Adidas NMD R1

About

The Adidas NMD R1 launched on December 9, 2015 and immediately sold out, with pairs quickly appearing on the secondary market at significantly higher prices. According to Wikipedia, "NMD" stands for "Nomad" — the concept Adidas says inspired the shoe's design. The NMD R1 is best known for its use of Adidas' Boost technology in the sole, the same foam platform used in the Ultraboost, providing responsive cushioning in a more lifestyle-oriented silhouette. The upper is constructed from Primeknit and the shoe features two distinctive moulded plastic plug elements on the sides — one on the forefoot and one on the heel — which are visual callbacks to archival Adidas running models. The combination of Boost comfort, Primeknit construction, and a chunky retro-modern aesthetic hit at exactly the right cultural moment, making the NMD one of the defining sneakers of the mid-2010s. The shoe was officially discontinued in 2025, though it remained one of the best-selling Adidas silhouettes of the previous decade and continues to trade on the resale market.