Andrew Rizzo No major footwear brand is as prepared for the inbound climbing shoe wave as adidas, something the German sneaker giant unknowingly set itself up for via its acquisition of Five Ten, the maker of the world’s best climbing rubber, back in 2011. A decade and a half later, that acquisition is powering new releases that combine trusted performance with a bit of lifestyle and street sensibility. Hot on the heels of an adidas Samba climbing shoe comes an exceptionally strong two-pair pack by longtime partner Brain Dead, unveiled here via official images.
The models on offer are the adidas Five Ten Guide Tennie Approach and Five Ten Niad, two pillars of the Three Stripes’ seldom-discussed climbing catalog now figuring to be on the precipice of a streetwear push, as the very existence of collaborations often indicates. The Guide Tennie Approach is probably the more palatable of the two from a pure lifestyle wear perspective, standing out with a flat yet flexible sole and honeycomb-shaped cutouts within the side panels. The Niad is more climbing-coded by design, sporting a slimmer slip-on upper with protective Five Ten rubber wrapping the entire lower half. Both colorways fall well within Brain Dead’s established design language with hairy suede and multicolor accents, slotting neatly into the retro outdoor shoe aesthetic.
If you’ve yet to hear climbing shoes categorized as any sort of trend, consider yourself an early observer. The niche hasn’t gone mainstream to the extent of, say, soccer and retro running, yet the seeds are in place to suggest a steady rise over the months and years to come. Loewe and Prada have both come out with hiking-esque silhouettes in recent seasons, while Village PM, an up-and-coming French skate brand, might prove to be the biggest driver of climbing design language, now amplified by its recent move stateside. With Five Ten under its belt, adidas could very well own the movement if it plays its cards right. Based on the existence of this collab, the brand already appears to be doing so.
The Brain Dead x adidas Five Ten pack doesn’t have a firm release date, though we suspect pairs will land Fall/Winter 2026 via adidas and select retailers. Check out official images below if you’re considering copping.
