adidas ZX 8000

  • MODEL: ADIDAS ZX
  • MADE IN: VIETNAM
  • MADE ON: --/11
  • ART.NO: G61226

In 1988 the adidas ZX 8000 was first released, improving upon previous upgrades of the base ZX model. The ZX 500 hit the market in ’86 to be upgraded a year later in ’87 by the ZX 800 with a reinforced heel, futuristic toe box, and more complicated sole. Similarly, another twelve months later the 8000 burst out, returning a bit to the original 500 toe box, but maintaining the newly improved sole and even furthering the heel support with a plastic brace frame. All of the above used some form of loose lace system (such as Ghilly lacing) for a quicker tie-up, and they all preferred designs which sliced the side stripes short before they could reach the midsole.

Flash forward to 2012: the Fall is an insanely weird time to release this pair in our opinion, though we do take quite a liking to the fresh colorway splashed across their suede uppers. They’re accompanied by a slightly (if only slightly) quieter and certainly more classically designed pair done in a white, bone, red, and black colorway, which are scheduled to drop in July 2012. And while we’ve praises for both of these makeups, we’ve certainly found our true excitement for the August release in wolf grey and burgundy; not just because it’s a better Fall and Winter shoe, but because the materials and colorway are simply more unique.

Regardless, these ZX 8000′s kick some serious ass with their mixture of suede uppers capped with the typical plastic heel brace frame. Paired underneath with the infamous Torsion system the shoe completes itself in technology if one can’t appreciate the poppin’ hues.

written by Dylan Cromwell

photography by errol