POLLS: Does the adidas Originals Tubular Runner Live Up to the Y-3 Qasa Hype?

The adidas Tubular runner was originally introduced in the early ’90s, drawing a large cult following for its car tire-inspired outsole that allowed its wearers to customize the level of heel cushioning with a handheld pump. Having quietly faded from the brands lineup, the Tubular outsole reemerged after a nearly two decade hiatus when Yohji Yamamoto and his collaborative Y-3 line aimed to build a futuristic sneaker that remained minimal in design. With his early influences coming from car tires as well, adidas and Yamamoto opted to bring back the comfortable Tubular sole, applying it to the now acclaimed Qasa sneaker that dropped back in 2013. Although a handful of variations have hit the market since its initial release, the Qasa maintains its Tubular sole unit as a bridge of both style and function as well as past and future.

However, as VP of Global Design Nick Galway mentioned in our exclusive interview earlier this week, there was an early prototype to the Qasa that included strong nods to the adidas line of runners that bare the ZX designation. Although it didn’t make the final cut, the design team felt it would be a great addition to the adidas Originals range. Introduced as the adidas Originals Tubular Runner, this model features obvious design cues from the first Qasa, albeit constructed with the signature ZX gilly and heel stabilizer. Best of all, it’s readily available for purchase at retailers around the globe and costs nearly a fourth of the Qasa’s price tag.

Considering the former Qasa prototype has been somewhat stripped of its high-end aesthetics to achieve commercial success on a much larger scale, does the adidas Originals Tubular Runner live up to the Y-3 Qasa hype, a sneaker that bridged designer fashion sensibilities with performance footwear?