Our verdict

92
Great!

Dubbed by some sites as the ‘poor man’s NMD,’ the X_PLR shoe from Adidas Originals is appreciated by most buyers as it is well-crafted despite its wallet-friendly price. Also, wearers are delighted that the shoe's design takes less time to pair with various active and casual wear. But apart from style, it also delivers a pleasant underfoot feel that adds to the value of this shoe.

adidas Originals 5120 Pros

  • Budget-friendly
  • Excellent craftsmanship
  • Versatile design
  • Comfy platform
  • Appealing modern look
  • Well-ventilated
  • Easy to put on

adidas Originals 5120 Cons

  • Not for wet surfaces
  • Flimsy laces

Who should buy the Adidas X_PLR

The Adidas X_PLR might be for you if:

  • A low-top sneaker that does not break the bank is what you are after.
  • You are looking for a shoe that pairs well with various outfits.
  • You prefer a sneaker that offers adequate breathability for a fresher and cooler in-shoe experience.

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Who should not buy the Adidas X_PLR

Wearers looking for a shoe that could bite wet surfaces well might want to take a look at the Женские шлёпанцы adidas yeezy instead of this model. Also, the Adidas Yung-1 is a solid candidate if a sneaker tough enough to stay intact for a long time is what you wish to have.

Adidas X_PLR Not Buy

Pantofi adidas FortaRun El I GY7607 Victory Blue Cloud White Focus Blue

Cheaper by $55 than other Adidas low-top sneakers such as the Adidas NMD_R1 which retails at $140 a pair, a lot of reviewers love the fact that the Adidas X_PLR ($85) is so affordable.

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Impressive workmanship

A good number of wearers appreciate so much how well-crafted this pair of sneakers is.

Adidas X_PLR Craftsmanship

Not for wet surfaces

Wearers of this Adidas sneaker mentioned that its underside does not offer much grip on wet surfaces. 

adidas originals OR0056-5292X Солнцезащитные Очки

A lot of purchasers say that the Adidas X_PLR is among the most comfortable Adidas shoes adidas Performance Ultraboost 22 Ανδρικά Παπούτσια για Τρέξιμο. 

Adidas X_PLR Footbed

adidas Originals 5120 | adidas Originals Always Original Laced Hoodie

Some owners have attested that the mesh-lined knit uppers of this Adidas pair are incredibly well-ventilated. Moreover, the inside of the Adidas X_PLR casual shoe is lined with breathable textile to enhance its pleasant in-shoe feel.

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Broken shoelace

A few owners notice that the laces of the Adidas X_PLR break easily. The shoe's elastic rounded lace is made of synthetic materials. 

Easy on and off design

A handful of users say the speed lacing and back pull tabs help in quickly putting on and removing the Adidas X_PLR sneaker.

Adidas X_PLR On Off 2

The refreshing style of the Adidas X_PLR

Quite a lot of users appreciate the modern profile and refreshing look of this Adidas X_PLR. In fact, it resembles the NMD. And without closely examining the details, one will probably even think that they are just the same.

Adidas X_PLR Style2

Appealing versatile design

The Adidas X_PLR sneakers are versatile enough to be worn with various outfits. Like the NMD, the X_PLR also looks great when paired with activewear. With its neat silhouette, it also won’t be wrong to match it with casual clothing. Indeed, this shoe is for those who want to experiment with their looks without taking so much time.

Here are some styling suggestions for the urban sneakerheads wanting to rock their Adidas X_PLR shoes confidently:

Styling for men

The fashionable men’s Adidas X_PLR sneaker is effortless to style as its modern silhouette goes well with any street-style or casual wear for men. Men are advised to wear casual or street-style clothing to match their X_PLR kicks.

Wear the Adidas Originals shoes with jeans, joggers, track pants, and shorts without any hesitation and doubts that the wearer will look awkward and out of place. Another option is to pair these low-top running sneakers with skinny jeans or ankle-length or cropped pants with a relaxed-fit tee, tank, or hoodie for that street-style swag.

If you are planning to wear the shoe for daytime activities, it is advised to choose colorways like the Adidas X_PLR in black and Adidas X_PLR in black and white colorways to match with night-time activities like bar hopping or clubbing easily. For daytime activities, it is suggested to choose the Adidas X_PLR in white and Adidas X_PLR in green as it matches any light-colored clothing for a day of exploring or walking around the urban jungle.

Styling for women

Styling the Adidas X_PLR women’s sneaker is not a difficult task as the silhouette fits any casual or street-style clothes of most women. The slim features of the shoe’s profile are also the best fit for athleisure styling where women would usually pair these shoes with yoga pants, leggings, and joggers for that straight out of the gym look.

Wear these stylish Adidas Originals sneakers with t-shirts, tanks, blouses, and hoodies for that casual swagger that does not overwhelm wearers with too much flashy footwear. For daytime activities, Adidas X_PLR in white is the best option for women. The white Adidas X_PLR sneakers are also best for some travel and daily runs to the mall or grocery store because of their lightweight design and breathable upper material.

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Speed lacing system

Enabling minor adjustments, the shoe has a speed lacing system that features a rubber stopper and a back pull tab for quick on and off. 

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Adidas X_PLR History

German brand Adidas has been at the forefront of the footwear industry since it was established on August 18, 1949. Company founder Adolf “Adi” Dassler pioneered shoemaking after coining the name of the company from a fusion of his name in the Bavarian town of Herzogenaurach.

Adi Dassler, after going separate ways with his brother from the company they founded in the 1920s which they called the Gebruder Dassler Schufabrik, decided to manufacture shoes on his own. He also capitalized on manufacturing shoes primarily for athletes like the German soccer team.

More than 60 years later, Adidas has already captured a sizeable chunk of the world sneaker market as the second-largest shoe manufacturer and retailer in the world. Through the years, the company has produced several shoes that became the bestselling designs of all time like the Adidas Stan Smith and the Adidas Superstar.

Aside from producing shoes for soccer, basketball, and tennis, the German brand has also led the world of running shoe manufacturing with the release of its iconic running silhouettes like the shoes featured in the ZX line, the Adidas Micropacer, and the Adidas Marathon.

The advent of a new technology

One of the company's most acclaimed pieces of technology is Boost cushioning. Some of the Boost-cushioned running shoes released by the brand include the bestselling Ultra Boost, Pure Boost, Energy Boost, Response Boost, and Solar Boost.

In the mid-2000s the company also ventured into the retail of lifestyle running sneakers which have been booming in sales in the past years. One such shoe is the NMD silhouette which helped boost the company’s popularity in the lifestyle sneaker market.

Soon other popular running shoe designs were released and re-released by Adidas that including the Alphabounce, Questar, Climacool, Falcon, and Supernova, but nothing would underestimate the popularity of the NMD especially among the younger footwear market.

Adidas X_PLR History3

NMD running shoe alternative

The story of the Adidas X_PLR shoe starts with the Adidas NMD. The NMD was introduced to the market in December 2015. It had Primeknit on the upper. On the midsole, it uses the Energy Boost, which many argue is one of the most responsive cushioning where available in the market to date.

When asked to comment on the company’s new creation, Adidas Vice-President for Global Design Nic Galway says that the NMD is a graceful attempt at integrating the triumphs of yesterday, the delicate idiosyncrasies of today, and the positive outlook with which he and his team view tomorrow. As such, this new silhouette took design cues from several Adidas classics such as the Rising Star, Micropacer, and the Boston Super.

But the NMD did not at all resemble any of those models. It only carried over their most salient essences and the combination of which brought forth an entirely new look that some would even describe as futuristic. The company made the new model even more relevant by incorporating Adidas’s most effective technologies thus far into its construction.

A codified name

The name NMD is a codified reference to the word "nomad." The running shoe is for one who never stays in a place for long. It is also for one who explores endlessly, therefore in need of a reliable partner that effectively supports their every stride. The NMD, even if it was pricier than many shoes, still enjoyed a mostly successful run through the market.

For sneakerheads, the X_PLR is essentially an NMD that is for those who are on a budget. 

Adidas X_PLR History2