Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 12:04 pm  |  79 responses

Introducing APL

Athletic Propulsion Labs: The next big thing in shoes.

by Colin PoAdam & Ryan Goldstonwers

Twin brothers Ryan (at left) and Adam (at right) Goldston are soon to release a revolutionary new basketball shoe designed to immediately increase leaping ability and performance. Their product is neither a gimmick nor a training shoe but a completely new way of considering the role of footwear in athletics. Check out some more pics and the huge interest they are already generating with our friends at Counter Kicks. We caught up with them over the weekend to discuss their vision and the product that just may change the game as we know it.

SLAM: We have seen a few products come into the game from time to time promising an increase in vertical and explosiveness. What makes your shoe different?
Athletic Propulsion Labs: The Athletic Propulsion Labs™ product is unlike any basketball shoe ever introduced. From the very beginning, the goal was to engineer the product to provide an instant increase in vertical leap to anyone playing basketball. There have been many training programs introduced in the past that were designed to help increase your vertical leap over a period of months. The APL shoes feature a breakthrough forefoot technology called “Load ‘N Launch™” that provides an instant increase in vertical leap the very first time you jump in the shoes. These are not training shoes; they are playing shoes.

SLAM: Describe the “Load ‘N Launch™” technology that serves as the groundbreaking development in your product?
APL: After spending the better part of almost two years conceptualizing and developing the patent-pending “Load ‘N Launch™” technology, we at Athletic Propulsion Labs™ finally turned the dream into reality. The Load ‘N Launch™ device is a very sophisticated piece of engineering located in the forefoot of the shoe just in front of the flex zone and the ball of the foot. The device features unique compression properties that provide an instant rebound effect that is transferred up through the fAPLoot to enhance vertical leap, or what we call vertical propulsion. This is not a gimmick. What the “Load ‘N Launch™” technology does is it works in concert with the rest of the shoe so that there is uniformity in the compression or the pressure that the athlete exerts down onto the device itself and through the midsole of the shoe, which is the “load” cycle. After all the compression elements are fully flexed, there is an explosive “launch” cycle that results when all of that compression is released. The result is an instant increase in vertical leap. The Load ‘N Launch™ technology has been extensively tested in a leading West Coast university biomechanical lab using the highly sophisticated Kistler Force Plates in conjunction with a Vertec unit. The results are clear and show that at a statistically significant level the Athletic Propulsion Labs™ shoes provide an instant increase in vertical leap to someone from the very first time they use the product.

SLAM: Is there any training program you would recommend to complement the benefits of the shoe?
APL: The incredible thing about APL basketball shoes is that no training program is required. You merely purchase the shoes, put them on and, from the minute you start playing in them, you will notice the engagement of the Load ‘N Launch™ device and the resulting increase in your vertical leap. Another major benefit of the product is the fact that you can get off the floor much more quickly whether rebounding, jump shooting, shot blocking, etc. We live in a world of “instant gratification” and while dedicated athletes are sometimes willing to spend many months in the gym doing squats, leg presses, calf raises and numerous other exercises in order to gain a fractional increase in their vertical leap, most people want something that is going to work right away. Up until now that was just not possible with the athletic footwear products that consumers could buy. The dream of every basketball player is to be able to jump higher and that is what the Athletic Propulsion Labs™ product provides…an instant increase in vertical leap.

SLAM: How long before results start to show?
APL: Because of the technology, the increase in your vertical leap happens INSTANTLY when you wear the APL Concept 1 basketball shoes. These are basketball playing shoes, not training shoes. This is not a training regimen and that’s what makes them so unique in the marketplace.

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  • adams

    I really wonder if these are supposed to work INSTANTLY or if this is some kind of training shoe? That really hasn’t been answered in this thorough “interview”.

  • adams

    They should really promise some pen*s enlargement. Eboy would order two pairs.

  • RedRum

    they suck…

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    I would have to try a pair on and jump a couple times in them before i would spend that type of money. To send in $300 to 2 guys in suits for magical jumping shoes just screams scam to me. Not saying you wont get your shoes, but i think i speak for most reasonable people when i say i need to try them on first before i invest in them.

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    “These are my new shoes. They’re good shoes. They won’t make you rich like me, they won’t make you rebound like me, they definitely won’t make you handsome like me. They’ll only make you have shoes like me. That’s it.” – Charles Barkley

  • Dallas

    Idk what to think. I thought Robin Williams invented this once??

  • some1

    I have seen these shoes in person and in action, I havent tried them but seen the creator play before and after, and I tell you he increased mad hops. I think the really are worth $300, carbon fiber come on!!

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Dimitris – why did you mention me? I don’t honestly know. Can you tell me? Thanks.
    Reegarding your statement about athlete safety – don’t worry about it. A human can survive drops of 4-5 feet on concrete with bare feet with no damage to the phalanges, metatarsals, tarsal bones. A 30inch drop onto wood with shoes, socks, braces etc by a professional athlete holds little risk.
    Besides, you “learn” how to fall to avoid injury etc after playing a sport for an extended period of time.

  • http://www.euroleague.net/competition/all-decade/main-page/i/65216/4259/euroleague-all-decade-candidate-dimitris-diamantidis?lang=en&itemid=65216&mid=4259&tabid=1143&itemname=EUROLEAGU DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS(click on my name)

    @Hursty…..: i mention you (and i will keep on doing so) for as long as you provide as with comments like the 4:16.

  • Pingback: Chinese translation of the Athletic Propulsion Labs™ shoes interview from « The Infinite Urban Monkey Theory?

  • http://www.clutchfans.net nick

    All the trademark symbols, extreme press-release language, and obvious set-up leading questions make this “interview” feel like a late night 2 man infomercial:

    “What training do i need ron?”

    “None!”

    “None? That’s impossible!”

    “It’s very possible! It’s proven in laboratories at leading universities! BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! buy now and we’ll throw in this ronco slicer-dicer!”

    My point is that this is the sort of crap I come to slam to avoid. I don’t have a problem with an article about this shoe, but if you’re going to do an interview, do a damn interview, don’t just let someone’s PR people write the thing for you.

    You’re better than that, slam.

  • Donell

    i agree with nick, this interview was annoying cuz it sounded like a dang commercial. An i agree with JL sayin that John Brilliant works for the company, or is the companies boy or something. Nice advertising scheme, you got the name out, and i know about the product, but i think they put themselves out negatively with this. They put themselves out like sneaky liars who say what you want to hear , i dont think this shoe appeals to any true ballers that know hard work and dedication is the only way to get real results. And its not even truly about the results. Sometimes the journey ,is more important than the destination. THESE SHOES ARE WACK, AND THERE PRODUCTS PHILOSOPHY BEHIND IT IS PETTY. dont support this wackness

  • Donell

    sorry , typo at the end, i dint mean to say “dont support this wackness” i meant to say “I wont support this wackness”

  • alex

    great look, love the colorway
    as for the shoe itself i dunno if it works, defenetly a smart idea to read up on some reviews, but if this does work….SHIT!!!! IT WOULD BE SOOO COOL…but its sounds to good to be true. ive tried jumpsoles and it incresed my vert 2 inches in 2 months so good results, and i remember the old adenotres jumping pills which was a load of bullshit and was selling for like 60$ a bottle! so just because the shoes have a high price does not mean better chance at positive resuilts. if these should work, i might buy em though.

  • Andrew Utter

    wowwwwwwww 300$????? Dude I’m poor

  • tmw554

    3.5 inches? why is everybody making a big deal? if you can touch the rim you still have to be able to get the ball over the rim to dunk. and if you can already barely dunk it aint like 3.5 inches is gonna give you enough lift to throw down a 360

  • Russ M

    When Nike first introduced the shox it had to be proved (and was) that it didn’t enhance a persons vertical before the NBA would approve it’s use.

  • dai-low

    $300USD?!! stuff that, i’d rather lay it up

  • gene wilt

    Bryan Crawford nailed it! I’ve heard this before and “the Mailman” was rockin’ them! “The Catapult” by L.A. Gear! LOL Remember them? Yeah, not so much! and besides that the whole design of the shoe is pretty weak! That’s just my opinion…

  • boss

    i pre-ordered a pair way back in march and still havent gotten them!! i want to try them so bad but they say on their website that they arent shipping them untill around june 19th so it wont be much longer at least, also for all of the people saying they are going to try them on in stores or something first before they buy them they say on their website they are only going to be available for purchase online…and they are releasing a running shoe in 2011 with the same kind of technology so if these work then the running shoes will do amazing

  • http://www.nathanadamsjairus.webs.com jairus

    so the guys saying three hundred is to much …. for a walmart budget yeah, and how many people have statistically achieved heighted increase in vertical working out at a gym when you put the statistical slant to what im saying you see im right, but, i understand 300 made in China bucks is way too much im sure in hyper inflation reality they are more like 3 thousand dollars but enough hacking on the first respne i saw , thanks for responding so i can get your perspective.. but im looking to see what they actually do against the claims they “can” do.. j

  • http://www.nathanadamsjairus.webs.com jairus

    i did nto mean to attack the fellow as i see the rules imply..

  • boss

    Mine are due to arrive tomorrow morning!!! im so excited to try them on and see how they work

  • the guy

    You know, a layup is worth just as many points as a dunk. Just cuz you can dunk doesnt mean your a good player or cool. kthxbye

  • http://w@yahoo.com w

    Should bring back the Reebok pump….lol…YEA thats rightt i said it..OLD SCHOOL!!

  • BRUCE-LEROY

    KISS MY CONVERSE!!!

  • http://www.whatever.com Starter

    That’s not an “interview”, it’s a glorified advertisement. I don’t know if the twins are friends of someone at SLAM, or straight-up paid for it like an ad, but that is not real journalism.

    Think about it. Here’s a seriously dubious claim from a brand new sneaker company. They claim to have figured out what Nike, Adidas et al have not managed to accomplish with teams of scientists and hundreds of millions of dollars. Now I’m not saying that’s impossible. It’s happened before (Tucker cars, anyone?), but still, not one skeptical question from SLAM during the entire interview?

    Every question was designed not to get to the bottom of whether or not there was any substantial technology in the shoe, and whether that technology worked, but to facilitate a slickly prepared statement from the twins that read like a press release. The interview literally read like one of those fake article advertisements they sometimes slip into airline magazines… Except this one didn’t have “advertisement” written above the logline in small letters.

    You want to write a real story about these shoes? Get a bunch of them on the feet of SLAM staffers, see how they work. Cut one up with a pair of kitchen shears and see what’s inside. At the very least, pin down your interviewees and get them to actually explain how the shoe works… They have patents and are protected, it’s not like they will be exposing themselves by actually talking about what they did that no one else could. Besides, the big sneaker companies will definitely be dissecting pairs of these shoes to see if there is anything inside beyond hype.

    Shameless, SLAM. You are better than this.

    Oh, and “John Brilliant” is the most transparent shill poster I’ve seen in… Ever. Obviously someone who works for APL.

    Not saying the shoe’s don’t work- I’m saying the above interview was terrible journalism. Also saying the blatant fake comment posting by APL employees is weird.

    I don’t know about anyone else, but if I managed to crack the holy grail of basketball shoe technology, I wouldn’t feel the need to rely on journalism like this, nor would I pay anyone to spread info via comment posts online. I’d release the shoes, embark on a tasteful ad and publicity campaign, charge $100-$150 for the shoes, and watch the empire grow. Because if this technology is real, then an empire is exactly what this shoe will launch. On the other hand, if I DID NOT manage to crack the holy grail… I’d rely on hype, hype, hype and make sure to charge an obscene amount of money for the shoes… Because I’d know that as soon as the real reviews came in, I’d be out of business.

    Again, not doubting APL… Yet. But let’s see less shameless yellow journalism and comment plugging, and more proof that the shoes work.

  • yoyoyo

    I believe his father was the Mark R. Goldston becomes president and chief operating officer of L.A. Gear

  • Corey Zimmerman

    these are banned in the NBA. im not sure about college though

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