Shoe manufacturer Syntilay has unveiled its new PulsePodz shoes, which it claims could not have been made without 3D printing and AI.
These recovery slides feature nine individual pods on the base, designed with a grid structure and varying densities to create a cushion that provides support exactly where the foot needs it most.
According to Syntilay, this structure creates a pulsating sensation to reduce pressure in the most stressed parts of the foot.
We spoke with the brand, who recently appeared on our Trending Forward podcast, at CES about these new shoes and tried them out for ourselves.
Ben Weiss, the co-founder of Syntilay, told me that the design goal was to create something that provides different levels of pressure throughout the shoe, so that that pressure is released as the user walks.
I got to try out the slides briefly, and while I couldn’t get the full effect (they weren’t my size as I had weirdly small feet for my size), there was definitely a different feeling on the bottom of the foot as the pressure was felt in different parts of the shoe.
Weiss said the goal is to offer something that isn’t readily available on the market:
“So this is a new technology that is only possible with (3D) printing. (The airflow in the PulsePodz) is omnidirectional – the greatest airflow possible because it is hollower and provides a lighter experience.”
“These structures can’t really be made with traditional production, so you’re taking advantage of the benefits of printing (using) a new technology that we haven’t seen yet in a mass-produced commercial product taking advantage of the benefits.”
They definitely look different – as someone who’s spent more money on running shoes than I’d ever care to mention, I’m used to seeing all sorts of strange sections, nubs and designs on the soles of my sneakers to better support my feet.
If you look at the PulsePodz up close, you can see the difference – there are just a lot of small structures inside the pods, and it would be easy to think that this level of complexity wouldn’t have been possible without a 3D printer.
AI was also used and supported simulation to ensure that the airflow through the shoe was optimized. This is an important part, as Syntilay positions these as part of the same footwear pantheon as the Nike Air Max from the ’80s, with its visible bubble cushioning and OnRunning’s “Swiss Cheese”-style CloudTec sole. It calls it “the first major advance in air-based cushioning shoe systems in more than 15 years” – a bold statement given that 3D printed shoes are still in their infancy, but intended to highlight the new possibilities offered by alternative production methods.
The PulsePodz technology is currently limited to use in the Recovery Slides, but the brand plans to expand the structure to sneakers and “performance-oriented silhouettes” in the future to encourage more people to try 3D printed shoes.
A possible obstacle for some will be the idea that a shoe is made entirely from one piece – how does Syntilay plan to educate people who may have reservations?
Weiss points out that their main goal is to get people to feel the PulsePodz in real life so they can “see the flex.”
“People look at (3D printed shoes) and think they’re hard, so we also want to have a lot of visual elements around flexibility,” he told us.
When we spoke to Weiss for our podcast in early 2025, he was excited about the possibility of printing shoes, not only because of the new designs that could be made, but also because of the fact that they could so easily be packed with technology.
He again emphasized the possibilities of adding integrated technology into 3D printed shoes – perhaps things like temperature sensors inside to heat or cool the shoes, the dynamic ability to change the structure of the shoe depending on the movement of the foot, or even things like screens on the side of the footwear – presumably for additional customization.
So are we seeing an early player in the new way we buy shoes? If there was a brand that could make me a custom running shoe Exactly Because of the support I need and the way my foot moves, this would be kind of a game changer for me and I would buy it in a heartbeat…so I’m excited to see how this turns out.
The PulsePodz slides are currently available for pre-order at Syntilay.com for $149 and are available in multiple colors including black, white, and additional colorways such as pink, green, and orange. Shipping begins 90-120 days after order closes.
