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One of the world's most innovative sneakers was invented with a waffle iron in the early 1970s; today, companies are experimenting with futuristic auto-lacing and 4D technologies.
"Going back to the 1900s, Converse and PF Flyers innovated with these vulcanized rubber soles, so that was a big one," Danforth told Business Insider. "But obviously, some of the biggest touchpoints for sneaker innovation are later with Nike."
While not all of these individual sneakers have stood the test of time, many - like Nike Air and Adidas Boost - have gone on to become some of the most successful sneaker lines in brand history.
The sneaker innovations Danforth highlighted are spread out over nearly fifty years of sneaker design. They also include a variety of innovation types, from advancements in cushioning and sole technology to experimenting with computerized parts. Several include production stories that have become a part of brand folklore, such as Nike cofounder Bill Bowerman using a waffle iron to create his infamous sole pattern.
Keep reading for a look at some of the most innovative sneakers in history.
The concept stemmed from track spikes, only without the spikes. Instead, the waffle mold left small, protruding squares to better grip surfaces. First marketed in 1973 as the Waffle Trainer, the shoes originally cost between $21.95 and $24.95. Later adaptations included the upgraded Nike Waffle Racer version and countless others.
"[The Waffle Trainer] was probably one of the first big Nike innovations," Highsnobiety footwear editor Chris Danforth told Business Insider. "The resulting shoe was the Waffle Racer, but that resulting shoe pattern was also used on a few other subsequent Nike shoes."
2. The Nike Air Tailwind was released in 1979 and started the iconic Nike Air franchise.
"The first shoe in 1979 was the Nike Air Tailwind," said Danforth. "It had a hidden air bubble in the sole of the shoe." The air bubble stayed hidden "until about 10 years later, in 1987 when they released the Air Max 1, which had the visible air."
Nike's air technology has since been included in countless versions of Nike sneakers, including the infamous Air Jordans and Air Force 1 lines.
"The level of innovation that's gone into Nike Air — it probably has to be the most effective and best-marketed sneaker technology ever," added Danforth.
3. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Adidas unveiled its Micropacer shoe, which included the first in-sneaker computer technology.
While various sneakers today include mileage tracking, the Adidas Micropacer was the first of its kind. The sneaker had a built-in calculator that recorded and saved distances logged while running.
"The idea of a shoe with a computer in it? The Adidas Micropacer should be mentioned for sure," said Danforth.
A rerelease of the original shoe is available today, though it is significantly more expensive. On Adidas' website, the newest Micropacer sells for $200.
4. In the mid-1980s, Adidas launched its Adidas Torsion technology, which provided advanced support.
In the 1980s, Adidas unveiled sneakers with new and improved stabilization: Torsion technology. Danforth explained that the new stabilizing feature took form in a flexible bar in the mid-foot of the shoe. As the shoe bent, the bar provided support from forefoot to heel.
Many of Adidas' sneakers today use the original Torsion stabilizing system, including some of the brand's most popular Adidas Boost versions.
5. The 1980s also marked the first appearance of Reebok PUMP, a sneaker designed to inflate to best fit your foot.
True to their name, Reebok PUMP shoes inflated to hug your foot shape.
"It would sort of lock your foot into the shoe," Danforth told Business Insider. "It hasn't really stood the test of time, but definitely — in the timeline of innovation — the Reebok PUMP is worth mentioning."
6. Not long after, Asics GEL first debuted and revolutionized cushioning for sneakers.
Danforth told Business Insider that every main brand has "different names and trademarks" for cushioning, and Asics' claim to fame is Asics GEL technology. The running brand was the first to experiment with gel in order to provide a comfortable cushioning system for wearers.
"They actually have a story about how they dropped an egg from two stories up onto a gel pad and it didn't break," Danforth told Business Insider. "That was their proof of concept for gel cushioning."
Since the original launch of the innovative cushioning, Asics has created many sneaker variations using gel: GEL-Nimbus, GEL-Quantum, HyperGEL, and GEL-Lyte are just some of the versions available today.
7. Adidas Boost further improved comfort through cushioning — and marked the transition into athleisure styling.
Danforth noted that Adidas Boost is another revolutionary cushioning technology and — due to its impact on fashion trends — has become one of Adidas' best-selling sneaker lines to date.
"[Adidas Boost] sort of reinforced this idea that performance shoes or running shoes can be comfortable, but also tied into this whole athleisure thing, where people are wearing running shoes to go grocery shopping," Danforth told Business Insider.
"Originally, it was just the American athletes training for the London Olympics who were wearing these shoes, and then they eventually made their way into the public domain," said Danforth. "Nike Flyknit sort of, in a way, kickstarted this arms race for all other brands to create their own proprietary knitted textile. In the end, Adidas and Nike have taken the top two spots — although Nike did it first, they were a massive revolution for the whole industry."
Other brands have subsequently released knitted sneakers, including Adidas Primeknit and Reebok Ultraknit.
9. Adidas began using recycled materials for textile in its collaboration Adidas x Parley for the Oceans in 2015.
Danforth explained that while some of the most important innovations occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, recent advancements are developing every day. A big step for sustainability includes Adidas' recycled shoes.
"There's still super recent stuff that's going on, even as close as four, five years ago with Adidas Parley for the Oceans. [The company is] combing beaches around the world and collecting ocean plastic, then recycling to make fibers from the plastic and they have this ongoing collaboration where [sneakers] are manufactured with ocean plastic. As far as innovation goes, that's pretty cool."
10. Nike recently began experimenting with auto-lacing E.A.R.L. (Electro Adaptive Reactive Lacing) technology for shoes called Adapt BB.
"I think the biggest innovation within the past one to three years that people are talking about is Nike's auto-lacing shoes," Danforth said. "Funnily enough, it started with Back to the Future 2 ... it started as a piece of film fiction and more recently Nike has built motors into shoes."
Danforth explained that sneakers are controlled either by a button on the side or through an app on the owner's phone; the motor connects to cables, which tighten or loosen the shoes.
11. Adidas announced a new sneaker made with 4D technology this year.
Danforth told Business Insider that Nike, New Balance, and other brands are also experimenting with 3D printing. Adidas, however, has partnered with a California company called Carbon in the past few years to create shoes with a printed, grid-like sole.
