adidas Forum trainers

Forum

In 1984, adidas followed up its popular Top Ten basketball trainer with the Forum, adding new innovations like a Velcro strap and supportive ankle design. These helped it become an even more renowned sports shoe, and over the decades that followed it was adopted by skaters and other subcultures, before eventually being worn as a stylish lifestyle sneaker.

The adidas Forum comes in low-, mid- and high-top styles, each one made from top-quality synthetic and full-grain leathers, with some versions adding nubuck or suede for a luxurious touch. These materials form captivating layers of highly durable panels, while the perforated toe box ventilates the forefoot and the generous internal padding delivers softening comfort. The criss-cross ankle construction, which was originally designed to protect basketball players from injury, now supports the wearer through day-to-day activities while also giving the Forum its distinctive look. A Velcro strap combines with the laces to deliver outstanding lockdown, though it has been removed from some models for a more stripped-back aesthetic.

The Forum also features a sturdy and supportive EVA foam midsole that is both shock absorbing and stable. This ensures a high level of comfort underfoot, while the complex tread pattern of round, interconnected grip pads on the flat rubber outsole creates excellent traction. A set of concentric pivot circles in the medial forefoot facilitate easy turning and the lugged edges improve balance for an all-round great walking experience.

Aesthetically, the adidas Forum retains the charismatic court style of the original, with its deeply layered upper offering a captivating throwback to 1980s sportstyle. Adidas Trefoil logos adorn the tongue patch and lateral ankle, while the serrated 3-Stripes logos are framed between curvilinear midfoot panels. The wide range of models on offer makes the Forum stylistically versatile, presenting the wearer with plenty of opportunities for personalisation. All exude a charmingly vintage sporting look, whether it be one of the Low variants, such as the elegant Classic, the minimalist CL, the eye-catching 2000 or the elevated Bold, or one of the nostalgic Mid or High editions.

Since its 2020 reintroduction, the adidas Forum has become one of the most sought-after silhouettes in the Originals collection, in part thanks to its classy style, but also because of its many collaborations. These celebrate the Forum’s storied history, from its original designer, Jacques Chassaing, to its basketball roots and its adoption by the skateboarding and fashion communities. Notable designs include those with streetwear label BAPE, Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, Italian fashion house Prada, European sneaker boutique Footshop, American entertainer Kerwin Frost and Japanese photographer Hikari Shibata. This incredible diversity of creative partnerships acts as a powerful tribute to the Forum’s broad appeal as a modern icon of street style.

With its rich sporting heritage, comfort-giving features, epic collaborations and bold yet versatile retro look, the adidas Forum is an effortlessly stylish sneaker that can support the wearer throughout the entire day.