Adidas released the SL 72 as a lightweight alternative to its other running shoes. The "SL" in the name stands for "Super Light" and the "72" for the year it was released in. The shoe was designed to appeal to a casual runner and capitalize on the running boom of the 1970s. The shoe is made up of a nylon upper to make it less heavy with suede overlays at the toe, heel, and eyelets of the shoe. The EVA midsole has a rubber toe protector to prevent abrasions as well. The shoe was released during the 1972 Summer Olympics.
The SL 72 RSfeatures the same design on the upper but has a slightly chunkier sole underneath. The "RS" in the name stands for "reshaped". It was released at the beginning of 2024
SL 72 RTN
This model features a chunkier, rugged sole that is meant for outdoor use. It was released in the summer of 2024.
A modern running shoe that takes design elements from the original "SL 72". It was released in 2014 and meant to be a modern interpretation of the original shoe.