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The dominance of retro styles could’ve plausibly been written off a trend at the start of the decade. In 2026, it’s more clear than ever: the performance models of old are the icons of the future, and it’s on every brand to form their response accordingly.
Of course, adidas has been matching that moment from the jump, but for much of our readership, that’s become undeniable in the past year and change. The adiStar Control 5 has jumped out to serve as the clubhouse leader in throwback aesthetics, revived one-to-one as it’s gone from era-accurate support to lookbook style.
However, it’s those truly with their finger on the pulse that know there’s more beneath the surface. On the international front, adidas China has been hammering away at the XLG moment for some time, already a platform for trend-setting by whetting palettes for the ultra-viral toggle closure track jacket.
Global feeds have been rich with exploded silhouettes that we simply haven’t had a pass at to date, pinning Three Stripes design against the exploded, maximalist language that designer brands have majored in for the past decade. Check kicks like the XLG Runner or XLG Vento for proof of concept on how these ultra-chunky models can hit escape velocity.
In the XLG 2.0, two of adidas’ foremost product families find harmony, now served up to the general public. Read on to find out more about the adidas adiStar XLG 2.0. Several colorway options are available now via adidas.com, retailing for $150. You’ll find our selections further down in this piece.
Photography by Woo Jin Hwang and Marc Cortes for Sneaker News.
DIVING DEEPER
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Even leaving aside the overseas exclusives, the adiStar family is already a growing initiative for adidas, now spread across multiple retro models and more current-gen innovations like the adiStar 3 or the adidas HRMY, the latter recently in the spotlight for its work in the BAPE World Cup collection. Pin the XLG against those, and the mission is clear: all the stability and function of adiStar with all the “where’d you find those” attitude of the XLG innovations before it.
To that end, the legacy of the adiStar Cushion 3 looms large here, lending its crossing quarter cage and overall modeled geometry to adidas’ latest. A heavy reimagining gives us the shoe at hand, immediately undeniable for its super-stacked, exaggerated sole unit.
Trust that form doesn’t lose function in the process; a heavy dose of adiprene EVA makes good on the cushy profile that the XLG 2.0 serves up. Pan up, and that edgy design runs through the whole shoe, from the RPU cage to the Three Stripes branding, both of which subtly jut out from the upper.
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ADIDAS ADISTAR XLG 2.0
SOLAR ORANGE
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ADIDAS ADISTAR XLG 2.0
GREY ONE
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ADIDAS ADISTAR XLG 2.0
CORE BLACK
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ADIDAS ADISTAR XLG 2.0
LUCID PINK/LUCID BLUE
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ADIDAS ADISTAR XLG 2.0
WONDER TAUPE
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ADIDAS ADISTAR XLG 2.0
MAGIC BEIGE
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Now that you’re up to speed on the hardware notes that the XLG 2.0 delivers, the only thing left is to pick out your pair. Luckily, the Three Stripes served up a full portion for the model’s debut. If sticking to the futuristic aesthetic is your goal, it’s the “Solar Orange” or “Black/Screaming Green” you’re after, matching goes-with-everything foundations with neon counternotes between. If letting the shoes speak for themselves is more your style, a “Grey One” and a stealthed-out “Core Black” are up to the challenge, the latter sneaking in some silver hits for some Y2K energy.
Finally, adidas left three pairs exclusive to the ladies, beginning with a tonal “Wonder Taupe” that plays with earthy tones in inventive color-blocking. On the other side of the spectrum sits the “Cloud White/Lucid Pink,” ensuring a can’t-miss colorway with neon linework above a steady white mesh. If you just can’t choose between those two, an “Off-White/Magic Beige” splits the difference, plenty refined for its earthy foundation but adding character with subtle “Real Lilac” trim.
© Sneaker News, 2026. |
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The post adidas Stays A Step Ahead With The Adistar XLG 2.0
appeared first on Sneaker News.
The post adidas Stays A Step Ahead With The Adistar XLG 2.0 appeared first on Sneaker News.
