9 Reasons Why adidas is Better Than Nike
Never afraid to tackle big issues, we tackle the biggest rivalry in trainers: Three Stripes VS. Swoosh. Why is one better than the other? Who comes out on top in the ultimate battle of the brands - as our heavyweight vs. lightweight illustration shows? 9 reasons why adidas is better than Nike.
Think the Swoosh has mastered the trainer game? We're not so sure. Because the German sneaker giant with the three stripes has a long history, great models in its archive and more stories to tell than just how to get your next Yeezys. Here are 9 reasons why adidas is better than Nike.
1. adidas has a long tradition. adidas may not be the oldest sports brand in the world, but no other has had such an impact over such a long period of time. Although the company, headquartered in Herzogenaurach, dates back to 1949 in its current form, the Dassler brothers' shoe factory was founded as early as 1924. The memorabilia from sports history alone could fill an entire museum - and is undoubtedly the richest vault of all sports brands.
2. The spirit of the founder. You have to think of it like this: All his life, Adi Dassler wanted to build the best possible equipment for athletes. The man was a cobbler and an enthusiastic athlete himself. No other founder in the history of sport understood the needs of athletes better than he did. He was quick to spot weaknesses and experiment with new technologies. He was obsessed, and the fruits of his labour are more than impressive. When you visit adidas today, you will see that same spirit.
3. There is the World Cup "Miracle of Bern". What a beautiful story. War-torn Germany gains confidence as underdogs and wins the 1954 FIFA World Cup. Why did they win? Because Adi Dassler supplied the winning shoes for the match against Hungary. Here, too, innovation and the spirit of the founder are at work.
4. Three stripes - the only logo with a function. Yes, originally the Three Stripes were placed on the upper to hold the shoe together and provide stability. Not a made-up marketing story, not an expensive design study, simply three stripes on the side of a shoe - incredible.
5. It has the most and best classics in its archive. Decades before Nike launched its first running shoes, adidas was already innovating and making sports history. The brand has created classics in various fields like the Gazelle, the Superstar, the Samba and more even before Nike was officially founded. Many sneakers that are half a century old still have a huge following today.
6. The Three Stripes have written sports history. If you look at the founder Adi Dassler, you can go back to the 1930s. American sprinter Jesse Owens won four gold medals in Dassler shoes at the 1936 Olympics. And remember that at the 1972 Olympics, 78% of the participating athletes wore adidas - and in 1984 even 89%!
7. adidas made hip-hop history with both Run DMC and the Beastie Boys. And we're talking about the foundation of modern rap here. The love story includes album covers, product ads, the song "My adidas" and the moment Run DMC held up an adidas shoe at a concert in front of 40,000 people.
8. adidas has Kanye. I don't need to go into detail because you already know. Kanye West is probably the most influential artist on the planet and wears adidas - even if the stripes are missing from his own Yeezy line.
9. adidas has Boost and the NMD. Boost is the cushioning innovation of our time and one of the few technologies in recent years that has really made a difference. The NMD, on the other hand, is the most successful sneaker design on the planet today. Combine the two and you have an incredible success story that is sure to continue.