From Basketball to Beaters: The adidas Forum is the Perfect Everyday Sneaker

First introduced in 1984, the adidas Forum was one of adidas’ most famed basketball shoes - though not for all the right reasons. Nicknamed ‘The Money Shoe’, the Forum was the first b-ball shoe to retail for $100 - raising plenty of eyebrows at the time, especially due to the amount of competition in the space. Now, nearly 40 years on, the Forum has set its sights on dominating the lifestyle market, albeit at a much more reasonable price point.

Designed specifically for the 1984 Olympic Games, adidas knew it had to produce a high-performance shoe. Named after the venue where the basketball games were played, the Forum was designed by French designer Jacques Chassaing, and used the 1983 Concord as a base. The style was updated with borrowed parts - a rubber shell sole came courtesy of the Lendl tennis range, while the support system leaned heavily on that seen on adidas’ ZX series. The criss-cross ankle support on the Forum actually became one of the shoe’s biggest selling points, which alongside its grippy sole and cushioning system justified its three-figure price tag.

While the Forum was adopted by a number of NBA stars, the sport’s tricky contract regulations meant its popularity was mostly confined to the amateur courts. That didn’t stop the shoe from scoring high in other areas though, as it quickly became a firm fave within the hip-hop scene, largely down to its status-wielding retail price. The low-top version of the shoe then debuted in the 1990s - and its unwavering popularity today signifies all the marks of a timeless design.

Now, we’d go as far as to argue that as steeped in heritage as the high-top might be, the low-top version is infinitely more versatile and that any sneakerhead worth their salt should have a pair in their collection. There are plenty of colourways available, but right now our top pick is definitely this Talc version. The suede build adds a premium touch, and its tonal colourway adds to its timeless vibe. Pick up your pair through the links, and be sure to head over to adidas too, to check out the rest of the range.