AdjMid

Adjustable & Interchangeable Midsole, running shoe series

The idea for an interchangeable midsole came right after the AdjAir shoe concept.

At that point, N. M. C. was pushing in one direction:
Make ideas for shoes that are as adjustable and modular as possible.

The starting reference was Nike Air Zoom Pods.

Those pods use internal fibers to control how the air in the chamber compresses and rebounds. That detail stood out—structure inside a flexible system.

That led to a broader question:

What if the structure of the shoe wasn’t fixed?

In most running shoes, the midsole is permanent.
Once the foam is chosen and built in, the ride is locked. When it wears out, the entire shoe is done.

That’s the limitation.

So the idea shifted:
Instead of a fixed midsole, make it removable.

But that creates a constraint.

A running shoe needs to stay secure under load.
If the midsole is interchangeable, the system holding it in place has to:

• keep everything stable

• handle impact forces

• allow quick changes

That’s where the next reference came in: BOA Fit System.

Instead of traditional construction, the idea became a cable-based system wrapping around the midsole area.

The structure would work like this:

• Cables connect the upper and outsole

• The midsole sits between them as an insert

• Tightening the system locks the midsole in place

Loosening it allows removal.

That creates a modular system:

• different foam types

• different air pod configurations

• race inserts with carbon plates

• max stack vs minimalist

All interchangeable within the same shoe.

The benefit is adaptability.

Instead of changing shoes, the runner changes the system inside the shoe.

It also introduces a longer-term idea:
During extended use or long races, if cushioning degrades, the insert could be replaced without switching the entire shoe.

This is currently just an idea but could soon be turned into a reality.