7 Best Adidas Sneakers

After days of rocking the streets in these and testing them in our lab, we concluded that the Adidas Stan Smith is the best overall Adidas shoe. We decided this not just because of its looks and storied history but because we were blown away by 3 things: its plush comfort, resistance to the rain, and maintenance that's basically a piece of cake.

From properly testing the Stan Smith, we really felt how comfortable it is. Its plush interior was apparent from the moment we put them on. We found that it was lined with buttery-soft leather from heel to tip.

Next, we looked at how the Stan Smith deals with the rain. We tested how it would fare against wet conditions by pouring a stream of water over it. The result: the water ran down the sides of the sneaker and the interior was mostly dry! We found the sneaker to be water-tight except for the perforations - still proving to be a water-repellent shoe.

When it comes to maintenance, the results are very positive for the Stan Smith. We tested how well it deals with stains by applying dye to its upper. From this, we saw that the Stan Smith’s leather is great at avoiding stains. Additionally, we performed an abrasion test by pressing a power drill with a wire brush to its upper. While it did thin out its upper by a bit, it just gave the shoe a worn look that may even look appealing to some.

We issue a word of caution, however, to those looking for arch support in a sneaker. From our experience, there was very little of it in the Stan Smith.

The soccer-inspired kick that solidified its place at the top of all the Adidas sneakers we have tested is the Adidas Samba. On top of being an unquestionably legendary piece in the name of soccer, this sneaker delivers terrific adaptability that can take us to both indoor and outdoor affairs without a hitch. 

We admired the construction of the Adidas Samba for its top-notch quality. We put its upper, both leather and suede, against our torch lighter and they didn’t ignite, proving that they are genuine. Additionally, we challenged the quality of the upper and heel padding through our Dremel test. Seeing that the materials were scarcely affected, we rated the upper and heel padding’s durability a 4/5. 

We are not surprised to find out that this shoe is close to being weightless, especially because of its slim and seamless profile. Using our digital scale, we recorded a weight of 12.06 oz (342g) for the Samba, which is 15.6% lighter than the usual weight of sneakers. We also found that it doesn’t oppose torsional forces. It actually scored a 1/5 on our manual torsional rigidity test. But, despite its lightness and flexibility, we found it to be stable because of its close-to-ground profile. We measured this sneaker’s heel and forefoot stack heights to be 19.3 mm and 11.9 mm, which are both 33% thinner than their respective averages. 

The downside is that the inadequate cushioning compromised comfort. We found that Adidas Samba only offers short-term pleasure. Due to this, we recommend switching to other Adidas sneakers for extended hours of use.

Adidas Busenitz outperforms all other skating sneakers from Adidas, not just because of its scene-stealing giant tongue but also due to its top-tier durability and traction. Moreover, the Busenitz is weatherproof too!

We took the sneakers to the park and skated hard in them for weeks. The gum soles showed utmost resilience, staying as grippy as ever even after days of footbraking. The suede upper was also unfazed after several days of skating. These kicks are built like a tank!

To further test the sneakers' durability, we subjected them to a Dremel test, where we deliberately scuffed the upper with a metallic brush attached to a power drill. Apart from powder residue, the suede upper was practically unscathed.

In the lab, we also performed a stain test on the shoes' toebox and found the material to be quite stain-resistant. Plus, only a bit of soap and scrubbing is enough to make the kicks sparkly clean.

We also poured water directly onto the upper and found the Busenitz to be watertight. The interior remained dry as the suede kept water from entering. Consequently, the Busenitz is not very breathable. For skaters who prioritize breathability, it's advisable to explore other options.

The Adidas Campus 00S strikes a unique balance between chunky aesthetics and ground feel and between comfort and stability. Its retro look and breathability add to its appeal, allowing for versatile styling options. Its upper embraced us with much padding, delivering the best comfort among Adidas lab-tested sneakers.

Despite its bulky appearance, it surprisingly maintains a low-to-the-ground profile. Our caliper reveals a thin stack, with only 24.6/14.5 mm of foam separating our heel and forefoot from the surface. This configuration enhances foot control and movement and gives us a good amount of flexibility.

The timeless color scheme appeals to a wide range of age groups, offering effortless pairing with various outfits. Inside, Campus 00S boasts exceptional in-shoe comfort from its plush padding to its breathable space. The tongue is one of the thickest we’ve ever tried! At 23.0 mm thick, it’s almost thrice the 8.8 mm average. Despite the abundance of cushioning and genuine leather, the strategically placed ventilation holes saved us from heat, earning a high 4/5 breathability score.

However, some users may find the midsole slightly too firm, measuring 37.1 HA on our durometer compared to the average sneaker's 30.9 HA.

Adidas Gazelle takes the crown as the best Adidas training-inspired sneaker because its versatility effortlessly bridges the gap between sporty and classy, accommodating our very different outfits. 

We are extremely pleased with the in-shoe pleasure that the Adidas Gazelle made us experience. The even better news than this is that the moment we put on the pair, right then and there, we felt incredible comfort. We discovered that one feature that promoted our unimpeded foot movements in this sneaker is the flexibility. 

We also confirmed during our day-outs that the Adidas Gazelle is lightweight on the feet. We appreciated this, as it is easier to get around without the weighing-down sensation.

The Adidas Ozweego is the best sporty pick in Adidas arsenal simply because it could still be used for sporty movements. It provided so much stability for a little bit of lifting and sprints. It was also quite resistant to twists, making us feel so safe while running. We also loved it so much because it accommodated wide feet so well.

Our caliper measured the platform to be 121.0 mm wide at the forefoot and 98.8 mm wide at the heel. The averages we have on record–which were 108.9 mm and 83.4 mm, respectively– were effectively eclipsed by these numbers. There was practically no chance for our feet to slide off the footbed.

We felt very protected from painful twists while wearing the Ozweego. We gave the shoe a good twist in the lab, and boy was it so hard to do so! The amount of resistance that the shoe put up deserved a 4 out of 5 for torsional rigidity.

In one of those rare moments, wide-footers actually enjoyed wearing the Adidas Ozweego. Like the platform, the footbed also had more space than average. At its widest, it opened as much as 105.0 mm (ave 99.1 mm). At the big toe, the caliper measured it to be 79.0 mm wide (ave 75.2).

Too bad this Adidas sneaker was not as breathable as we would have wanted it to be. It only got a 3 out of 5 during our breathability test.

We discovered that the Adidas Superstar is the basketball-inspired phenom of all the Adidas sneakers we have tried on and used. We admire how it is unbeatable in the streets but it still has its basketball-heritage features that make all-day escapades euphoric.

Although we enjoyed abusing this pair on our daily outings, it didn’t look trashed or anything and we can attest to its incredible quality and permanence. This is even more amazing knowing that Superstar only costs $90, which is 23.3% cheaper than the average price of sneakers.

Our trips using the Adidas Superstar are super comfortable and we found that one key factor for this is the pronounced arch support that it offers. The plush cushioning and soft padding also made it so easy to walk in this pair for hours.

However, before experiencing all this overwhelming comfort, we had to go through quite a long break-in period with the shoe first because it was stiff. If you need a kick that is good to go right from the beginning, we suggest looking for other three-striped pairs.