3D Printed Shoes: What’s Available on the Market Today?

Additive manufacturing is a technology that offers a multitude of advantages in footwear production, the most important being the possibility of customizing the final product. Due to this, the global 3D printed footwear market will reach a value of $1.97 billion by 2027, according to a report published by Research and Markets in 2023. This growth is largely due to innovations in the field of 3D printing and increasing demand for customized footwear. Thanks to 3D scanning and 3D printing systems, many companies are creating better-performing running shoes, futuristic high-fashion shoes, or comfortable and durable soles. It is worth noting that the entire shoe is not always 3D printed, but often only the upper or sole, for example, is created. In any case, 3D printing and footwear go hand in hand and the market has great prospects. Let’s now take a look at some of the best examples of 3D printed shoes, including those from major brands like Dior, Adidas and Decathlon.

The 3D Printed Golf Shoes From Adidas

Adidas has adopted 3D printing in the creation of its footwear. In particular, the brand has created a golf shoe with a 3D printed midsole. With this model, called the Adidas MC87 4D, Adidas seeks to combine new technology with vintage style. The shoe, available in a limited edition and a wide range of sizes, is unisex in design. The design of this high-performance midsole is based on years of athlete data and guarantees high performance thanks to the mesh structure. Manufactured using Carbon’s 3D DLS process, it is durable and flexible and can adapt to the athlete and his or her movements.

Photo Credits: Adidas

ATHOS, 3D Printed Climbing Shoes

Developed by a group of students in Barcelona, ATHOS climbing shoes are gaining in popularity. Also known as “climbing shoes”, this type of shoe must fit the athlete’s foot perfectly to improve grip and prevent slipping. Usually, to make sure they have a good fit, athletes wear climbing shoes that are smaller than theirs, which causes pain and deformity of the foot. This is why the team behind ATHOS wanted to create custom-made climbing shoes that meet the needs of each climber. To do this, they use HP’s MultiJet Fusion 3D printing technology and BASF’s TPU material. The process to get the ATHOS shoes is very simple: just scan your feet with 3 photos, customize the shoes to your liking, and once you get them home, you can start climbing!