5 Best Adidas Sneakers in 2023

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.

We spent countless hours examining kicks in the lab and testing them on city streets, and we found that the Adidas Busenitz is the epitome of all retro Adidas sneakers. Its attention-grabbing skating silhouette perfectly embodies the 90s sneaker scene: stylish and functional. We discovered that the vintage suede upper and caramel soles provide top-notch resilience that gets even better with age!

One hint of the sneakers' 90s roots that we really love is the caramel-colored gum soles. Aside from complementing the vintage theme of the Busenitz, we found that the soles are extremely grippy and durable too. During our test walks, we noticed that the deep grooves provide appreciable traction on various surfaces. Even after skating and foot braking with them for several days, the soles survived and still had a grip that allowed us to stick to the board.

The Busenitz's oversized tongue is also undeniably borrowed from the nineties exaggerated sneaker trend. It is also a fun touch that the tongue is customizable, as it can be cut shorter! We also found, after pouring water over the sneaker, that the tongue, as well as the suede upper, are pretty watertight.

We further examined the upper in our lab by going at it with a Dremel drill fitted with a metallic brush. The sneaker exhibited promising durability as only a small amount of powdery residue resulted from the abrasions. Plus, the Busenitz looked even more rad after the scratching!

However, the Adidas Busenitz is not breathable. Sneakerheads who prioritize ventilation and airflow should look elsewhere.

After pounding the pavement in these sneakers and crunching the numbers in the lab, we concluded that the Adidas Puremotion is the best running-inspired sneaker from Adidas. With its excellent traction and foot lockdown, running in them felt very secure and enjoyable. And to top it off, they are extremely light!

During our initial wear test, we loved the excellent fit and security that Puremotion provided. It performed even better during our test runs, keeping our feet in place the entire time. The extra eyelets aren't just for show; we found that using them further provides excellent heel lock.

What surprised us the most, though, is how grippy the EVA outsoles are. We discovered that the wide surface area of the foam grips well onto roads and tarmacs. Weighing in at 8 oz or 228g, the Adidas Puremotion is 14% lighter compared to the average road running shoe (9.3 oz or 265g).

However, we did notice that the midsoles are quite firm, and the stack height is minimal. As a result, we experienced very little impact protection during longer runs. In the lab, we used a durometer to measure the hardness of the midsole, and it showed a reading of 49.5 HA. The midsoles of Adidas Puremotion are 98.8% stiffer compared to the average (24.9 HA)!

Furthermore, the measured 23.7mm heel and 15.2mm forefoot heights of the Puremotion are 27.5% and 36.4% below average (32.7mm and 23.9mm). This explains the increased ground impact and discomfort in the ball of our feet during test runs. We recommend that people prioritizing softer and more protective midsoles should explore other options.

If only one word can be associated with this sneaker, it is ‘favorite.’ It is unbelievable how many times Adidas Campus 00S has been referred to as the sneakerheads’ new favorite shoe. I mean, why couldn’t they when this sneaker made them feel like cool kids? Apart from its badass retro skater look, it is a top pick when taking outdoor walks as it is supremely padded, delivering additional comfort every stride.

Yup, this one definitely equates to a chunk of change. But its top-of-the-line quality makes it extra hard to hate it for its price. It is not shocking at all if a random onlooker would mistake Adidas Forum Premiere for a designer brand, as the sneaker fans themselves already consider it one! With its clean and toned-down branding, plus its killer profile, this kick is the one to beat for modish-casual outfit gaming.