adidas BW Army

The adidas BW Army — also commonly known as the adidas German Army Trainer (or GAT) — has one of the most fascinating backstories of any sneaker ever made.

The silhouette was originally commissioned by the German military in the 1970s as a standard-issue indoor training shoe. Both adidas and PUMA claim to have designed it, but neither brand has been able to produce conclusive proof of ownership.

As a result, the design effectively falls into a legal grey area — meaning no one brand holds the copyright. This opened the door for countless reinterpretations over the decades. The most famous of these is Maison Margiela’s Replica, a fashion-forward adaptation that first became popular in the late ’90s and resurged in the late 2010s as a minimalist luxury staple.

Fast forward to the mid-2020s, and adidas has quietly reintroduced the BW Army into its seasonal lineup. While it doesn’t receive the same spotlight as terrace icons like the Samba, Gazelle, or Handball Spezial, the BW Army consistently appears in a mix of clean, essential looks and more elevated versions that experiment with different materials and finishes.

Most adidas BW Army styles retail for around $120 USD. Read all our latest coverage surrounding upcoming colorways and collaborations below.