Adidas Unveils First Fully 3D-Printed Soccer Cleat Using SLS Technology

Adidas has introduced what it claims is the first fully 3D-printed soccer cleat, manufactured entirely via selective laser sintering (SLS). The shoe is produced as a single monolithic structure, eliminating traditional assembly steps such as stitching and adhesive bonding. Adidas states the SLS process enables optimized weight distribution, superior traction, and a customized fit tailored to individual player foot morphology, while reducing material waste by up to 60% compared to conventional cut-and-sew manufacturing.

This launch represents a significant technical milestone for polymer SLS in high-performance footwear, a segment historically dominated by vat photopolymerization (VPP) and material extrusion (FDM/FFF) for midsole components and prototypes. Adidas itself previously used Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) for its Futurecraft 4D midsole, but that process required separate upper assembly. By contrast, this SLS cleat is a single printed part, eliminating mechanical weak points and enabling true mass customization at scale. The move aligns with the broader consumer-electronics and athletic-wear trend toward on-demand, low-inventory production — a pattern that has already reshaped supply chains in dental aligners (Align Technology) and hearing aids. If Adidas scales this beyond limited editions, it could pressure incumbent footwear manufacturers to adopt similar AM workflows for performance products.

For Adidas, the practical challenge now is moving from a technical demonstration to repeatable production at athletic-wear volumes and price points. The company must demonstrate that SLS-printed cleats can survive the mechanical demands of professional play — including rapid directional changes, stud-ground interaction, and repeated impact — while maintaining cost parity with injection-molded or assembled alternatives. Buyers should view this as a proof-of-concept for SLS in seamless footwear, not yet a mass-market product. The next signal to watch is whether Adidas opens this platform to custom orders via its existing digital fitting ecosystem.