So we’ve talked about Nike, and few can say they love them as much as we do, but are we choosing a favourite child? Well, considering both are billion-dollar companies, and we’re an up-and-coming shoe blog, probably not. Still, it’s about time we give the second-largest shoe company some love!
We’ve been talking about platform and height-enhancing sneakers and looked over some of Nike’s platform trainers. Honestly, while some will definitely make their target audience very happy, we were a little underwhelmed. Not only does Nike’s premier platform sneaker, the PLT.AF.ORMs, not boost height but their selection of other platforms was fairly limited.
Let’s throw our ball into the Adidas court and see if they can step up to the plate and impress us in a way that Nike did not (we still love you, Nike). We’re going to review the selection of Adidas sneakers with platforms today and see if we should have made this post sooner!
SPOILERS: Adidas has a small selection of platform sneakers in a wide range of colourways. They have different heights of platform soles.
Our Platform Selection From Adidas
The trainers Adidas has to offer are incredible. Adidas footwear covers the feet of many and is perfect for a variety of sports, training and outdoor activities. At the same time, Adidas is a trending choice for leisure, as their shoes, clothing accessories (i.e. jackets and hoodies), and bags provide a level of comfort like no other. Their boost technology is revolutionary, making their trainers perfect for running, football in the park, or any fun sports activity where that boost could come in handy.
Adidas has a similar range of platform sneakers to Nike. Like Nike, the majority of the platform shoes Adidas offers are made for women, but there is one shoe for men that could be classified as platform shoes. We here at ItStartsWithTheShoes are gentlemen, so ladies first – sound fair? Great!
Let’s start with the…
The Nizza Platform Mid Soles
The Nizza Platform Mids have some of the highest soles Adidas has to offer. These shoes have an added height of 1.5”, given by a three-part platform. The first part of these soles is the outsole with extended rubber columns in the shoe, giving the first boost of height. The second component is a cutout sheet of foam to provide additional support, height, and production from any dead spots the columns may have. The third component is the insole, which really doesn’t give any additional height but does provide some additional support and comfort.
The shoe’s upper is made from canvas, which is advantageous as it decreases the weight of the shoe. Because the majority of the platforms come from rubber outsoles, they would be very heavy with thicker uppers.
One con we can find is the foam midsole. Because foam compresses over time, eventually, the wearer will flatten the midsole through continuous wear. This means over time, some height will be lost.
The Nizzas come in both mid-toplines and lows as well and have an extensive variety of colourways available. They’re also very affordable.
The Ivy Park x Adidas Super Sleek 72
These Adidas and Beyoncé collabs are limited edition and no longer available on the Adidas website. While reasonably priced on release, stores like FARFETCH have almost doubled their price.
The upper is made from three different fabrics: two leathers and suede. The first leather is the base colour of the shoe, and it covers the majority of the upper. The second leather is stitched over the first leather and has a secondary colour on it. Finally, the suede covers the toe cap, and for many colourways, it goes around the base of the uppers. An additional detail is the intricate double-lacing system that runs above and through the upper.
The midsoles and outsoles are moulded into one and come in rubber or gum, depending on the colourway. Both soles are solid and heavy-duty, which adds additional weight to the shoe. They also come in low tops and high tops, which widens the variety along with several colourways. The platforms give 1” of additional height, but there is a variation that offers more…
The Adidas Ivy Park Super Sleek Chunky Sole
The Super Sleek Chunky sneaker has the same upper design as the original Super Sleeks, but the sole design is drastically different. The midsole and the outsole are now separated, with the outsole being made entirely of gum. The platforms give an additional 1.9” of height to the wearer, which makes them technically the highest option to choose. However, these are limited editions as well and are no longer in the Adidas store. This exact colourway is available on FARFETCH for $377. ItStartsWithTheShoes is not affiliated with FARFETCH at this time.
Bravada 2.0 Platform Shoes
The Bravadas are very similar to the Nizzas in regards to the fact that both pay homage to the Adidas originals with the 3-stripe silhouette and have uppers made of canvas.
The platforms, however, are slightly smaller on the Bravada sneakers, only enhancing the wearer’s height by 1”. The insoles are made of cloudfoam which does increase comfort, so while they may not be the tallest of the gang, they are nice on feet.
Adilette Platform Slides
Guess Adidas low-key misses the Ye. These Adidas Yeezy knockoffs are quite possibly new and improved. While the Yeezy slides are made of one bulky mould of foam rubber, the Adilettes had to prioritise the height. In doing this, they chose to go with a more solid rubber and place a soft insole above it for comfort. The platforms add 2” of extra height to the wearer, all while providing them with the needed support. Slides are seriously trending these days, and pairs of these will go nicely with that laid-back Sunday afternoon look. While many shoes on this list are very feminine, men could attempt to get away with wearing a pair of these.
Adidas Court Platform Shoes
We get it; nets are high up. For some, the answer is to be taller. These sneakers come in two colourways: the black and the white leopard prints. The upper is made from a soft synthetic and is made of 50% recycled materials.
The outsole is solid rubber, and the elevated midsole adds roughly 1” of additional height to the wearer, which barely classifies it as a platform. Still, these sell out on the Adidas site fast, so if these are the ‘must-have’ pair, keep an eye out for them.
Adifom Trxn Shoes
Alright, Kings, thanks for waiting and being gentlemen by allowing our sneakerhead Queens to go first. Ever seen these on feet? The oversized foam midsoles are very eye-catching and unique, yet they still look distinctly like Adidas sneakers. Though, for some reason they do remind us of the Puma Dare sneakers. These are very bold shoes that will be sure to turn heads.
Now, the foam midsoles are a little deceiving in regards to how much height one might think they add. The midsoles go all the way around the side of the shoes, where uppers are meant to be, almost as if they’re having them for dinner. In actuality, the uppers are just small, stitched into the midsole close to the midsole borders. This gives the appearance of taller midsoles.
The extra height given is really just 1”, especially considering that foam sinks when worn. They are also not true to size, running big, so if these are in the shopping cart, go a size down. These come in 3 colourways on the Adidas site: black and white, dark green, and beige.
The shoes are very comfortable, with a softer foam insole and a remarkably soft synthetic upper and tongue. Like the Adidas court platforms, the sneakers are made of 50% recycled materials, so they’re half environmentally friendly.
Delivery is very fast when ordering on the Adidas shop. Customers receive a tracking number so they can keep an eye out for their delivery, and any additional information can be answered by support. The shop also offers a 30-day return for any shoes, clothing, accessories, or bags purchased. With thousands of products in their online store and tens of thousands of locations worldwide, Adidas is a great place to fill and purchase your wishlist.
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