A cult classic is set to return, with a slight name change, as adidas presents the Radlander EQT. The Equipment (EQT) arm of The Brand With Three Stripes was the brainchild of legendary sneaker figures Peter Moore and Rob Strasser, launching in 1991 to wide acclaim. Repackaging the performance-based designs and looking to reinvigorate a flagging branch of the brand, the team pushed boundaries immediately, and multiple variations of futuristic-looking footwear began appearing. Design after design looked to purposely suit one activity or another, with every detail and aspect of the footwear's impact on physical performance being reviewed and analyzed. This ethos led to numerous technological advances implemented into footwear, and indeed, they still are.
In 1997, the Badlander EQT was launched, featuring the Feet You Wear technology that adidas had licensed from Frampton Ellis the year before. At the time, the design was considered highly different from the norm. While being sold globally and finding moderate success, it was in Japan the model truly resonated and became more than just another shoe. Instead of hiking up a mountain, the shoe was worn as streetwear, and the silhouette became an overnight sensation on the streets of Tokyo. There has long been a crowd calling for a reissue.
The problem with reproducing this shoe, now named the adidas Radlander EQT, lies in the complex construction and sole molds. Nearly 30 years have passed, the toolings and molds for the originals had long been lost or discarded, and the adidas Archive at Herzogenaurach unfortunately didn't have a pair of the shoes stashed away that they could work off. They have two pairs but must be kept pristine for Archive purposes. Luckily, an adidas employee located an OG pair from an online selling site, which was then scanned to recreate new molds. Then, the pair went to sneaker heaven as it was comprehensibly butchered, surgically taken apart piece by piece so all the correct specifications could be recorded and worked from—a necessary evil.
With perfect timing as the seasons change and maintaining as close to a 1:1 reissue as possible, the adidas Radlander EQT features an entire upper constructed of premium nubuck, tanned to a shade listed as cardboard. The upper is lined with a lovingly recrafted waterproof membrane called adiDRY, which has not been in production for many years. The unique core black rubber FYW sole is visible by jaggedly appearing from underneath while continuing to wrap around to the front as a toe guard encasing the Torsion system that resides within. Feet You Wear Freddy is also present here.
A nubuck panel with a blue embroidered border hides the cushioned orange tongue and the lacing system. It is held in place by three elastic straps that hook onto metal eyelets placed on the opposing side, giving the shoe a uniform appearance. EQT branding is debossed into the medial panel, with a woven tongue tag adorned with the EQT logo. An adiDRY tag is attached to the toe, and Torsion branding appears underfoot.
The adidas Radlander EQT Cardboard was released on September 15, 2024, through adidas and select retailers in-store and online. Coming in men's sizing, retail is set at $180. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
adidas Radlander EQT Cardboard
Images via adidas
Craig Bell happily talks about sneakers or as he calls them "trainers" every day of the year. An avid Bradford City fan, he's also a big supporter of the Philadelphia Eagles. He will forever profess that Cricket is better than Baseball and that Rugby League is better then Rugby Union. Among his many hot takes, he believes the adidas ZX range is the pinnacle of sneaker design.
