New Balance Preps Running Shoe With 3D-Printed Midsole

The race to bring a 3D-printed shoe to market is on.

New Balance on Thursday announced plans to start selling what it promises to be the first-ever running shoe with a 3D-printed midsole in April 2016. But the company will have some competition on that front from Adidas, which last month showed off its own 3D-printed running shoe prototype.

New Balance created its upcoming shoe with the help of 3D Systems and plans to launch it first in Boston before making it available in select retail locations around the world. Those attending CES in January will be among the first to get a peek at the limited-edition shoe in person.

The company said it used "underfoot pressure data from heel strikers" to formulate its latest 3D-printed midsole designs, which feature more cushioning elements in areas of higher-than-average pressure. They're using a process called selective laser sintering, which converts power materials into solid cross sections, layer by layer, using a laser. The result, New Balance says, is a "previously unavailable combination of strength and elasticity that is ideal for performance running shoes."

This isn't New Balance's first foray into 3D printing. The company in 2013 became the first athletic brand to have a track athlete, middle distance runner Jack Bolas, compete in 3D-printed spike plates.

"In 2013 we said this was the future of footwear manufacturing and today we are proud to bring the future to consumers with a fully 3D printed midsole," New Balance President and CEO Robert DeMartini said in a statement. "With 3D printing we are able to pursue performance customization at a whole new level. The New Balance Innovation Team is showcasing the latest in performance running and these advancements signify an important step forward to becoming one of the world's top athletic brands."

For a closer look at the 3D-printed running shoe, check out the video below.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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