the braking phase of running and shears forward with every step. Upon impact with the ground, peak braking force is reduced compared to previous generations of 4D midsole, redirecting these vertical forces into horizontal forward motion.

The also offers 23% more cushioning compared to previous generations of 4D midsole under vertical loading in mechanical testing conditions. The Primeknit+ Upper is also designed to work perfectly in tune with the adidas 4DFWD midsole, supporting your every move forward with a sock-like fit, while letting the foot breathe freely.

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What is the expected lifespan of 4DFWD?

The 4DFWD is built to last. During the creation process this model went through all of our high-performance testing standards, which test the shoe to its very limits. Therefore, we are confident to say that the lifespan is just as long as all of our other running shoes.

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SHOP ADIDAS 4DFWD RUNNING SHOES NOW

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