Our verdict

The Adidas LA Trainer brings a sense of nostalgia from the ‘80s but still looks hot in the 2020s. It is appreciated by several generations and maintains a stellar reputation as a great value-for-money sneaker. We found that its highly durable construction, aggressive rubber outsole, and iconic plug cushioning system meld style and function brilliantly. However, we must warn you that the shoe's very slim fit significantly narrows down the number of people who can enjoy the benefits of the LA Trainer.

Pros

  • Fantastic durability and abrasion resistance
  • Excellent stability and foothold
  • Lighter than average
  • Real suede panels
  • Can go off-road (rugged outsole)
  • Throwback '80s silhouette
  • Affordable price point

Cons

  • Critically narrow fit
  • Too warm for summer
  • Not very cushy

Audience verdict

94
Superb!

Who should buy

Part of Adidas' Originals collection, we believe that the LA Trainer is most suitable for people who:

  • want a retro sporty vibe striaght from the '80s
  • prefer slim and snug-fitting sneakers or have narrow feet 
  • look for affordable sneakers tha can last a good while

Adidas LA Trainer review

Who should NOT buy

The unforgivingly narrow fit of the LA Trainer will not work well with wide feet or even some medium-width foot shapes. You will want to turn to the roomier Adidas silhouettes such as the Superstar or the Campus 00s.

Another reason to look away from the LA Trainer is its lack of breathability. Look into our curated top picks among breathable sneakers instead.

Adidas LA Trainer lab test

Cushioning

Heel stack

A thick rubber outsole and multi-color plugs (more on those later) added a few notable millimeters to the overall stack height of the Adidas LA Trainer.

Adidas LA Trainer Heel stack

Measuring the shoe's platform thickness in the heel, we got a slightly taller-than-average reading of 31.4 mm. If you're looking for a bit of a height boost, this is it!

Test results
LA Trainer 31.4 mm
Average 29.7 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

The shoe's forefoot stack also turned out to be a bit taller than the average at 20.2 mm.

Adidas LA Trainer Forefoot stack

However, it doesn't mean that the LA Trainer feels cushier. About 1/3 of that stack is made of the shoe's lugged rubber outsole.

Test results
LA Trainer 20.2 mm
Average 18.8 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
9.7 mm
Forefoot stack
28.3 mm

Drop

Comparing the two stacks, we discovered that the Adidas LA Trainer has a regular drop of 11.2 mm.

Adidas LA Trainer Drop

This height difference is pretty common for lifestyle sneakers. When the heel is elevated above the toes by at least 10 mm, you experience a more supported platform which doesn't put extra strain on your Achilles tendons and calves.

For most people, this is the optimal setup for all-day wear.

Test results
LA Trainer 11.2 mm
Average 10.9 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.5 mm
Drop
17.2 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

But don't let its thicker-than-average platform mislead you, the Adidas LA Trainer is NOT a cushy sneaker.

It's not just the rubber outsole that firms up the ride but the shoe's midsole foam as well. Measuring its softness with a Shore A durometer, we got a pretty high reading of 44.8 HA. That's a whole 50% firmer than the average sneaker foam!

Adidas LA Trainer Midsole softness

To give you some reference, it feels a lot like the New Balance 574 (44.0 HA) and the Vans Knu Skool (46.4 HA).

Test results
LA Trainer 44.8 HA
Average 29.2 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 64 sneakers
Number of shoes
15.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
46.4 HA

Secondary foam softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

Three colorful plugs in the midsole are most likely the first thing that draws your attention to the Adidas LA Trainer.

Did you know that these plugs were removable and helped to regular cushioning softness in the original design? Find out more about that in the section below.

In the shoe's contemporary version, these plugs are merely there for looks. They cannot be removed or adjusted. But they are incredibly firm, reaching 92.0 HA on our Shore A durometer! But this is not surprising given that they are made of plastic.

Adidas LA Trainer Secondary foam softness

We found that they merely add a bit more firmness and stability to the LA Trainer's heel.

Test results
LA Trainer 92.0 HA
Average 33.8 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.

Insole thickness

A padded insole tops the LA Trainer's cushioning. It doesn't add a whole lot of plushness to the step-in feel but it is a very nice touch to the otherwise firm ride.

Adidas LA Trainer Insole thickness
Test results
LA Trainer 4.4 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
11.5 mm

The story behind the plugs

Released in 1984, the LA Trainer was the first Adidas shoe to feature the Vario Shock Absorption System more commonly known as the removable tricolor heel pegs (or plugs).

Adidas LA Trainer three dots

Represented by different colors of white, red, and blue (or white, blue, and black, depending on the colorway), these pegs offer varying levels of cushioning, which can be customized according to the user’s weight, running style, or the kind of running surface they use.

The Vario Shock Absorption System was a technological experiment by Adidas. It turned out to be so successful that it has also been used in other Three Stripes models such as the Kegler, the Columbia, and the Grand Slam.

Adidas LA Trainer look

But the realm of shoe technologies never stands still and the Vario System gradually became obsolete over the years. However, the memory about its hype still lives today through the LA Trainer remakes. 

Size and fit

Size

Adidas LA Trainer is slightly large (18 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 97 sneakers
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

Putting the LA Trainer on in our regular US size 9, we knew immediately that the shoe's fit would be a problem for wide feet. But even those with medium-sized feet should brace themselves for a pretty snug experience.

Adidas LA Trainer fit

Our caliper measurement only confirmed this showing as little as 91.6 mm in the widest part of the forefoot. That's about 7.5 mm narrower than average and is pretty critical because the difference between shoe widths normally doesn't exceed 5 mm. It also by far the narrowest sneaker we've recorded in the lab!

The fact that the LA Trainer is not offered in wide widths further compounds the issue.

Adidas LA Trainer Toebox width at the widest part
Test results
LA Trainer 91.6 mm
Average 98.9 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
91.3 mm
Toebox width - widest part
105.3 mm

Toebox width - big toe

The shoe's fit remains slim around the tip of the toebox too. We got another narrower-than-average measurement in the big toe area of this Adidas shoe - only 72.5 mm!

Adidas LA Trainer Toebox width at the big toe
Test results
LA Trainer 72.5 mm
Average 75.0 mm
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
65.7 mm
Toebox width - big toe
83.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Even though the Adidas LA Trainer doesn't feature any special stability components, its overall construction has enough rigidity to create a rather stable experience.

As you can see from our lateral stability check, the shoe doesn't allow our foot or ankle to roll over excessively. Its stable heel kept us nice and planted throughout the wear test.

Torsional rigidity

To give you an idea of the Trainer's level of stiffness, we could barely twist it in our manual test!

Assessing the shoe's torsional rigidity on a 1-5 scale, we gave it nearly the highest score - 4 out of 5!

Even though it is not a dedicated stability shoe with arch support, we believe that this Adidas sneaker can provide enough inherent stability to those with moderate overpronation.

Test results
LA Trainer 4
Average 3.5
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

A stiff heel counter is another source of stability for the Adidas LA Trainer. It secured our heel firmly in place preventing both heel slippage and heel shifting inside the shoe.

On a 1-5 stiffness scale, the shoe's heel counter earned a solid score of 4 based on our manual test.

Test results
LA Trainer 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

The Adidas LA Trainer's midsole is not particularly wide but we never felt as though its slimmer profile detracted from the overall stability.

Adidas LA Trainer Midsole width in the forefoot

Measuring the widest part of the forefoot, we recorded 102.7 mm. That's about 6 mm narrower than the average.

Test results
LA Trainer 102.7 mm
Average 108.5 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
95.1 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
121.0 mm

Midsole width - heel

It is likely that we didn't feel the difference in midsole shape due to the shoe's same-as-average heel width.

Adidas LA Trainer Midsole width in the heel

Measuring its widest part with a caliper, we got a standard reading of 81.3 mm.

Test results
LA Trainer 81.3 mm
Average 83.2 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
67.7 mm
Midsole width - heel
103.1 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

We found that it takes a little more effort to bend the foot in the LA Trainer. It must be the shoe's thick rubber outsole that hinders the movement.

Measuring how much force it takes toe bend this Adidas shoe to a 90-degree angle, our force gauge showed a reading of 29.9N. This is indeed about 20% more than it takes an average sneaker

We should also note that the LA Trainer has a flat non-rockered platform which makes transitions feel rather plain. Nothing to write home about.

Test results
LA Trainer 29.9N
Average 22.9N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
5.8N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
51.8N

Weight

It only makes sense to expect extra ounces on the scale given the shoe's sturdy construction...But not so fast!

Adidas LA Trainer Weight

With a moderate reading of 12.0 oz (339g), the Adidas LA Trainer is a whole 2 oz (57g) lighter than average!

Adidas LA Trainer shoe weight

We are genuinely amazed at how such a reinforced shoe can be so light!

Test results
LA Trainer 11.96 oz (339g)
Average 13.86 oz (393g)
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
20.49 oz (581g)

Breathability

Even though it commemorates the Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, the LA Trainer is very far from a summer-friendly sneaker!

None of the smoke is passing through the LA Trainer's toebox in our breathability lab test.

The shoe's tightly woven synthetic upper and suede overlays create a pretty stuffy environment for the foot in warm temperatures.

Adidas LA Trainer Breathability microscope test

Checking the toebox through our microscope made it very clear why its textile failed to expel any smoke.

Adidas LA Trainer Breathability under microscope

Look at how airtight that weaving is!

We tried searching for other potential airflow channels but to no avail.

Aside from the gaps between the tongue and the vamp, there are no perforations or ventilation holes in the LA Trainer's upper.

Thus, we gave it a pretty low breathability score of only 2 out of 5. This Adidas shoe is most suitable for mild spring and fall temperatures.

Test results
LA Trainer 2
Average 3
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

To tell the truth, we didn't expect to see real suede on a $100 sneaker. And yet, our fire test proved us wrong!

Applying our butane torch to the large suede panel at the back of the LA Trainer, we were surprised to see that it didn't melt or catch fire at all. Further scratching the material with an awl, we discovered that it behaves a lot like real suede.

And if it quacks like a duck...

In contrast, the three stripes on the sides of the LA Trainer are clearly made of synthetic material. See how they squirm and melt under fire? That indicates synthetics.

Test results
LA Trainer Real suede

Toebox durability

Even though it doesn't boast ventilation, the shoe's extra thick and tightly woven textile offers other benefits.

First of all, it undercuts regular mesh when it comes to abrasion resistance!

The shoe's toebox stood up to our 12-second Dremel test in which it was exposed to sandpaper at the speed of 5K RPM and a consistent pressure of 3.2N.

Adidas LA Trainer Toebox durability comparison

The Dremel scratched the topmost layer of the LA Trainer without even cutting through the textile entirely. Compared to the see-through holes on mesh sneakers (like the New Balance 530 above), the damage was as minor as it could be.

This earned the Adidas LA Trainer a high toebox durability score of 4 out of 5.

Test results
LA Trainer 4
Average 3.8
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

Unlike most casual sneakers, the Adidas LA Trainer features synthetic leather on the inner side of its heel counter. This adds bonus points to the shoe's interior durability.

You can see that our 4-second Dremel test left the material practically unscathed.

Compared to the torn-up mesh on other sneakers, it looks as though the LA Trainer was never even touched with sandpaper.

Adidas LA Trainer Heel padding durability comparison

And just like that, this Adidas sneaker gets the highest durability score for heel lining durability - 5 out of 5!

Test results
LA Trainer 5
Average 3.2
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

Looks like Adidas is here to offer an indestructible sneaker for only $100! Because its outsole is so rugged, it makes us think that the shoe was designed for hiking.

Adidas LA Trainer Outsole hardness

And the hardness of that rubber makes it even more plausible. At 90.5 HA, it is by far the heardest sneaker outsole we've recorded in our lab!

Test results
LA Trainer 90.5 HC
Average 85.4 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
76.1 HC
Outsole hardness
91.3 HC

Outsole durability

Are you excited to see how that rubber holds up against the Dremel? What if we turn up the speed to 10K RPM and hold it for 22 seconds? Let's test it out!

Still unbeatable!

Our tread gauge shows that the Dremel bit away as little as 0.6 mm of rubber! That's notably less than the industry average.

The Adidas LA Trainer is ready for some serious action for sure.

Adidas LA Trainer Outsole durability test
Test results
LA Trainer 0.6 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

As if super hard and durable rubber was not enough, Adidas also decided that a 7.5-mm thick outsole would be nice...Why not? Extra 2 mm of protection won't hurt anyone.

Adidas LA Trainer Outsole thickness

Looking at these crazy stats, we believe that the Adidas LA Trainer has the potential to outlast most daily beaters in your closet! Even if you choose to hit some trails once in a while.

Test results
LA Trainer 7.5 mm
Average 5.4 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Outsole thickness
8.6 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

For a casual sneaker, the Adidas LA Trainer has an unusually aggressive outsole with deep slanted lugs covering the whole thing!

That's because the original 1984 model was designed as a road-to-trail running shoe with a gripping capacity for various surafces.

Adidas LA Trainer outsole

Of course, trail running shoe technologies have made a huge leap forward since the 80s but we think that the LA Trainer would still allow you to walk confidently in moderate off-road scenarios.

Reflective elements

None of the shoe's upper elements are reflective.

Adidas LA Trainer Reflective elements
Test results
LA Trainer No

Tongue padding

The LA Trainer has a sufficiently padded tongue showing a standard thickness of 8.8 mm on our caliper. It helped to prevent lace pressure and bites very nicely.

Adidas LA Trainer Tongue padding
Test results
LA Trainer 8.8 mm
Average 9.1 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
23.0 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The tongue of this Adidas sneaker doesn't have any side attachments to the rest of the upper. But we didn't noticed any downsides associated with that.

Adidas LA Trainer Tongue: gusset type
Test results
LA Trainer None

Heel tab

This Adidas sneaker comes without finger loops or pull tabs. We recommend using a shoehorn when putting it on to avoid premature wrinkles on the upper.

Adidas LA Trainer Heel tab
Test results
LA Trainer None

Removable insole

The stock insole of the LA Trainer can be removed if necessary. However, not every custom insert can match the shoe's extra-slim profile.

Adidas LA Trainer Removable insole
Test results
LA Trainer Yes