After huge success with previous collaborations, Wales Bonner delves back into the archives of adidas to celebrate the greatness achieved and update an unreleased running shoe, the Adios Neftenga. Wales Bonner has played a massive part in helping adidas reinvigorate their Classics range, with offerings of Samba, SL 72, and Japan, which are now highly sought after.
The Brand With The Three Stripes first launched the Adios in 1996, but it was in 2004 that they assigned the renowned designer Toshiaki Omori to create the Adizero range. This range has gone on to become revolutionary in running footwear. In 2008, the Adizero Adios Neftenga was debuted by Haile Gebrselassie at the Berlin Marathon. Widely considered one of the greatest runners of all time, Gebrselassie is said to have tried on a sample the night before the marathon in his hotel and decided to wear it the next day. He went on to run a world record time of 2 hrs 3 mins 59 secs, the first man to ever run 26.2 miles in less than 2 hrs 4 mins, a barrier that had been sighted but not breached for a decade. The sneaker was never publicly released, with the pair worn that day in 2008 signed by Gebrselassie and stored in the adidas Archive at Herzogenaurach.
Today's pick of the past? @HaileGebr's Neftenga #adizero as the first shoes to fly 26.2 miles in under 2:04 #TBT
It is this astonishing feat of human ability that Wales Bonner and adidas revisit by releasing the pair worn that day in 2008. The Adios Neftenga has been reconstructed to be close to a 1:1 build, including the original colorway. The light yellow upper features multiple layers of mesh with suede overlays. Accents of black and silver contrast this bright design. The two-toned yellow and white adiPrene midsole is combined with an updated Torsion system for supreme comfort and wearability. Dual branding appears on the tongue label and insoles, with an EQT logo on the back heel.
The Wales Bonner x adidas Adios Neftenga Light Yellow is set to release on September 12, 2024. They will be available via Wales Bonner, adidas, and select retailers in-store and online. Coming in men's sizing, retail is TBD. For updates on the latest from adidas and more in the sneaker and streetwear world, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.
Wales Bonner x adidas Adios Neftenga Light Yellow
Images via Wales Bonner
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.
