There used to be no cushioning in sneakers. Next came ethylene-vinyl acetate foam (EVA), a rubber-like substance with an elastic consistency. In the 1970s, Nike broke with tradition by using air as a cushioning material. Since the 1980s, Asics has made gel their preferred type of cushioning, and in 2013, Adidas introduced Boost, revolutionizing the foam cushioning industry. Since then, companies like Puma, and others have persisted in improving EVA and developing their innovative cushioning systems. Here is a summary.
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AND1
The need for movement on the court will be met by our shoes’ soles and grip in Australia. AND1 build our soles with a structure that cushions your feet and gives you the finest platform possible to perform at the top of your game.
You can browse our online store’s selection of On and Off-court clothing in addition to our authoritative selections of the best on-court sneakers for Men and Youth. For the most fashionable, supportive, and cozy shoes to wear to your next sporting event or practice, we have basketball shoes in every style and color.
We offer premium men’s basketball shoes at affordable prices, with well-known brands in our assortment. You may be sure that we have done the legwork and streamlined the search for you when you shop with AND1. We are confident that you will discover the ideal pair of shoes in our selection because we have assembled them based on the best basketball sneakers available.
Nike
The market’s most adaptable selection of cushioning choices is offered by the Swoosh. In 1995, Nike improved the original air experience with the release of Zoom Air, a pocket of air that features several highly tensioned polyester or nylon fibers that, in the event of a compression, snap the Zoom Air bag back into place. Additionally, Nike’s Lunarlon foam, which was first released during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, recently underwent a significant redesign when it unveiled its React cushioning in 2017 and made it a feature in 2018.
Adidas
Thousands of capsules using a combination of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and EVA cushioning were used when Energy Boost initially appeared in 2013. Adidas combined the energy return, durability, and temperature resistance of TPU with the comfort, weight, and seamless transition of EVA. The foam cushioning industry started to shift as a result of that novel idea.
Asics
Soft elastomer is used in the construction of Asics shoes to ensure stability and longevity. Since its debut, the Gel technology has undergone no fewer than nine iterations, characterized by increases in gel size, shock absorption capacity, weight reduction, improved durability, a shift to the forefoot, and a softer composition. The overall weight of the gel sneaker was decreased in 2016 with the launch of fuzeGel, which is constructed of foam units combined with gel.
Puma
A polyurethane blend called Ignite foam was introduced in 2015 to provide “superior energy return and immediate step-in comfort.” Using a different manufacturing technique than other PU-based cushioning systems, the Ignite models’ on-contact cushioning includes additional automobile-grade foam in the heels of the shoes for added durability, as well as direct-inject molding.