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adidas basketball sneakers have been mainstays for decades, but these days, the styles are reemerging on the streets rather than the courts. One silhouette that’s been a catalyst for the movement? adidas Forum shoes.
Like many other popular adidas sneakers (think adidas Sambas, Gazelles, Spezials, and Stan Smiths), the brand has been digging into its archives to bring back this vintage basketball silhouette. It’s not just one-off retro Forums, though; new adidas Forum designs are popping up as part of the brand’s plan to reinvent the late ’80s silhouette for a new generation.
Most recently, we’ve seen the Three Stripes label bring the iconic silhouette back through a wide range of activities encompassing collaborations, new colorways, and more. For example, adidas just launched its Forum x NCAA collection for the start of the college basketball season, as well as a special Halloween design for the upcoming spooky season. Plus, in the past few months, adidas has partnered with streetwear brands Bape and Shoe Palace, as well as designer Tulie Yaito, to bring the Forum to the forefront.
So what makes the adidas Forum special to the brand and its diverse fanbase, which includes Bad Bunny, ASAP Rocky, Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner? First and foremost, the Forum was established through sport. The parts of the shoe that you recognize today — the strap, supportive but wide shape, and the crisscross ankle system — were true sporting innovations at the time.
But that’s not all — the adidas shoe is known to be a symbol of self-expression. You can wear it however you’d like, and it’s offered in various subtypes to suit any taste (including High, Mid, and Low silhouettes in various colorways). Most colorways are versatile, either monochromatic or with some subtle color accent, and prices vary slightly by style, but most clock in at around an affordable $110 — what’s better than that?
Try styling a colorful or neutral pair, and choose an ankle height you wouldn’t usually go for to switch up your look. Keep scrolling to shop the best adidas Forum sneakers of 2023. Plus, learn more about the silhouette’s history and the styles offered today.
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Colorways: Cloud White / Cloud White / Royal Blue, Cloud White / Pulse Blue / Cloud White, Acid Orange / Beam Orange / Semi Screaming Green, and 10 other colors
Colorways: Wonder Clay / Halo Blush / Wonder White, Cream White / Crew Yellow / Cloud White
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Colorways: Crystal White / Preloved Blue / Cloud White, Cloud White / Blue Bird / Collegiate Green, Core Black / Core White / Core White, and 7 other colors
Colorways: Cloud White / Cloud White / Core Black, Off White / Shadow Violet / Off White, and 3 other colors
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Colorways: Collegiate Gold / Grey Six / Core Black, Dark Green / Night Cargo / Cargo Brown, and Cardboard / Scarlet / Utility Grey
Colorways: Cloud White / Cloud White / Cloud White, Cloud White / Royal Blue / Cloud White, Cloud White / Core Black / Cloud White, and four other colors
Colorways: Night Indigo / Off White / Team Victory Red and Silver Metallic / Core Black / Grey Two
The History of adidas Forum Shoes
Like many popular street sneakers, the adidas Forum was born as a basketball shoe. Renowned French shoe designer Jacques Chassaing had a heavy hand in bringing the original style to life in 1983. He spent months observing famous basketball players through games and practices and looked for ways to create an even better basketball shoe than adidas’ popular Top Ten sneaker. With watchful eyes and conversations with coaches and players, Chassaing realized that many basketball shoes didn’t support the ankle. As a result, the Adidas Forum was born.
The first adidas Forum silhouette in 1984 was the Forum High. The style stood out with its innovative velcro system, which protected the ankle, the patented Dellinger Web, a nylon netting around the midsole designed to absorb any shock, and quality leather uppers and straps. That same year, the shoe received a very public stamp of approval from Michael Jordan, who wore them during the Olympic basketball trials in the USA. Quickly, footwear fans everywhere yearned for the shoes, and adidas unveiled low- and mid-top versions in order to keep up with the growing demand.
In 2020, adidas revived its revolutionary basketball shoes under its adidas Originals line and re-introduced the adidas Forums. Skaters and sneakerheads soon adopted the silhouette, helping transition it from the basketball court to an everyday casual shoe. Celebrities and influencers have helped the adidas Forum stay relevant for almost 40 years. Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, A$AP Rocky, Bad Bunny, and many more A-listers have been spotted wearing the style over the years with everything from jeans and graphic tees to sweatsuits.
Today, the Forum shoes, whether the Forum Low, Mid, or High, have become a legend of street culture. They have been the focus of numerous collaborations over the years, partnering with streetwear brands like Shoe Palace and Bape, fictional characters like Hello Kitty, and food brands such as M&M’s. More recently, adidas and Disney teamed up to design two Marvel shoes in the Forum Mid and High heights, one inspired by “Guardians of the Galaxy” and the other by the character Star-Lord.
The Different Types of adidas Forum Sneakers
- adidas Forum Bold: adidas Forum Bold Sneakers are thick, chunky, and everything you want in a sneaker. The Bold is a female silhouette with the feel of a Forum but is done up in an even chunkier platform outsole. These are often dropped in bright, bold colors to match the standout aesthetic.
- adidas Forum High: Keep it classic with the shoe that started it all: the adidas Forum High. The Forum High is the OG forum shape with a high ankle, plenty of support, and a shock-absorbing sole. The Forum High 84 (re: its launch in 1984) is the shoe’s original shape and style, but is redone in high-end leather.
- adidas Forum Low: The Forum Lows launched in the ’90s to complement the high-top styles. These kept the same snug, secure feel around the ball of the foot but with a shorter ankle. They feature a leather and synthetic upper for durability, a terry lining for comfort, and a classic rubber cupsole. While the shoe is offered for both men and women, the men’s style differs from the women’s because it includes the velcro ankle closure, while the women’s style just has laces. The adidas Forum Lows have been getting bolder makeovers over the past few years, seen in collaborations with Bape and Bad Bunny, where the style is crafted with camouflage patterns and orange with navy colorways.
- adidas Forum Mid: The adidas Forum Mids hit that not-too-high, not-too-low sweet spot. They have more ankle support than the Low but with the vintage yet modern look of the High. Many Forum Mid styles have been re-designed with upcycled plastic waste called Parley as part of adidas’ promise to produce more sustainable sneakers.
- adidas Forum Low ADV: adidas made over its basketball sneaker for skateboarding with its Heitor Forum 84 Low ADV, created in collaboration with pro skateboarder Heitor da Silva. They’re made with an EVA midsole and a subtle but cool upper.
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Meet the Author
Nikki Chwatt is the Style Commerce Editor for Footwear News and WWD, where she writes and edits shopping stories on celebrity style, the latest fashion trends, and new shoe releases. Before joining Footwear News, Chwatt wrote for publications, including Editorialist. As a New York City native, Chwatt is always searching for the best designer sneakers to get around comfortably while staying up to date with adidas’ latest and greatest footwear offerings. As a result, she has an overstuffed shoe closet that consists of adidas sneakers.
