Every single running shoe on the market -- and likely every single running shoe that's ever been marketed -- makes claims about increasing speed, but designer Aarish Netarwala's new shoe is explicitly designed to make its wearer slower. The Adidas Grit concept shoe is meant to serve as a training tool, helping athletes to expend a high degree of energy efficiently.
Athletics are almost always about superlatives: jumping highest, running fastest, and so on. So the Adidas Grit concept would seem counterintuitive at first. However, the shoes are inspired by the notoriously successful training technique of running on sand. Some of the best athletes in the world, including NBA MVPs Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, train by running on sand dunes because of the extra effort that it requires. The Aarish Netarwala's design mimics the effect of sand within the shoe itself.
What's Driving This Trend
- Slow Running Training
- The trend of intentionally slow running shoes presents an opportunity for innovative training tools that help athletes improve efficiency and expend high energy.
- Sand-based Training
- The trend of designing shoes that mimic running on sand offers opportunities for athletes to train in a controlled environment and experience the benefits of sand training.
- Counterintuitive Athletic Gear
- The trend of creating counterintuitive athletic gear, like the Adidas Grit concept shoe, inspires disruptive innovation in the sports industry by challenging traditional notions of performance enhancement.
Who This Affects Most
- Sportswear Manufacturing
- The sportswear manufacturing industry can capitalize on the trend of slow running shoes by developing specialized training footwear that promotes efficiency and endurance.
- Fitness Equipment
- The fitness equipment industry can explore the trend of sand-based training by creating innovative products that simulate the benefits of running on sand, such as treadmills with adjustable surfaces.
- Athletic Training Services
- The athletic training services industry can leverage the trend of counterintuitive athletic gear by incorporating unconventional training methods, like sand-based workouts, to enhance athlete performance.
