I’ve been a huge fan of the ZX Flux, to the extent that I refused delivery of the navy pair with mint bottom simply because they did not put it in the OG box when sending it my way. For a while now, there’s been an increase in the number of retro runners being brought back with newer materials while still retaining their original message. Models that were hits in ’80s and ’90s like the ZX 8000 (deisgned by Jacques Chassaing and Markus Thaler) have returned to the forefront. 2014 was the year of the ZX Flux, which was a seamless version of the ZX 8000 rose to fame with its minimalist look making it the perfect canvas for creative designs, gaudy prints and abstract patterns. Adidas then launched the #mizxflux app, which allowed consumers to design their own shoe with the ability to to put almost any image on the shoe.
The ZX Flux
ZX Flux was popular among the runners largely due to its unique shape. It’s a shoe put together really well and with a lot of intent. The ZX Flux was mad comfy, you could throw it on with anything and that too for only $90! Anything that came after that with a ZX on it had to have what the Flux had achieved already plus more. Here’s a list of some of the shoe’s characteristics:
- Excellent shape
- All-over weave/fine mesh (newer models with Primeknit)
- Unique Heel support cage
- 3-stripe branding on the medial and lateral sides (glued on or woven in)
- True to Size fit
- Seamless upper
- Torsion ZX Midsole
- Holes for eyelets
The ZX Flux 2
The Flux 2 did not deviate much from the original Flux. It retained the shape of the OG and was built on the same Torsion ZX midsole unit albeit with a completely new upper. Instead of the all-over weave or mesh, a two-layer irregular mesh appeared over the toebox while the heel had a ballistic mesh style panel. Instead of the OG’s seamless upper which only got disturbed by the heel cage, the classic 3 stripes were now cut out in different shades compared to the upper as part of a synthetic mid-foot overlay. Here are some characteristics of the Flux 2.0:
- No heel support cage
- Synthetic mid-foot overlay, hence no longer a seamless upper
- Torsion ZX midsole/sole unit
- True to size fit
- Two layer irregular mesh upper
- Same shape as the ZX Flux
- Three stripes cut out on the medial and lateral sides as part of the synthetic overlay
- Eyelets are vertical slits instead of holes
Verdict
The ZX Flux 2.0 was a step in the right direction, even though the clean seamless upper of the OG had far more appeal. The mid-foot synthetic cage was a clever design idea specifically with how it showcased the branding on both sides of the shoe. However, as a result of the same, the iconic heel support cage had to go or else the shoe would’ve looked too cluttered. The trade-off is largely preference driven actually – either keep the heel cage intact with a seamless upper but newer materials like PrimeKnit OR go with the traditional approach of introducing a synthetic midfoot cage/overlay making the upper non-seamless and remove the heel cage. I personally love the OG but would go for newer materials instead of the old mesh. The PK version is just fire and the latest variants of the OG now have a sock fit at the ankle just like the NMDs. The 2.0 killed the upper for me, which for most of the Flux enthusiasts was THE REASON for getting the shoe in the first place.
All Images – Adidas