Adam Cheung is a writer and editor who specialises in sneakers and streetwear. Over the past few years, he's curated features and guides for everyone from Burberry to Nike. Often travelling between the UK and Hong Kong, don't be too surprised if you find Adam anywhere else around the world taking street photography or feasting on the local delicacies.
Even though the adidas Adizero Goukana was only introduced this summer, it's already become pretty popular among Three Stripes fans all over the globe. Why? Well, not only does it look great, it's also got an awesome backstory, too.
If you feel like you've seen the Adizero Goukana somewhere before, that's because... you probably have. Drawing inspiration from the 2008 Adios Neftenga prototype (a model that was recently brought back through a Wales Bonner collab), this silhouette takes everything that we love about the Neftenga and beefs it up, resulting in a chunky design that wouldn't look amiss in a Y2K sneaker catalog.
But there's more, because this shoe actually gets its name from "goukana" – a Japanese term that translates to "luxurious and plush." This ode to Japan also acts as a sort of love letter to Toshiaki Omori, the visionary designer behind the original Adizero lineup.
Working on top of a breezy mesh base, these kicks are overlaid by layers and layers of buttery Core Navy suede throughout. Plush Core Black leather wraps around the heel for added comfort and support, while silver 3M accents grace the side stripes and toebox so you can get a run in even in the dark. But one of the real reasons why this has become a must-have is the midsole down below. Crafted with Lightstrike cushioning, this is the same advanced tech that's used on some of adidas' best marathon and basketball models, delivering feather-light responsiveness and all-day wearability.
The adidas Adizero Goukana Core Navy is scheduled to release sometime in 2025 via adidas and select retailers both online and in-store. The pair will be available in men's sizing for $160. If you want a pair, make sure you download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Images via adidas
