Facts
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.
Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.
Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.
Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who does not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who needs arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a normal arch. See the best stability shoes.
Motion control / severe overproanation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.
Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.
Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.
Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.
Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.
The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.
There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.
Summary
We spent 8.3 hours reading reviews from experts and users. In summary, this is what sneaker fanatics think:
11 reasons to buy
- This shoe flaunts a vintage look that is simple and clean yet appealing to most Adidas fanatics. Others added that the gum soles on this model looks great.
- The majority of the reviewers considered this shoe as affordable. For its price, many were impressed with its quality.
- The Adidas Samba received heaps of praises for its comfortable in-shoe feel. Some disclosed that it can be worn all day without any problems.
- More than a handful revealed that the shoe held up even after using it daily for several years.
- Those who wore the sneaker for cycling, soccer, running, driving as well as long walks and trail hikes were pleased with its satisfactory performance.
- The shoe is lightweight and solidly-built, based on a good number of reviews.
- Some wore the Adidas Samba during rainy days and were happy that the interior of the shoe remained dry.
- The shoe looked terrific in person than online, a few noticed.
- It broke in easily, a large number of buyers remarked.
- Not many wore this shoe with orthotics. Those who did felt contented with its fit.
- This sneaker is available in a wide array of colorways.
5 reasons not to buy
- More than a handful of buyers noted that the Adidas Samba runs a bit tight and small.
- A significant number complained about the shoe’s sole or leather upper squeaking.
- A couple of users were dismayed that the insoles on this model wore out after a month or so of usage.
- The tongue on this shoe slipped and twisted, a few users observed.
- Its sole was hard and was not as grippy as expected, not many advised. One or two wearers said that is slipped on wet surfaces.
Bottom line
This iconic soccer footwear turned lifestyle shoe, even after more than six decades, continues to make waves in the market. Its vintage look is considered by many as timeless. Not only is the Adidas Samba famous for its classic aesthetics, it is also well-liked for its affordability durability and versatility.
Despite its popularity, this shoe has also received its fair share of bad press. Over the years, it was nitpicked for being squeaky. A few also criticized the shoe for the inadequacy of some of its parts.
Regardless, its prominence in the market remains unchanged as the majority of the brand’s fans choose to tolerate the shoe’s minor flaws. Sold at $70, many remain pleased with its good looks and performance as well as the reliable comfort it provides.
Rankings
Popularity
Ratings
My Rating
Expert Reviews
Experts are running shoe geeks, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.
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Adidas Samba History
Created to survive the vigorous game of soccer while keeping the players’ feet dry and protected from the icy, hard ground during winter, the Adidas Samba was known to perform. Released in the year 1950, it was outfitted with a kangaroo leather upper for comfort and a gum rubber outsole for traction. It also flaunted the famous 3-stripes that provided lateral support.
This trainer, however, was not only praised for its high-performance. It was also admired for its simple, clean and retro look. Both athletes and sneaker enthusiasts liked its classic aesthetics that looked great both on and off the field.
Soon after, this athletic footwear transformed into a casual shoe that was loved by the popular culture including celebrities. Quick to meet the needs and demands of their new target market, the brand revamped and altered this model in various materials and colorways while clearly maintaining the shoe’s original look.
To date, this sneaker maintains its iconic status. In fact, over 35 million pairs of this shoe have been sold worldwide making it the 2nd most popular model among all Adidas’ shoes. Not only that, the sneaker, having been around for more than 65 years, is also the oldest classic model that is still in production.
The Adidas Samba Originals is only one among the many versions of this timeless silhouette. Despite the many color variations available in the market today, the classic black and white colorway remains the most sought-after.
Adidas Samba Style
Complete your look with the famous Adidas Samba. Both sporty and sleek, this model is capable of elevating your outfit without much fuss. Try to pair this with your jeans, chinos and shorts as well as leggings and dresses and be impressed with how this transforms your look.
Along with its attractive aesthetics, it also offers adequate comfort and improved durability. Thus, many consider this shoe as a wardrobe essential and a reliable everyday footwear.
Fit & Sizing
Crafted with a smooth, full grain leather upper, expect the Adidas Samba to provide sufficient support in areas where you need it the most. However, its narrow construction will only provide minimal toe room.
This shoe is available for all genders. Commonly true to size, men’s models are offered in sizes 4-14. Women’s sizes, on the other hand, range from 5-12. All are released in Medium width.
Notable Features
Popular for its leather upper, the shoe’s look is further enhanced with the addition of the classic suede T-toe overlay. The Adidas Samba is also well-received for its durable rubber gum sole that offers sufficient grip and traction.
Additional Info
- For added comfort, the interior of the shoe is lined with textile and the collar is lightly padded.
- The famous three-stripe logo in contrasting color completes the look of the Adidas Samba.
- This shoe’s insoles are not removable.
- Adidas wordmark can be found on its tongue and heel tab.
- Traditional lace-up closure with flat laces is added to achieve optimal fit.
- The Samba callout, which is printed in gold, can be located on the sneaker’s lateral side.
- For some colorways, the option to personalize is available for an uptick in the price. This allows the buyer to add a personal name or a number of their choice on the right and/or left shoe.