First Look at the 3D-Printed UnderArmour ArchiTech Futurist
The buzz around 3D-printed sneakers has been building for some time now. Nike came out with the Nike Vapor Laser Talon football cleat in 2013 and adidas introduced the Futurecraft 3D platform in late 2015. UnderArmour first released the 3D-printed low-top Architec model in March 2016 and has been refining the technology ever since.
Now UnderArmour is applying 3D-printed tech to a new silhouette, called the ArchiTech Futurist. The midsole is 3D-printed, creating an intricate web of hollow segments providing impact dampening (they also look like out of a sci-fi flick). According to the brand, the “dynamic lattice network provides infinite cushioning and support.”
The upper features next-gen materials, including the form-fitted SpeedForm fabric surrounded with an external compression sleeve for extra support. From a design standpoint, the added sleeve also doubles as a cuff around the ankle that creates a high-top look in what is essentially a low-top shoe.
People are bound to have opinions about the Futurist’s “Compression Lace System,” a zipper enclosure that runs right down the middle of the upper.
The UnderArmour ArchiTech Futurist will release in a limited run on March 30 online and at select retailers with a $300 price tag.
