Adidas was first registered in 1924 as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik. After a few gold medals, the brand’s creator Adi Dassler eventually went into sports shoes, which is where the brand really took off. It then took his name and became “Adidas,” the brand we know today.
Today, Adidas footwear is some of the most expensive and exclusive high-performance sportswear that money can buy. Continue reading to learn about the 9 most expensive Adidas shoes out there.
9. Chips Ahoy! Adidas Forum Low
Year: 2021
Color: White and blue
photo source: eBay
These blue and grey Chips Ahoy! Adidas Forum Low sneakers were made by Dominic Ciambrone, “The Shoe Surgeon” himself. They were promotional items for Chips Ahoy snacks by Nabisco, produced in very limited quantities in 2021. They were made as a charity for The Boys & Girls Club of America for their Arts programming.
The shoes were sized for their first owners, so there aren’t many options for collectors wanting to buy and wear these Adidas gems. They now have a resale value of around $5,000, if you can find them in the box. The example listed here sold for that amount in April 2022.
Did you know?
These shoes came with extra laces, the original shipping box, and a custom-designed box that was satin black with gold metallic accents. The box had a slipcover designed to look like Chips Ahoy! Snacks, including a label for the “ingredients.”
8. Adidas NMD Friends and Family
Year: 2021
Color: Mint blue
photo source: Sneaker News
The Adidas NMD Friends and Family sneakers that came out in 2021 were limited to 100 pairs in the three-stripe design. Since the sub-brand came out in 2016, they have not had Adidas’ cushioned soles or Boost soles. Their inclusion makes these new editions exciting.
The upper of this sneaker is knit while the sole is thick semi-translucent material in a mint blue color. Adidas branding sticks out of the sole. Unlike previous versions, the Boost cushion is completely concealed by the material of the shoe, leaving nothing exposed.
These shoes now cost way more than their original retail price, often going at auctions for $5,184.
Did you know?
Primeknit is an Adidas sneaker design that prioritizes fabric that hugs your foot and gives you a breathable shoe that fits almost like a sock. Boost is a performance-enhancing sole design that uses a thick semi-translucent rubber material to give runners a literal boost.
NMD was created to combine the wearability of Primeknit with the performance of Boost for the first time.
7. Pharrell x NMD HU Trail Happy China Exclusive
Year: 2018
Color: Tan, white, gold
photo source: Flight Club
The gold metallic and white Pharrell x NMD HU Trail Happy China Exclusive shoes were released in May of 2018. As the name suggests, they were only released in China, with a gold and white design that was intended to evoke the philosophy of “Yin” and “Yang.”
The shoe is patterned with Chinese characters on the left-hand side beneath a sparkling gold midfoot cage. The midsole is reinforced with semi-translucent material. These shoes now sell for $5,999 or more in various sizes.
Did you know?
NMD HU stands for NMD Human Race and was released starting in 2016 in various versions, designed by Pharrell Williams. The lacing system is the biggest difference between these shoes and the Adidas Nomads, adding a cage to the midsole that hooks the laces in place, giving the wearer more control over the tightness or looseness of the fit.
6. Adidas NMD R1 Pk Firestarter
Year: 2016
Color: Charcoal, white, red
photo source: GOAT
The Adidas NMD R1 Pk Firestarter shoes are designed with serious minimalism in mind. The upper is charcoal in the Primeknit style. It’s what gives some Adidas shoes that woven, yarn pattern look. These shoes don’t even have traditional laces, replacing them with a toggle that fastens and zips up.
The midsole is full-length, white, and cushiony with an orange accent stripe that carries up to the pull tab on the back of the shoe. These shoes often sell online for high amounts compared to their original retail price, often garnering as much as $6,790.
Did you know?
The Firestarter Adidas design was debuted in 2016 with 300 pairs given out partially to family and friends of the creators. Overkill, the German fashion retailer, put up this shoe for limited sale. Now, you can only buy them secondhand for exorbitant amounts.
5. Adidas x Pharrell Human Race Trail NMD YOU N.E.R.D
Year: 2017
Color: Black
photo source: Flight Club
The Adidas x Pharrell Human Race Trail NMD YOU N.E.R.D is a pair of shoes that debuted (and ended) at ComplexCon 2017 to coincide with N.E.R.D being there. The top of the shoe is in the Primeknit style with “YOU” on top and “NERD” on the left side. All the letters and logos on the shoes are in reflective lettering.
From the previous model, they kept the all-black, full-length insole. These shoes, designed by Pharrell Williams for the N.E.R.D event, often retail secondhand online for $6,834, depending on the size available.
Did you know?
N.E.R.D is a rock band. Their name stands for “No-one Ever Really Dies” and they’re Pharrell Williams’ biggest claim to fame. He started as a duo with Chad Hugo, which the producers at Virgin Records turned into a band by adding Shay Haley.
4. Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 MNVN Blue Tint
Year: 2021
Color: Grey and black
photo source: Flight Club
The Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 MNVN shoes were released in 2021 in a large set of colors. The blue-tint ones in size 10.5 sold in May 2022 for $7,600, plus shipping. The upper fabric is nylon, covered in reflective graphic details. The “boost” sole is thick black leather, which adds to the shoe’s impression of a hiking shoe.
Originally, these shoes cost $220. However, they now frequently sell for thousands. Their style serial number is GZ0711.
Did you know?
A new variation of the Yeezy Boost MNVN shoes releases the day this is being written, June 13, 2022. They’re called “Phosphor” and have large reflective silver graphics on the “phosphorous green” upper nylon.
3. Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Yechiel Non-Reflective
Year: 2019
Color: Black, white, and red
photo source: eBay
The Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Yechiel Non-Reflective shoes are colorful and rare, with red, yellow, black, and blue accents. The sole is cushioned and covered in black accent stripes. They came out in December 2019, originally costing $220.
The lateral edge of the shoe has a stripe made from translucent monofilaments that improve strength and breathability. They have rope laces that add to the appearance of being made from yarn. The “boost” cushioning of these shoes is famous for stretching the whole length of the sole.
Nowadays, these shoes can cost as much as $10,100.
Did you know?
“Yechiel” is a Hebrew boy’s name, which means “May God live.” It’s a pretty high bar for a tennis shoe to live up to, but Adidas is confident that the shoes hold up to it.
2. Adidas Yeezy 1050 Gore-Tex Sample
Year: 2020
Color: Pink/beige camouflage
photo source: eBay
The Adidas Yeezy 1050 Gore-Tex Samples are definitely the rarest Adidas shoes, if not quite the most expensive. According to fashion blogs, there are only three of these sample pairs of shoes in existence.
The unreleased Yeezy 1050s were a viral sensation after the Instagram page for @yeezymafia set the internet on fire.
The shoes are a pink camouflage print with tan camouflage soles. Kanye West designed these chunky lace-up boots out of Gore-Tex fabric, which is breathable and waterproof. The outsole is black rubber.
Since so few of these shoes exist, there isn’t a standardized price for them. However, one pair of unreleased Adidas Yeezy 1050 Gore-Tex Sample shoes sold earlier this year for $12,000.
Did you know?
Gore-Tex has been around since 1969, famous for its lightweight, waterproof fabric design made from stretched PTFE. This stands for polytetrafluoroethylene. It’s a material that allows water vapor to pass through but blocks out the liquid.
1. Adidas x Pharrell x Chanel Human Race Trail NMD
Year: 2017
Color: Black and white
photo source: Flight Club
The most expensive Adidas shoes are the Adidas x Pharrell x Chanel Human Race Trail NMDs. The price of these shoes varies widely based on the retailer and size, but from Flight Club in the less frequently produced sizes, these shoes can cost over $20,000.
These NWDs were made in a collaboration between Adidas, Pharrell, and the luxury fashion designer, Chanel. 500 pairs were made in 2017 and presented as prizes at a public raffle. The understated black and white design of these shoes hides their extreme price point.
Did you know?
Chanel is one of the most expensive fashion brands in the world. It was founded in London in 1910 and now has 310 global locations. Gabrielle Chanel was nicknamed “Coco” when she was young and went on to be the most well-known female fashion designer of all time.
