Adidas truly threw out the rulebook when they launched the Glitches boot line in 2016, redefining how boots were both designed and dropped.
Featuring an inner shoe and outer skin in a unique modular design, the Glitch boot let players switch styles at their convenience, adding a level of customisation football hadn’t seen before.
The boot’s technology was equally as innovative, including a laceless upper, some frankly bonkers designs, a sprint frame soleplate and a Techfit collar.
Beyond the design, Glitch stood out for its exclusivity, it was not available in retail stores and could only be purchased via an invite-only app.
Inside the M25, Adidas offered a four-hour delivery, once you ordered your Glitches, they’d be at your door in less time than a typical VAR review.
One of Adidas’ 2018 marketing campaigns saw a London chicken shop transformed into a one-night Glitch pop-up, where Headie One performed and the boots were handed out inside chicken boxes.
The boots were certainly rooted in street culture, and young footballers across London were selected by Adidas to unveil the boots.
But despite its groundbreaking design, fresh approach and clever marketing, the Glitches the Glitch couldn’t quite patch all the issues that held it back and never really made it into the professional game.
Despite professionals like Presnel Kimpembe and Paulo Dybala spotted testing them out in training, few players actually wore them in competitive games.
So why did the Glitches ultimately fail?
Well, firstly they were limited to markets in England, France, and Germany. While this exclusivity helped build hype and demand, it ultimately restricted the boot’s global reach.
The initial demand for the boot was undeniable and sustained, so it’s puzzling why Adidas didn’t fully capitalise on the momentum, a decision that ultimately contributed to the range’s demise.
While the Glitch’s technology was ahead of its time, its complexity wasn’t without drawbacks.
The modular design allowed for meticulous customisation; however, it became a bit of a logistical nightmare both for Adidas and for players.
The upper was laceless and engineered for a snug, sock-like fit to enhance control and comfort, but many players found this fit neglected a lot of the boot’s flexibility and found them stiff and restrictive.
The Glitch system powered down in 2019 with the release of its 93rd and final colourway, an Adidas x GLITCHFAM collaboration showcasing community-designed boots.
Ultimately, while the adidas Glitch pushed boundaries and sparked excitement, its ambitious innovations did not overcome practical challenges, leaving it as a fascinating but fleeting chapter in football boot history.