World-first 3D-printed basketball boot unveiled

US sports brand Peak has unveiled what it says is the world’s first 3D-printed basketball boot.

Peak is one of the world’s first footwear brands to apply 3D printing technology to a sports shoe. Three years ago, the company acquired advanced 3D printing equipment and rolled out products based on the 3D printing concept.

Peak launched the “Future I” 3D printed running shoes last May and believes the evolution to a 3D printed basketball boot moves the company into the position of being the world’s leading sports brand in the research and application of 3D printing technology.

Peak uses SLS laser technology and printing prototyping of flexible and light TPU powders in the design.

“As a new prototyping and processing technology, 3D printing is of great significance to Chinese sports brands and the country’s Made in China 2025 strategy,” said Peak GM Xu Zhihua.

NBA professional player Dwight Howard III, who plays with the Charlotte Hornets, is impressed: “This pair of boots has obviously higher performance than traditional ones,” he said at the boot’s unveiling in China.

“I felt that the 3D printed soles and vamp side walls enable a more comfortable wearing experience. Maybe, one day in the future, you’ll see me wearing the 3D printed basketball boots, footwear designed based on R&D carried out by Peak, during an NBA competition.”

The Dwight Howard III 3D-basketball boot deploys a 3D-lattice structure in the middle of the sole, while using the 3D printed TPU structure for the vamp side walls, breaking existing design structure limits and expanding the room in which designers could allow themselves to be more creative.