Kanye West and adidas are slowly but surely rolling out a new model. The unique adidas Yeezy 500 silhouette is first scheduled to ship to consumers in March, but we got our hands on a pair of the “Blush” colorway for an early look.
Kanye and adidas are finding their place in the chunky “dad” shoe trend. Having released the Yeezy Boost 700 in late Summer 2017, they ignited a debate among sneakerheads about whether or not bulky 90’s runners have a place in today’s fashion. ‘Ye and adidas are moving forward now, with the Yeezy 500 silhouette slowly beginning to arrive in the hands of regular consumers. Originally referred to as the “Desert Rat”, the 500 is an eye-catching shoe, whether you like them or not.
The Yeezy 500 is much easier to get a feel for in-person than it is through photos. Holding a pair allows you to feel the texture of the different materials as well as seeing the shoes from angles that aren’t photographed as often. The upper of the 500 begins with a soft mesh layer, mainly visible around the midfoot and heel of the shoe. This simply serves as a flexible and breathable base layer, keeping the shoe lighter than if heavy materials like leather were used. Around the center of the shoe, the next layer takes the form of tumbled leather, which extends up to reinforce the eyestays and midfoot in thin strips. The premium leather then transitions to a smooth suede for the middle layer around the heel, as well as a TPU-like rubber on the tongue. Finally, a rough shaggy suede covers the toe box, and appears in small patches around the heel, ankle, and lace eyelets. To provide extra support and weather resistance, a stiff rubber barrier appears in long sections, circling the shoe just above the midsole. For added flare, 3M reflective piping circles the middle of the shoe. The sole unit is an old adidas design from the 90’s that has been re-stylized to fit the look Kanye is going for, and features adiPrene+ technology for a soft ride. The Yeezy 500 is fairly light in hand, thought without a knit upper and adidas’ famous Boost technology underfoot, it is going to feel noticeably heavier than an Ultra Boost, NMD, or Yeezy Boost 350.
Unfortunately, the size available to us was a US 5 owned by someone who attended the adidas 747 Warehouse event, and did not fit our feet for a test wear. However, the owner of the pair was more than willing to discuss the the on-foot feel. The Yeezy 500 is described as generally comfortable, though some stiffness is felt throughout the varying layers of leather when first walking. The bulbous sole is capped by non-marking rubber, which provides solid traction on cement, despite being built for basketball courts. It feels fairly light on-foot despite the clunky appearance, and the soft adiPrene+ sole provides enough cushioning for regular wear.
The adidas Yeezy 500 “Super Moon Yellow” was the first pair to release, though it came packaged with Yeezy clothing for a total of $780. Those who preordered the package should receive their pairs throughout March, when they were scheduled to ship. The Yeezy 500 “Blush” released via adidas Confirmed, adidas Consortium accounts, and the 747 Warehouse during All-Star weekend, and on Yeezy Supply for preorder. The colorway is scheduled to receive a wider release in March, and the pairs will ship in April.
The adidas Yeezy 500 has caused a lot of disruption amongst the sneaker community as to whether or not its a “cool” shoe. Check out the in-hand photos below for a closer look at the adidas Yeezy 500 “Blush”, and let us know what you think, or if you’ll be picking up a pair. Stay tuned to JustFreshKicks for more in-depth looks at new sneakers.
adidas Yeezy 500 “Blush”
Release Date: March 2018
Price: $200
Color: Blush/Blush
Style Code: DB2908
Words and images by Ben Serleth
Shoes provided by Premium Sneakers Berkeley
