$250 FOR SNEAKERS? ADIDAS PREMIERES PRICEY, POPULAR, HIGH-TECH FOOTWEAR.

Byline: Candice Choi Staff Writer

BURBANK - A flashy pair of ``smart'' high-tech sneakers hit the ground running Friday. Cost? $250!

And they're so hot, Tim Barbee, a marathon runner stationed at the Point Mugu Naval Air Station in Ventura County, drove two hours in the rain to get his hands - or feet - on a pair of the new Adidas-1 running shoes at the Sport Chalet in Burbank.

``I knew they were going to sell pretty quickly,'' Barbee said. ``My co-workers think I'm crazy.''

Outside the Sport Chalet - one of the few places where the high-tech sneakers are available - people were waiting for the store to open, said manager Hector Magana.

What sets the gold-and-white sneakers apart are the computer chips encased inside.

Magnetic sensors and an electronic motor inside the sneakers continuously adjust the cushioning in the heel. Sensors inside the sneakers measure the compression on the runner's feet. The information is relayed to a microprocessor under the arch, which sends information to an electric motor.

The technology is powered by a lithium battery that lasts about 100 hours.

At $250, the Adidas-1 leaves its competition in the dust in terms of price. Even high-end sneakers like Nike Jordan's only cost about $160 a pair.

``We're not holding the shoes for anyone - it's first come, first serve,'' said Magana, who's been getting calls about the shoes for several months.

After working for more than three years to develop the shoes, Adidas is making the shoes available through a limited number of retailers nationwide.

Sport Chalet has about 15 percent of the total U.S. stock of the Adidas-1. The sneakers are available at only 10 of the 36 Sport Chalet stores.

There's no word yet on when the German athletic gear company will replenish outlets once the U.S. stock is wiped out. Store owners are reporting first-day sales to Adidas representatives today, said Craig Levra, CEO of Sport Chalet.

Levra thinks his stores will be sold out shortly.

``A customer that demands performance will be willing to pay,'' Levra said.

Not everyone thinks the shoes are worth $250.

Burbank resident Teri Schad tried on a pair of the men's sneakers and found them remarkably snug. ``They mold to your feet,'' she said. Still, she's not willing to spend more than $100 on a pair of sneakers.

Especially on sneakers with over-the-top flashy design.

Franklin Abedin, a Burbank resident, said he read about the sneakers several months ago. ``They're like little robots,'' he said.

Before investing in a pair, Abedin, said, he is going to wait for the prices to come down. Plus, he wants to hear the initial reports on the pricey sneakers.

The Adidas-1 represents a ``big step forward'' in sneaker technology, Levra said.

Levra doesn't think the gold-and-white sneakers are just a flash in the pan; he thinks the sneakers will have a long shelf life and even change the way other shoes are made.

``Think of athletes playing on grass or basketball players going up and down a court,'' he said. ``It's not a technology that only applies to runners.''

Candice Choi, [phone]

candice.choi(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) Aimee Stein, above, an employee at Sport Chalet in Burbank, takes a closer look at the secret behind the new Adidas 1 running shoe, left, with sensors built into the sole.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer