crooked tongues magazine News Features

IN STOCK: Click here to buy the adidas Consortium Zx500 (Tech Chrome, Lead, Collegiate Red) in the CT store now.

The adidas ZX 500 is an artful design that pretty much changed our perception of running shoes. We've never fully analysed the impact it had in the States (but from Q&As we conducted for the aZX collection in late 2007, we got the impression that Euro partners were more into the ZX series). This model's been made in every colour possible and there's been a few monstrosities along the way, but the red striped versions with dark grey suede and this original tech chrome/medium lead edition are unbeatable and undeniably iconic. You can debate whether you prefer a pair of ZX 200s, 220s, 280s, 600s, 700s, 800s or any of the other numbers in between, but we think 1984's 500 edition is the best of the ZX series. Between Nike and adidas's output that year, it might have been the greatest 12 months of running shoe output in footwear history. Maybe.

The adidas ZX 500 strikes the right balance between basic athletic looks and something significantly more technical. With Jacques Chassaing at the helm (the man behind the adidas Forum Hi too), biomechanics we're employed to develop the nipple rubber studs to take the blows of high mileage running, dual density midsole and heel motion control device that all pushed things forward but the suede reinforcement and two tones of mesh with the ghillie lacing kept it grounded. This is a shoe that looks right when you look down and since the Consortium team reworked the shape and fit (debuting as part of the Tabula Rasa collection late last year) so it's closer to the originals, between these and the German-made Münchens,the Consortium concept is dropping faithfully resurrected crowd pleasers between the higher concept collections. It took us a minute to understand where Consortium was heading in its current form, but now it all makes sense. The adidas Consortium ZX 500 OG goes on sale in the Crooked Tongues store on Saturday, priced at £100.


IN STOCK: Click here to buy the adidas Consortium Zx500 (Tech Chrome, Lead, Collegiate Red) in the CT store now.