Tom Sachs and NikeCraft Reveal the Continued Innovation of the Mars Yard Sneaker With Mars Yard 3.0

Nothing, and everything, has changed.

NikeCraft is introducing the Mars Yard 3.0: the latest evolution of Tom Sachs’ beloved aerospace-inspired footwear, built for the sport of sculpture and the rigors of everyday life, and earned by committing to a series of unique NikeCraft challenges.

“At a glance, nothing about the Mars Yard 3.0 has changed from the previous iteration,” says Tom Sachs, the famed sculptor and designer behind NikeCraft. “But while this shoe looks like earlier Mars Yard footwear, it couldn’t be more different. Every single thing is completely new — the tooling, midsole, outsole, toe clip, heel clip and feel. Even the packaging, which looks like the previous version, is completely re-engineered from scratch to be reusable.”

The innovation of the Mars Yard 3.0 begins with a natural rubber outsole that delivers increased durability, along with a soft bed of React foam and a carbon fiber shank that provides enhanced support and energy return.

The lacing system is redesigned to promote a fit that’s more inclusive for different foot shapes and sizes, featuring 4-millimeter ribbed polyester laces infused with Nike Running technology, a blucher-style eye stay, staggered eyelets and a nylon lace keeper that matches the donning strap at the heel.

A TPU toe cap answers wear testers’ requests for increased toe protection, and a TPU heel clip delivers additional stability in every stride. An unprecedented silkscreen-printed Swoosh anchors a timeless colorway familiar to fans of the Mars Yard, which has taken on the natural colors of its materials since its initial launch in 2012.

In keeping with the NikeCraft tradition of consumer engagement, Sachs has created a series of I.S.R.U. (In-Situ Resource Utilization) challenges that participants can complete to become eligible to purchase the new silhouette.

“Mars Yards have always been hard to get, and they’re always going to be hard to get. If you want them, you’re going to have to work for them,” says Sachs. “Maybe not all of the challenges are for you. That’s OK. What matters is that you do what resonates. I can’t guarantee you will get the shoes, but I can promise your life will improve by participating in meaningful daily routines.”

Challenges drop weekly via the NikeCraft Instagram and on the I.S.R.U app, which Sachs developed to encourage a global audience to build self-discipline and break old habits by committing to new, constructive rituals. This marks the first time the activation surrounding a Mars Yard release is open to participants worldwide.

“The values of NikeCraft haven’t changed, but they have been refined over the past 20 years,” says Sachs. “From the very beginning, I viewed NikeCraft as an art project: a place where my studio’s output and ideas could reach a larger audience through the sculpture known as the shoe. These two decades are a further reminder that art is in everything — and is showcased through the Mars Yard in the ultimate art gallery of the streets.”

Launching alongside the I.S.R.U. challenges and app is a new documentary, A Brief History of the Mars Yard, a testament to the spirit and evolution of NikeCraft, where Sachs is consistent in his pursuit to have the courage to simply do less.

View the documentary on Nike’s YouTube channel, and follow NikeCraft for more stories and updates and to keep tabs on upcoming I.S.R.U. challenges. Download the I.S.R.U. app at NikeCraft.com; participants in an eligible position on the I.S.R.U. leaderboard will have the opportunity to purchase the Mars Yard 3.0 on September 5 at store.tomsachs.com.