Most of the time, when we think of 3D printing we imagine it being a low-cost endeavor. Aside from the upfront cost of the machines, actually printing something is supposed to be the new, easy-way to make objects appear out of thin air, and for a fraction of the cost of buying it outright. Adidas clearly has something else in mind, because it's priced its new 3D-printed footwear at a large premium. The Adidas 3D Runner is an athletic shoe with like none before it. The shoe features a fancy Primeknit upper and a "3D web structure" that reinforces the areas of the shoe that take the most abuse. The heel counter — that chunk of plastic that keeps the fabric above the heel from collapsing — is 3D printed and integrated into the printed midsole. As running shoes, the 3D Runner was already going to be pretty expensive, but they're actually even more pricey than many high-end performance shoes. The shoes, which are currently available for pre-order and will officially go on sale in New York City on the 15th, are priced at $333. This marks the first time that Adidas has sold shoes with 3D printed components, despite the company having toyed around with the technology for a number of months now. If you're at all interested in picking up a pair of the pricey kicks you're going to need to do so via the Adidas Confirmed app ( iOS , Android ), as that's where reservations are being taken. If you miss out, expect to shell out even more than $333 via eBay.

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