There’s a Piece of Early-2000s Tennis History Inside Lacoste’s New Sneaker

Lacoste is launching the Slam Break, the follow-up to the Slam Break Premium that tennis player Arthur Fils fronted earlier this year.

The best part of this shoe is buried in the midsole. Lacoste dug up ADS foam, a cushioning tech it originally built for the Repel, a performance tennis shoe from the early 2000s, and put it back to work here, this time keeping the shoe comfortable through a full day of wear rather than just a match. There’s a TPU heel counter for extra support at the back, and a stretch knit lining that hugs the foot. Everything on top nods to tennis without shouting about it: suede overlays, perforated detailing, a ghillie eyestay, a leather heel tab, and Lacoste’s embroidered crocodile sitting where you’d expect it.

It comes in two versions. The leather build keeps things simple and clean, cream and white with a flash of grass green worked into the sole. The textile version goes more relaxed, ripstop mesh, metal eyelets, suede overlays, with a main colourway of white, beige and chocolate brown. Both come in men’s and women’s sizing, and there are extra colourways too, pink, navy, black, mint green and sky blue.

The Slam Break launches at Lacoste.com and select retailers.