ZX
The adidas ZX is a range of running shoes from the 1980s, with the ZX 8000 as its best-known model. Bold colour combinations, a mix of mesh, suede and leather and visible technology in the sole make it easy to recognise. At adidas the ZX returns regularly, often in collaborations or in colours that refer back to the original.
The history of the adidas ZX
The ZX line started in 1984 with the ZX 500. Each model got a number, and the range was meant to bring cushioning, stability and guidance together in one shoe. In 1989 the ZX 8000 appeared, in the colourway later known as ‘Aqua’.
The ZX 8000 was one of the first shoes with the Torsion system. In the early 1990s the Equipment line took over the role of the ZX, but the name kept coming back, including with the ZX Flux in 2014. Today it is mainly the original shapes that are being reissued.
Design and technology
The upper combines mesh with suede or leather, often in three or four colours at once. At the back, a synthetic heel cage keeps the foot in place. Under the midfoot sits the Torsion bridge: a synthetic element that connects the heel and forefoot but lets them move separately.
You can see that bridge on the underside of the sole, often in a contrasting colour. Together with the EVA midsole, it gives the ZX 8000 a sturdier, more technical profile than older running models.
Popular ZX colorways
With the ZX it is mostly about the ZX 8000, in archive colours and collaborations. These are the most viewed pairs on WOOVIN:
- ZX 8000 Consortium ‘Yellow Blue Glow’: yellow leather with a purple lining and aqua blue accents.
- ZX 8000 Made in Germany ‘Lucid Aquamarine’: white with aquamarine and soft yellow, made in Germany.
- ZX 8000 x LEGO ‘Color Pack Grey’: grey with white, from the collaboration with LEGO.
- ZX 8000 x Sean Wotherspoon ‘Superearth’: a colourful take by the American designer and collector.
- ZX 8000 x Pokémon ‘Mewtwo’: lavender, purple and lilac, after the Pokémon Mewtwo.
What is the difference between the ZX 8000 and the SL 72?
Both are retro running shoes from adidas, but from different eras. The adidas SL 72 from 1972 is flat and slim, with nylon and suede. The ZX 8000 dates from the late 1980s and has more volume, a thicker sole and visible technology. If you like that technical look, also check out the adidas Climacool; for a modern retro runner with a thick sole there is the XLG Runner Deluxe.
How does the adidas ZX 8000 fit?
According to adidas, the ZX 8000 fits true to size, so you order your usual adidas size. Some guides describe the last as slightly narrow, so with wide feet half a size up can be more comfortable.
Buy the adidas ZX at WOOVIN
On WOOVIN you will mainly find the ZX 8000, from archive colours and Made in Germany versions to collaborations with LEGO, Pokémon and Sean Wotherspoon. If you want a pair that stays close to the original, choose a version with aqua blue accents. If you are after something playful instead, the collaborations are the best place to start.
